I just got a call from a Master Gardener friend who dug many bulbs from unused property adjacent to his late last spring. He cleaned them and hung them in mesh bags in the basement, but he only got about 2/3 of them into the ground. The remainder are the smaller ones, but they are sprouting now.
I already gave hime my advice, but I wonder what you would advise?
Remember, we’re near snow covered Chicago, where it’s 16F and going down.
George Dorner
Get a dozen plastic buckets. drill drainage holes in the bottom, throw the bulbs in and cover them with a few inches of soil then plant the individual bulbs in the ground as soon as it is soft enough for digging. Bulbs are remarkably resilient, unless you paid $50 for the bulb.
Dave
Of course pot them up. But George, with your Illinois winters, putting the pots in the ground can’t happen …. How do you insulate/ mulch your own platings? A buddy of mine potted the bulbs he bought from our GA Daff Society bulb sale, keeping them in his greenhouse. He says he’s greatly enjoying them while messing with his orchids.
I’d say plant them in pots, and keep the pots either in the garage (if it doesn’t go below freezing) or in a cool basement until they can go outside. Then when the foliage has died down, dump the pots and plant the bulbs in the garden in the fall.
Thanks to David, Darrin, and MaryLou for the advice, pretty much what I told Bob. I and he appreciate the geographically diverse responses. Daffnet is great!
Others with good advice are thanked in advance.
George
George, As this fall we had an earlier than normal freeze on Nantucket, zone 6-7, so we were late planting some of our spring bulbs, including Narcissus. We normally plant between Thanksgiving and Dec 15, so that the ground is below 58F. We plant deep, 8 inches so they won’t freeze and which seems to give the bulbs enough time to root. I am confident that the ones we planted today will bloom, most likely a little later than they should, but by 2015 they will be back on schedule. About 5 years ago we were able to buy in late January a nice collection of about 500 Narcissus bulbs for pennies each from a bulb dealer, so we planted them in early February when we had a couple of days of a winter thaw. Those Narcissus bloomed late that spring, but all of them have since flourished at their proper bloom time. So in my opinion, if you get a thaw, plant them. I am a garden hobbyist, and passionate about bulbs. This year we planted 3521 bulbs which was less than usual, however only around 300 where Narcissus. But at least as of today they all are now tucked into the ground. Patti
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