Spring Sweepstake
Mar 15th 2007 | 5:57 am
#1
Thread Starter
Yorkshire meets Vegas
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,354
From: T. ON (so there!)
Spring Sweepstake
Last Christmas, flying home via Amsterdam, I bought some tulip bulbs. Sadly it was too late to plant them before the depths of Winter decended, but I'd like to see some tulip action this year....
So, my plan is to plant the bulbs in pots inside, (of the biodegradable variety) and then plant them on in the Garden when it's warm enough...
Does someone with greater knowledge of horticulture than I have think this is a good idea... and if so, when do you think I should start them off...
(I don't think this specific question has been asked before)
As a game, what I'm thinking of, there are 25 bulbs, so I'll take people's recommendations for days of planting and I'll update you all with how they progress...
So, my plan is to plant the bulbs in pots inside, (of the biodegradable variety) and then plant them on in the Garden when it's warm enough...
Does someone with greater knowledge of horticulture than I have think this is a good idea... and if so, when do you think I should start them off...
(I don't think this specific question has been asked before)
As a game, what I'm thinking of, there are 25 bulbs, so I'll take people's recommendations for days of planting and I'll update you all with how they progress...
Mar 15th 2007 | 6:09 am
#2
Magnificently Withering
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,908
From: Oakville, ON
Re: Spring Sweepstake
Not that I'm a great horticulturalist, or whatever the word is, but I should think "as soon as possible" would be about right. I found this on Florissa.com, which specialises in bulbs... part of their tulip Q&A:
It's February and I just found a bag of bulbs that I forgot to plant. Do I save them till next year?
No! If they are still firm and plump, plant them now. Bulbs are living plants, not seeds - they cannot wait, they will dry out. Either chill them in the refrigerator for use indoors as forced bulbs or somehow get them into the ground outside. Because they are so tough and contain a full storehouse of food, your bulbs will try their best to bloom no matter how late it is in the season. This is a case of "nothing ventured, nothing gained." Chances are you may still get some results, even if you plant them late.
- hope that helps - can I have "today" in the sweepstakes? No! If they are still firm and plump, plant them now. Bulbs are living plants, not seeds - they cannot wait, they will dry out. Either chill them in the refrigerator for use indoors as forced bulbs or somehow get them into the ground outside. Because they are so tough and contain a full storehouse of food, your bulbs will try their best to bloom no matter how late it is in the season. This is a case of "nothing ventured, nothing gained." Chances are you may still get some results, even if you plant them late.
Mar 15th 2007 | 6:15 am
#3
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: Spring Sweepstake
Last Christmas, flying home via Amsterdam, I bought some tulip bulbs. Sadly it was too late to plant them before the depths of Winter decended, but I'd like to see some tulip action this year....
So, my plan is to plant the bulbs in pots inside, (of the biodegradable variety) and then plant them on in the Garden when it's warm enough...
Does someone with greater knowledge of horticulture than I have think this is a good idea... and if so, when do you think I should start them off...
(I don't think this specific question has been asked before)
As a game, what I'm thinking of, there are 25 bulbs, so I'll take people's recommendations for days of planting and I'll update you all with how they progress...
So, my plan is to plant the bulbs in pots inside, (of the biodegradable variety) and then plant them on in the Garden when it's warm enough...
Does someone with greater knowledge of horticulture than I have think this is a good idea... and if so, when do you think I should start them off...
(I don't think this specific question has been asked before)
As a game, what I'm thinking of, there are 25 bulbs, so I'll take people's recommendations for days of planting and I'll update you all with how they progress...
You could be OK. The Fall before last I bought lots of bulbs. Owing to a combination of laziness and an early freezing, they didn't get planted. During a warm snap about this time last year, I decided to stick them in anyway. Most of them came up a couple of months later.
You could try starting them off inside but, if you can make a hole in the soil outside, I don't really see the need.
I'm looking forward to seeing my crocii (sp?), tulips, daffs and Mrs Buckets. I planted loads last Fall. Really loads.
