Your daffs will be fine as long as the ground is not frozen. You ordered too late. Like I did. I finally went to Scheepers to order some lilies, peonies, eremerus, etc. They were sold out of 9 of the 10 things I wanted to order! All they had left was common stuff that I could get at big box stores. Made me wonder if it was a bait and switch - "look at all these beautiful things (that we don't really have)". Or whether I simply needed to order in early August instead of late Sept. Nothing was left and I now have to wait another year.

Hi Kevin,

I did the same thing last year...ground was frozen when I got them (mine were cool tulips) so I potted them in the house in December and I had beautiful tulips in the house in the middle of winter, it was a great treat! Just an idea if your luck runs out...

Helen.

I was outside planting daffodils once in January. Granted, it was warm that week, which was why I decided to take a chance and throw them in the ground, but nonetheless, they grew and bloomed. Which was good, because it kind of justified my actions to my neighbors who thought I had completely lost it when they saw me out there digging in January!

Hopefully your bulbs will come earlier than expected. I find that happens quite often. Companies just want to give themselves that added cushion of time. Good luck!

Dee

Not to be a wet blanket or rain on the parade, but I personally have had problems with late planting of daffodils. The traditional wisdom is that you can plant tulips as long as you can get them in the ground, since apprently they don't need to form roots in the fall. But daffodils theoretically need to form roots in the fall to take hold and bloom in the spring. I have planted daffodils a couple of times in midNovember or later and both times the bulbs did not bloom normally the following spring or did not come up at all. Could it have been drainage issues, other problems? Dunno. But I personally always try to get daffs (and crocus and the other minor bulbs too) in the ground first and leave the tulips for last.

Just one more daffodil comment, I succumbed to White Flower Farms seductive catalog and ordered some special daffodils from them (I buy most of my bulbs from a place in this area that is a wholesaler and sells cheap in large quantity). Several of the daffs I got from them were in poor condition, bulbs dried out or soft or small. They usually pride themselves on quality, and when you are paying top dollar for the bulbs (and that catalog is about as top dollar as they come), you should get the best. They sent replacements right away, but still...

And of course I then remembered to look at Brent and Becky's bulbs and found the same bulbs for 1/3 less money....

I probably did order too late and also missed the part about the bulbs being shipped directly from the Netherlands. Seems like an expensive way to ship bulbs to everyone who orders, but I guess they have a reason for doing so.

Since I only ended up with 10 Daffs, it shouldn't be that big of a deal to dig holes even if the ground is a bit crispy. I'll make sure to plant them deep which should also help I would imagine. A friend of mine insists all tulips and daffs should be planted at least a foot deep and he does so. Has great looking blooms in the spring too.

Helen - That's a good idea about forcing if things don't work out. I use to do tons of bulbs this way every winter since I have a great area in my basement for doing so. It stays around 40 degrees all winter.

Kevin

This is just a thought....why not go ahead and dig your holes for your bulbs now? Then when they show up, you can just drop them in the holes and push the soil over them. I've never done it. It's just an idea.

I've ordered from John Scheepers several times and so far have always received my bulbs in plenty of time for planting. However, I have to say I've always ordered by late August or early Sept. I did dig my holes early one year while waiting for some lily bulbs from WFF. The weather had been unusually cold and I was worried about the ground freezing. I put the dirt from the holes in a wheelbarrow in my hubby's workshop and covered the holes with bagged leaves. It worked just fine. I was only doing it for a few bulbs though. Good luck!

I just went back to my e-mail box and checked the 10/5 message from Breck's, which I'd only glanced at earlier. Same boilerplate message about the 21-25 day journey by camel caravan, ocean voyage* and slow freight to my door (I had ordered a few Arum italicum with the coupon and arranged to pay nothing, which may be what the order is worth, but not something to gripe over).
The last time I succumbed to one of these freebie offers was when I got a crepe myrtle from Springhill Nurseries. It is not my most floriferous crepe, but it's grown well.

*I have this image of orders from me, aachenelf and other gardeners being individually packed into small toy boats and set out in the Zuider Zee, each powered by two "D" batteries. They'll get here...eventually.

Gottagarden,
You have to order earlier from Scheepers. I've always received everything I've wanted if I got my order in by the end of August. I'm sorry you won't be getting the lilies! If I get some babies near mine next year, I'll bring them to the swap for you : )
Remy

Just a little tip for those who will be planting bulbs very late in a miserable weather conditions AND already know where they'll be planted,
-dig a hole(s),
-plant EMPTY pot in a hole,
-prepare future planting mix by using removed soil and all amendment goodies you wish to and keep it in a large pot(s) until planting time,
-the day before actual planting you may want to bring already prepared planting mix into the house or whatever place to make it warm and workable,
-remove empty pots from the holes and plant all your bulbs effortlessly in a matter of minutes.
Don't forget to water your new planting :-)

George, you are a genius!

Ditto! George, you and donnabaskets gave some great tips about digging the holes early. And here I was like a dope out digging in January, lol!

Of course, I *had* the bulbs in October... I just never got around to planting them then. It's not like I knew I was going to get some late bulbs in. I just kept putting it off until it got too cold. Lucky for me we had some warm weather in January, and I decided to give it a shot!

:)
Dee

Kevin I think they were just getting back at you for your free order!

for those who can't find what they want at Scheepers - try the sister company Van Engelen - a lot of times the prices and terms are the same.

Someone up thread said that the poster ordered too late. I have just received the bulb portion of a Breck's order that was placed (and paid for) in March. They sent an email in sept saying they would be about a month, and it was more like 6 weeks.

It doesn't matter when you order. They all get on the same slow boat from Holland.

Same here, gardenscout. I sent in my Breck's order last winter and received the bulb portion 2 weeks ago. It's unseasonably warm here fortunately, and I got them all in. aachenelf, it will probably be fine; just get them in with some bone meal as soon as you receive. You'll probably get VERY cold hands, though! I like the idea of digging the holes in advance~~

Thanks for the responses and the good advice. Our weather has really been holding out this year and there don't appear to be any major changes in the near future. With 18 inches of rain since August, the ground should be nice and moist for good root growth. Hard to believe we were in such a terrible drought prior to August. Things change I guess.

Kevin

I sent my order in to Brent & Becky the first week in Oct. They arrived last week. Sold out of the lilies I wanted but everything else OK. Can't beat that.
Now I have to get all 100 bulbs planted!

I just got my packet of freebie bulbs from Breck's. There was an ultracute note on the box saying something to the effect of "I've come all the way from Holland, please open the box and let me breathe North American air".

They look viable, but they can stay in their little packet until I'm good and ready to plant them.

Got mine a couple of days ago and they're all tucked into the ground. It still amazes me the cost of those 10 Daffs with postage came to just under $25, but free to me because of the coupon. I swear half the weight of that box must have been due to all the ads and what-not included. Didn't even peak at them.

The bulbs did look fine though.

Kevin

I ordered from Brent and Beckys the middle of Sept. They had everything I wanted (lilies and eremurus), and I am only concerned that they might ship them too soon. Usually, it would be cool enough to plant them now, but, as it is, the unusual hot weather has continued, and we've had near 90 degree temps in Oct! I hope they wait until it gets cool enough, but if not, I guess I could put them in the fridge. Brandy