When should I dig up my acidanthera bulbs?

They're still green and still have blooms, but they're in large (heavy) pots and we're due for sub-freezing temperatures starting tonight. Can I dig them while they're still green?

You can if you want to woofie but they will be ok if it's more convenient for you to do it a bit later. Mine have held up through a couple of sub-freeze nights this fall but I'll be digging them out this weekend with the dahlias with are done like dinner. The corms will be ok under the soil. Are you going to store them in the containers?

No, the containers are waaaay too heavy to move. Plus they don't actually have bottoms; they're old school bus brake drums and even empty I can barely move them. We've already had freezing temps a couple of nights, and our extended forecast shows 25 deg F for tonight, dropping down to 15 over the next few days. Brrrr!!

We had a mini-blizzard today EEK! I may be digging out in a parka this weekend LOL. The brake drum containers sound like a cool idea! Do you have pics?

Yes, brake drums are great planters, as long as you don't plan on moving them around too much. We get them for free from the school when they have to replace the drums on the buses. They're great for cold climates because they're essentially indestructible! These are the ones with the acidanthera:

Oops, the red planter in the middle is part of an old wood stove; the brake drums are the two green ones.

This message was edited Oct 7, 2009 5:22 PM

WOW! They look fabby. Thanks woofie. What a great idea!

Yeah, they're pretty cool. Here are a couple more. Got some neat hammered finish spray paint for these.

Lvuly! Fencing is for puppies? Varmits? Bambies?

Uh....puppy...uh....sort of??

OMG what a cutieputootie!!!!

Treat the acidanthera like glad bulbs. Really that is what they are. Bulbs can stay in the pot until the soil actually gets to freezing. My Glad tops always freeze green. Once I dig them, I usually cut the stalks about an inch above the bulbs and store them dry for the winter.

Thank you! That's very helpful.