Storing left over spring flowering bulbs

Help!
Due to doctor's orders, I couldn't get all my bulbs in before the ground froze. We keep the house at 68*F, the garage (next to an inside wall) is about 45*F, and a closet against the garage is about 59*F, while it's 27*F outside. No basement. I have big empty containers and fast draining container mix left over from fall, so if that would work I could put them in containers in the garage or on the patio. We're supposed to get down to 2*F Thursday, last winter the lowest temp was about -15*F. I have crocuses, tulips, and alliums to try to save. Right now they're in brown paper bags by variety, in a large paper bag, in the garage.

Are you still unable to dig? Your ground probably isn't too frozen yet, I remember planting lilies in WI in December- the first inch or two was frozen, but under that was OK. Everything came up just fine.
Sorry, my only suggestion...

I don't know about planting in containers- seems like a good idea to me, and keep them as cool as possible- 45 or under. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in!

Hi: Sure hope you will feel better soon.

All your bulbs are hardy perennials. Purchase plastic shoe boxes, Walmart have them cheap. Put drainage holes on the bottom. If you have a gas stove, heat up a large nail holding it with pliers, and heat it until it is glowing. Use it to make drainage holes.

Fill the shoe boxes with soil and dampen. Plant your bulbs. You don't have to space them far apart since it is temporary. Stick the box in the coldest spot to mimic winter. You want the bulbs to remain dormant until spring.

Or:

Place them in a plastic zip bag that is filled with damp (not wet) peatmoss. Place in fridge. I have carried tender perennials over that way. The idea is that you don't want the bulbs to dry out completely, or sprout.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=7341539 You could try something like this.

I saw that thread when I was searching, but I don't think I have anywhere that would work like that. I could possibly dig, but I'm not supposed to. Not that I didn't do any digging this fall, but I kept it to a minimum. The ortho sent me for an MRI on my elbow today and may be operating since it's been messed up for 6 months now (and of course I didn't see a doctor or stop gardening until it had been 4 months. I was busy!)

The shoebox idea sounds good, I could keep them in the garage closer to the front; where it's as cold as outside without the wind chill. And I get to melt plastic, which appeals to my inner destructive child.
Or, do you think it would be better to keep the boxes outside on the deck or patio, under the snow? The deck's on the 2nd floor, or I could put some chicken fencing on top to keep the resident rodents from digging them up on the patio.
Or, I just thought of it, I have one of those patio greenhouses that's just a metal frame with a plastic zipper cover. I could set that back up. It would be getting only some morning sun, which isn't terribly strong here in Winter. If it would get too warm, I could leave it partly unzipped.

grlgek, You need to keep the bulbs from freezing. If they freeze, unfreeze, freeze they'll end up as mush. If they just freeze, they're worthless too. You might consider placing what ever containers you choose in a spot in the garage where it's actually warmest and then cover them with several layers of your thickest blankets. If any growth is initiated, you'll need to water them. Actually, doing it thusly, should yield forced bulbs during late winter. Check out this site regarding bulbs that didn't get planted-
http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/AAMG/bulbs/WinterHardyBulbsNotPlanted.html

This message was edited Dec 9, 2009 1:29 AM

Ack. Ok, has anyone actually kept bulbs over the winter? I really don't want to force all these, there are a lot. They take up almost the whole grocery size brown paper bag while in their individual bags.

Now that I think about it, if I empty my crisper drawer, I think I could fit them all in there. Maybe I could keep them in there for while, then put in containers in a cool place. Just thinking out loud here, I have been googling so getting some ideas there too.

grrrigeek Here you go---information found on the web.

If you need to delay planting time for some reason, bulbs can be successfully stored for several weeks in the refrigerator in the fall, in mesh bags, with good air circulation. Just to be safe, don't store bulbs in a crisper drawer with ripening fruits or vegetables which release ethylene gas; this gas can damage the flower buds in the bulbs. Check the bulbs periodically to make sure they are not molding or drying out (shriveling).

This is better than try to force the bulbs into blooms.

"bulbs can be successfully stored for several weeks in the refrigerator in the fall, in mesh bags, with good air circulation." True, but I'm wondering what happens after several weeks elapse.

