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planting spring bulbs

Posted by normathenewbie (My Page) on
Tue, Apr 1, 08 at 7:28

okay away from the veggies for a few. the bulbs I planted in the fall are starting to make it feel like spring around here. But I have never planted bulbs in the spring and wonder when it is okay to plant them. I ordered bulbs last year from my children during a school fundraiser and didn't recieve them in time to plant them in the ground. so needless to say I have dozens of bulbs waiting to be planted and I have no idea when I should be planting them. I have tulips, lilys and a few others. Do I have to wait til the ground is completely thawed?
Thank you all for you help and knowledge. I can't thank you enough for all of your helpful tips and knowledge you have shared.
Norma


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: planting spring bulbs

spring bulbs can be very touchy that way. They generally need the cool fall months to establish their roots so they can burst forth in the Spring. There's an excellent forum on growing bulbs right on this website. The folks there might have some ideas to plant this Spring and get reasonable results.


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RE: planting spring bulbs

thanks zen
I will look into another forum for this question. if I have to I will wait til this fall to plant them.
Norma


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RE: planting spring bulbs

Norma, I doubt the bulbs will last another year w/o being planted in the ground. The only thing you can do is plant them now, (the tulips and any other spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils or crocus) asap, even if you have to chip through the ground if it is partly frozen. You can hope for the best, possibly they will bloom this year albeit later than normal. I have heard of people forgetting to plant their bulbs in the fall and sticking them in the ground in spring and having them grow.

As far as the lilies, those can be planted later without any problems. Lilies can be planted spring or fall.


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RE: planting spring bulbs

The main issue, I think, is the condition of the bulbs. If any have softened don't bother planting those softened bulbs. Generally, the bulbs should be firm.


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RE: planting spring bulbs

veilchen and zen thanks for the tips. they are still good, I kept them dry and cool all winter. I will have to see exactly what I bought but will get the dafs, tulips and crocus' in the ground asap. And I will cross my fingers. lol
Wish me luck
thanks again,
Norma


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RE: planting spring bulbs

well it was absolutely beautiful here today so we worked in the yard this afternoon. a bit windy but beautiful still. I got my bulbs our and what do you know about 60 % of them weren't any good. note to self, if you can't plant them in the fall, don't buy them no matter what the cause of deal. lol. I'm hoping the 50 or so I did plant will do something but ended up throughing over 100 away. What a waste, but it was a learning experience non the less so I will chock it up to that. Thank you all for your tips and support.
Norma


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RE: planting spring bulbs

Norma, I suspect that 20% of mine didn't survive in the ground over winter, so there you have it! I went a bit overboard last fall and bought oh...1000-1400 bulbs. Created a large bed for them and added some to existing perennial bed up front. Some washed out, some got eaten, I suspect, and some likely rotted for one reason or another. So, I've come to expect losses in the garden from year to year.

BTW, last fall was my first real year with bulbs or major flower gardening of any sort, really....just little things before that.


 
 

 

 


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