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Container Gardening

planting bulbs in containers for spring

16 years ago

I'm starting to think about planting some bulbs this fall.

I have a northwest-facing balcony with an overhang that receives lots of indirect light but only a couple hours of afternoon direct light. I'd like to plant bulbs that will come up in the early spring and that I can pull out once they're done flowering and replace with summer annuals.

I have never done it before, so any tips you could give me would be appreciated!

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Comments (4)

paulallen
16 years ago
The Asiatic lilies may work. I have two containers, 24-inch diameter, that get a few hours of direct sun in the later afternoon. The lilies are in the back and one has black eyed Susan in the front while the other has coreopsis Moonbeam. Please don't pull out the bulbs, let the foliage shrivel up before you cut it so you can enjoy the flowers next year. Just plant the annuals in front of the bulbs. Enjoy.
hillbillygardener
16 years ago
drestie, Yes you can plant in containers as you outlined, however, a much better option would be to use your bulbs for "forcing" this winter and save your window pots for spring planting. This forum will not allow me time to go into more detail but please feel free to contact me and I will give you a full outline as to how to accomplish what you are wanting to do.
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Bulbs that need a chill period will bloom most vigorously if stored at temperatures between freezing & 45* F. It's possible that the temperature on the floor would be cool enough to supply adequate chilling, but I think you are sort of borderline. I plant many containers of bulbs each year for early spring displays. I plant the bulbs anytime after Oct 1, use a fast soil, and keep the containers on the floor of my unheated garage where I occasionally throw a shovel of light snow on them to prevent them from drying completely. The air temperature in the garage varies from the extreme low of around 0* when the door is open on very cold days to around 50* on warm days, but the fairly steady temperature of the floor moderates temperature extremes and prevents the bulbs from getting so cold that water inside plant cells freezes & rots the bulbs or so warm that proper stratification doesn't occur. When I'm sure night temperatures will no longer drop below 25* F., I put the containers outdoors & allow nature to take its course. I've never found reason to be dissatisfied with the results of using this easy method. Al
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I'd say you are safe. The wood of the barrel insulates fairly well. As loong as you don't over water during the months of inactive growth then your bulbs should make it through the winter. When you say you are switching the pots out I presume there will be holes in the dirt of the wooden barrel where the mobile pots will fit like gloves? I think this is the way to go. p.s.- by placing the barrel on casters you run the risk of freezing the container. If the cool air can circulate then the "insulation" of the dirt will only do so much.
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drestie
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks to both of you for your responses. I have been reading online about planting bulbs in containers in this zone, and it seems like they don't recommend it. I read a lot about bulbs not liking the freeze-thaw cycles and that they rot. Is this something you have found a way to avoid? I would love to do this if it's still feasible!
paulallen
16 years ago
Yes, use large containers, (e.g., 20-inch or 24-inch diameter), and a soil mix that includes a lot of perlite for drainage, (e.g., 10 eight ounce cups for a 20-inch container), soil that is mainly compost/manure with two plus inches of mulch maintained. Container gardening required extra planning, but not extra work. Enjoy. My lilies are a few years old and the Spring flowers are outstanding.

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