That's my question too. I'm going to call the extension office tomorrow since I find conflicting info on the web--one extension site says don't let them freeze, another (North Dakota) says it's ok and they can be kept in pots of dirt outside over the winter (at least for the tulips).

That sounds like a good idea, please share their response.

The master gardener and horticulturist conferred and decided (if I don't want to force them all) it would be best to keep them cool and dry, ideally at 50* or so. Just leave them in the paper bags in the dark, checking them occasionally for rotting ones. Then either get them in the ground as soon as it can be worked, or pot up for a month or so in the garage to get them started. We all agreed that, as sopping wet as it was last Spring, I'll probably be potting them up first. It took forever to get anything done this year; our mud is the kind that sucks your shoes off.

So my plan is to force some of them (Twilight Crocuses, tiny Fritillary, Chopin Tulips), the rest keep in their paper baggies in larger paper bags. I should be able to keep them in the closet against the garage most of the time. If I can get outside when the ground is just mostly thawed, I can put them right in. Otherwise, I can pot them in the tubs I have for the veggies for a month, then put them out. Some of them I can use in pots all Spring, then store them 'til fall and plant them out.

The orthopedist just called while I was typing and it looks like I'll be having surgery in January. Wish me luck!

Sounds like a plan. Wishing you the best outcome with your medical procedure..., and the bulbs too.

Thank you! And those little iris, so cute!

a closer pic

Hi everyone,
I have been watching this thread and do see there is alot of confusion with this subject. I am from a cold zone 4-5 way over here in Michigan. I have stored many bulbs that would be last of the season bargains- which is why we get them so cheap ;-)
I transfer each bulb variety to a paper bag , punch a small air hole and set them is the coldest- but not freezing part of my basement 45 degrees and under( but again not freezing) I leave them directly on the floor, in the dark.
Now when the basement starts to warm up for spring( any degree above the 45) I have to move them to a cooler space so as not to sprout or not to sprout any further-
think of it this way- at a warm 50 degrees what happens to the bulbs you have planted outside? they start their growing process.
I also keep bulbs in the veggie bin- right now I have species tulips there... but they must be kept in paper bags with a little air hole punched in it-do not put anything else in that bin- just bulbs.
Plant in ground as soon as the ground thaws- do not wait until its 60 degrees- just make sure the frost is out - it needs to be moist but not wet- the spring rains will do the trick.
Doing it this way- you will have blooms that spring season- maybe a little off track if the bulbs are of blooming size. Now the next season they may not bloom or they may- sometimes they have to gather strengh to rebloom which can take up to 3 years- so mark where you planted these types of bulbs.
Also- I always replant any forced bulbs. I let them dry out in the pots they came in- yes, i said dry out lol. Then when I have time I shake off the soil-less mix their in and take them to their new home and plant them. I dig the hole,water the hole, put pre-gelled polymer in the hole, place the bulbs on top and bury. This maethod works very well saving those forced bulbs. Sometimes it takes 3 years for them to show their heads again- but many new sprouts are forming under the soil.
My dwarf iris reticulata were forced bulbs and i planted them after they bloomed in 2008 and 2009 i was rewarded with a plentiful display of miniture iris :-)
Hope this helps- now I do not know how these methods will work in georgia or other warm climates.
Sandy

We're in zone 5a, so same as you basically. I've had a thermometer out in the garage with the bulbs and where they are is staying around 40 for now. I may have to move them if it gets much colder than it already has.
So I could keep them in the 'frige all Winter? If I empty my crisper drawer completely they might fit in there, and I can live with that 'til Spring. It's probably a little colder than 40 in there but definitely not freezing. Then I wouldn't have to worry about wayward rodents in the garage.

Hi grrlgeek,
just make sure you have them in paper bags with just a tiny hole for some slight air- mine are pushed tight against each other as i am holding over many, many bulbs-lol
and yes, i keep mine in there all winter-
Sandy

Hi Sandy,
My crisper has a humidity control (la-dee-da). Should I just set it in the middle?
Thanks for your help,
Sandy

Your names Sandy too? LOL tooooo funny!
Anyhoo, mine dosen't have one at all- so i would either turn it off or way down low...
the purpose of the brown paper bags are to wick the moisture away- kinda like putting sunflower heads into a bag when you are wanting to save the seed for the following year.
Keeping the bulbs cool- dry- and very little humidity.
You are welcome.
Sandy