Wanting to plant bulbs in containers this year

14 years ago

Hello there. I'm thinking about planting fall bulbs in my balcony container garden in the fall when my annuals are done.

But I have a few questions.

After the bulbs are done flowering in the spring, how can I reuse the same pots they are in for summer annuals?

Can I dig up the bulbs and store them over the summer somehow?

Could I just leave them in the pots and plant annuals around them? I would cut back all the foilage of course.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

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Comments (6)

duluthinbloomz4
14 years ago
Being practical, I'll take a direct approach - less work and less chance for failure would be to spend a very few dollars and buy new bulbs (perfectly fine reasonably priced offerings at Home Depot, Lowes, Menard's) each fall.

The bulbs could freeze out in an exposed container over the Chicago winter, or you might lack a cool, dark, dry place in which to store them over the summer should you dig them up once the foliage dies back; the biggest pitfall would be planting annuals over them - the amount of water containerized annuals require would rot the bulbs.
gochrisgo75
14 years ago
I am looking to plant bulbs this fall too. I have a container garden on my roof in Brooklyn. I am worried about the containers freezing, also concerned about the spring wind snapping the flowers if they make it.

Good to hear that you are hunting for balcony/container garden specific bulbs advice. Hopefully we'll find an expert here!
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The danger is, the bulbs must be watered; water must reach the bottom of the bulb--but not stay there--for the bulb to initiate root production. It must have roots before the worst of winter sets in otherwise, the bulb, without roots, is useless...the freeze will kill the bulb. With roots, they are protected against anything winter throws at them. The tulip bulb --let's say put down 6 - 8 inches...would have 6- 8 inches under them. The problem then is to try to keep the water in so little soil from freezing and causing the bulb to freeze. Normally the advice is 'dont' try it'...the bulbs cant survive winter's freeze. But, if you can protect the container from the freeze, and the thaw...then freeze, then thaw...then freeze...you stand a better chance of growing bulbs this way. Put a cardboard layer over the outside surface of the container. If its wood, so much the better because it doesn't attract heat nor cold.....when watered, it can absorb water and freeze when temperatures go down. This then transfer cold to the soil...and to the bulbs therein. So, protect the container from freezing. The cardboard layer can help and when you put an aluminum foil cover over that, the sun will be deflected. Snow must not be allowed to sit on the surface. It can melt, then run into the top surface of the soil, where it then freezes. It therefore, cannot be allowed to be hit by sunshine which will do the thawing but cant protect it against nighttime freezing. If you can, put an A-frame...a lean-to effect over the container to prevent rain/snow/snowmelt from entering the container. It must also not be where it is hit by wind which will dry out the surface much quicker. Such good place to put such container is amongst your foundation plants, next to the building. Mulch the surface to keep the temperature more uniform. In any case, place the container where it will get some protection...as next to the building, out of the sun and away from the wind.
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You can plant spring bulbs in pots. However, don't plant anything that needs pre-chilling. Paperwhites, freesias will do fine. I bought some dutch irises and found out they will not return next year. I also found that freesias generally do not return here either. Ice Follies is a popular daffodil that the big box stores sell that seems to do well here. So, if I know that a bulb will not return, I plant it shallow. Just press it into the soil. I did this with freesias and dutch irises and they popped up real quick. However, the shallow planting is only recommended for bulbs that will be grown "as annuals". Since you will be growing these in containers I assume you want to grow them as annuals. If you want the plants to become perennials, plant them in the ground at the recommended depth and also as Jani recommended.
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oilpainter
14 years ago
planting bulbs or perennials in a container to over winter is a crap shoot. The continual freeze and thaw would kill them. If you want bulbs in containers. Force them in the spring in a pot and then bury the pot in the dirt. When all the fkowers are spent cut off the blooms and lift the pot. Keep in a sunny spot until the foilage dies back and then pull it off and store, pot and all in a cool dark place until the next year. Check out this site on forcing bulbs

http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/learn/guide/bulbinfo/otherbulbs
kforrest
Original Author
14 years ago
I dont have the option of putting anything in the ground as I love in a condo and have a large balcony to work with.
oilpainter
14 years ago
I wasn't suggesting putting them in the ground. What I meant is to force them in the spring in smaller pots inside and then sink pot and all into your larger pots. When they are finished blooming then you can lift out the pots and plant your annuals.

Cut off any spent flower heads from the tulips and put it in somewhere in the sun for the foliage to die back and then you can store them for the next year. If you don't have the space to let them die back then give them to someone and buy new ones the next year
fairview
14 years ago
Unless your talking more bulbs than our national deficit, as was said before it would be better to buy them each year. Most bulb places offer pre chilled or fresh dug bulbs. The pre chilled can be planted as soon as you get them and they will start growing. The fresh dug bulbs can be put in an onion bag and placed in the veggie bin of the frig sor several months to get them to grow when planted. Whne they are done blooming,, just chuck them and plant your annuals.

Wanting to plant bulbs in containers this year

Comments (6)

duluthinbloomz4

gochrisgo75

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Wanting to plant bulbs in containers this year

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