Thanks for the link, Mindy.

2007/2008 I had Darwin Hybrids, Hyacinths & Daffs do fine in containers.

2008/2009 almost all bulbs rotted in containers. They were Triumphs which I read were more suited to container planting. Some had started to grow roots but don't know what happened to them. Same Tulip varieties rotted in ground also.

I can't blame it on the bulbs since I didn't plunge pots and/or cover with any mulch. Another Tulip variety did grow and bloom in ground.

I went back to Darwin Hybrids this year since my father is old fashioned and just wants the Red and Yellow combo with black/blue inner base he always planted years ago.

I'm trying to figure out how I can stash bulb planted nursery pots in my father's attached garage. I think that's a safer bet than rolling the dice under the overhang up on the deck even with bags of leaves around for protection.

Besides, that way my decorative containers will be cleaner and free to plant annuals earlier than if they had bulbs planted directly inside them.

I over winter perennials in pots along south facing house foundation with bags of leaves over/around them. They did fine last year but every year is different so I just cross my fingers.

It's hard gardening where it's barely tolerated let alone encouraged. I need a little storage shed of my own.

Better pick up more 'Ropels' spray. I spray bulbs before planting and the nanosecond foliage appears in Spring. Bambi herds and wascally wabbits! :)

Your garden of eden is gorgeous.

Leslie

Good article. I plant mostly tulips in pots, because I treat them as annuals for the most part - they don't reliably return for me in the garden.

I was surprised at how many bulbs she put in one pot! So this year I will try putting more in.

One year, I had planted the pots up, and I usually leave them outside until it gets really cold. Well, we got hit with a cold spell earlier than expected, and the pots ended up getting covered in snow. When the snows receded in February, I went to move them into the garage. One plastic pot was frozen to the ground, which I found out when I went to lift it and half the pot broke off in my hand! So here is the pot, with the side ripped off, still frozen to the ground, with the bulbs hanging out! I figured it was a goner, but come spring, the darn things bloomed anyway! I was impressed with the hardiness of these bulbs!

Maybe this year I will try layering some minor bulbs in with the tulips.

:)
Dee

Dee, sometimes you can't get them to survive if your life depended on it and, as you experienced, they can survive some trauma.

I laughed picturing you standing out there in the freezing cold with half a planter in your hand...LOL.

Last year I went to check pots for moisture and they were frozen solid. I didn't really see any point putting water on top of frozen soil. Maybe that was my problem!

I've repeatedly seen the P. Allen Smith "Garden Home" show with him potting up bulbs and he packs them in too. He's also in Zone 7. Zone envy is a terrible thing.

Leslie

"I laughed picturing you standing out there in the freezing cold with half a planter in your hand..."

Yes, Leslie, I was quite surprised and it took me a moment to realize what happened, lol. My first thought was "what am I going to do now?", but since that sucker was frozen solid to the ground, I really had no choice but to leave the pot there, lol.

I just finished potting up some bulbs for indoor forcing this afternoon. I'm still waiting on my shipment of bulbs for the outdoor containers. After all this talk I'm wishing I had bought more....

:)
Dee

gee newbie, couldn't those pots be stacked in the corner of his garage? i guess i'm going to put my planted big glazed pots on the screen porch w/ blankets on top.
best,
mindy

I'm actually feeling really relieved to learn about this coontainer planting idea. I order my bulbs when I can see the ground and all the appointed spots are visible and look easily digable. THEN Oct.comes; Wild and Wooly sets in ; leaves fall; and those spots all disappear under the morass. So now I have an option for easier placement of some of those thousands of bulbs. Hoorah! Relief for the overwhelmed!
best,
Mindy