Actually, your tulips need to stay in the refrigerator for about 15 weeks. Daffodils do not usually need to be kept much lower than 48 F-50F, and if you have tazettas (paperwhites) in there, get 'em out immediately. They should not be in there at all. Hyacinths, too, need about 16 weeks. Are they planted in pots? They should be, and do not keep any of them around any food, as the ethylene gas given off by other fruits and vegetables can render the bulbs sterile. This is all general information only; some specific bulbs are a bit more fussy. Crocus like it cold, too.

hopflower

Thank you for the information. I don't have any paperwhites.
Wow! 15 weeks! I have only had them in for about 4 - 6 weeks. I have them in my beverage fridge. It only has bottles and cans of beverages. It is about 40-45 degrees.
Do bearded Iris's have to go in too? My neighbor divided his and gave me a 2 flats of them. They still have the drying greenery on them. I have them outside in my nursery area. I have never grown them and would appreciate any info
on them too! Thanks so much!

Your refrigerator sounds fine. Self defrosting or so called frost free refrigerators have an increased dehydrating effect on the bulbs. Sunset recommends a minimum of 6 weeks chilling, but I always do at least 10 weeks. Most tulips will come up in a month to 6 weeks after planting and bloom starting 8 to 10 weeks, depending on whether they are early, mid season or late varieties. They should bloom well before the roses bloom to avoid running into the warm weather. Al

No, iris do not need much more than a normal winter here. They do need at least a half day of sun. In extremely hot climates, some shade is beneficial, but in most climates iris do best in full sun. Be sure to provide your iris good drainage, planting either on a slope or in raised beds.

It is common practice to plant in September or October in warm areas, so that they have time to establish themselves in their root systems before any overly wet or cold weather comes. It is mandatory that they are in well- drained areas, as they rot easily.
Planting on a slope or in raised beds helps ensure good drainage. If your soil is heavy, coarse sand or humus may be added to improve drainage.

They should be planted so the tops of the rhizomes are exposed and the roots are spread out facing downward in the soil. In very light soils or in extremely hot climates, covering the rhizome with 1 inch of soil may be desirable. Firm the soil around each rhizome and then water to help settle them in. A common mistake is to plant iris too deeply.

Thank you so much for all the info! I have one more question about the bearded iris bulbs. How far apart do I plant them?
They are about 5-7 inches in length. Some of them still have the withered greenery on them. Do I clean them up or plant as is? Thank you again! I am so excited to get them all planted. I have a perfect slightly sloping area that is about
150 feet wide. I am going to mix with day lily, iris and assorted bulbs so that I will have something blooming at all times!

Iris are generally planted 12 to 24 inches apart. Close planting gives an immediate effect, but closely planted iris will need to be thinned often. Plants spaced further apart will need less frequent thinning. Many people plant them in small groups of say, three or five or seven; to give a massed effect.

Newly set iris need moisture to help their root systems become established. Specific watering information depends on your climate and your soil, but remember that deep watering at long intervals is better than more frequent shallow waterings. Once established, iris normally don't need to be watered except in really dry areas. Overwatering is not desirable, but many people make this mistake.

Specific fertilizer recommendations depend on your soil type, but generally an all-purpose food or a 6-10-10 are the way to go; just keep it low in nitrogen. A light application in the early spring and another application about a month after bloom is a good idea. Avoid using anything high in nitrogen, as nitrogen encourages rot. You can also give one more light feed after the growing season in order to encourage healthy growth for the next season.

You will need to divide your iris before they become overcrowded, generally every 3-4 years. If too crowded the bloom will suffer, some varieties may crowd others out, and disease problems may be occur. Old clumps may be thinned by removing the old divisions at the centers of the clumps and leaving new growth in the ground. Or, you may dig up the entire clump and repalnt wiht the smaller, new, and healthier ones.

Hopflower,

thank you again for the wonderful info! We just got a heat spell here (around 90 degrees) and I am waiting for a little cooler weather and then I am going to plant them.
Thank you so much!