Forgive me if this is a silly question, but is it too early for my tulip bulbs to start sprouting? I'm in Middle Tennessee where the winter has been unseasonably cold and snowy. I (obviously) don't know much about bulbs, but I worry it may be too soon. Are they right on time? Or should I try covering them up with more mulch or straw or something? Thanks.
Anyone? I'm just worried because we have more snow and cold temps in the forecast. And I don't know if I should do something to help save them. Or just let them be. This was my first fall planting spring blooming bulbs... so I'm new to this!
Some of my tulip bulbs have also sprouted and they have done fine, not frozen despite all the crazy weather we've had in GA. I suspect your will be fine. We've had freezing rain, 6-8 in of snow and very frigid temps that doesn't seem to have fazed them :0)
Snow is like a blanket for them. Leaves showing is not a big deal. Post your pretties come spring. It is coming, I hope. burrrrrrrrr. Patti
Bulbs more or less do what they want and are fairly tough.
My second thought is that they look different from what my tulips look like when they come up. Could they be something else?
I'd be happy with freezing rain. It was 23 below when I got to work today. We had so many buses that wouldn't start that we borrowed 3 from the terminal in the next city over.
Gosh, I certainly hope they're tulips! I planted a bed of about 100 or so. Five different variations, including some Angeliques. I thought if I planted the bulbs at the right time, in the right position and at the right depth... I'd be okay. But... my poor dutch iris all sprouted after Thanksgiving. And now they're all weathered and wilted, so I'm guessing those are a no go for spring. :-( So when I saw the tulips starting (even before the crocus) I started to get worried! I guess I'll just sit back and let them do their thing. I just hope I have SOMETHING left to show come spring! And even though it's been really cold and snowy (for Tennessee), I always try to remind myself it could be worse (ie: East Coast)! :-)
Did you plant any other bulbs like Hyacinthus orientalis too? Patti
I see that you did, so those could be Hyacinthus. All should be fine. Nice collection. Patti
Did you plant any other bulbs like Hyacinthus orientalis too? Patti
We have lots of "things" poking up as always this time of the year too. Patience and Mother Nature will reward you as long as you planted viable bulbs at the correct depth. Bulbs are very tough and rewarding. Spring will come, but no matter it will always seem late to me. Here is a shot from one bed last April in our garden. Patti
My tulips came up in early February last year. I was worried since we still had a lot of cold weather ahead. Many people told me not to worry , that they would be fine. They turned out great. Also, my Dutch Iris have poked out the the ground the past two years in December. I have to say it really looks weird seeing those green shoots sticking through 10" of snow. Last Spring the iris were just as good as the tulips.
Shai, my irises are also out, as well as the muscari, some planted last fall, but also the ones planted in fall 2009. They seem to be doing fine despite the weather. I'm not worried and think with all that you've planted you'll have a beautiful Spring.
Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the encouragement. I only started gardening last Spring and most of what I attempted didn't go so well. Lilies grew, but didn't bloom. Dahlias grew and grew and grew, but the heat, slugs and aphids killed them before blooming. This being my first go at fall bulbs, I think I'm just worried about more failure. I've certainly learned a lot from just one year. So I'm hoping to have a better go at things this year! Went to Lowe's yesterday and saw they already have all their spring/summer bulbs out. Going to take another shot at lilies, dahlias and cannas... and hopefully try a few more things like caladium, bleeding heart, clematis, gladious, peony and hollyhock! :-)
Lily bulbs being sold in a warm store at this time of the year is not good as they can't be planted now. So I order most of mine in the fall, but I do always add some in the spring too. I have some on order from a coop which is a great source and a cheaper way to buy them. I go to some of the reliable fancy growers like Faraway, a DG member. I also always order from the DG member Bleek who does great bulbs naturally as he is a Dutchmen. He owns Eflowergarden and Touch of Nature. He has a good sale going on now for cannas, lilies, caladiums, DL's etc. in the classifieds on DG . He is incredible reliable and his bulbs are wonderful. I have an order for in already.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1149215/
Photo album link to the lilies that I have bought from eflowergarden
http://picasaweb.google.com/pmc.ack/LiliesBoughtFromEFLOWERGARDENInNantucketGarden?authkey=Gv1sRgCLvD9eyd_5Sncg&feat=directlink
This is from a posting from Pacific Northwest Lily Society which list the most reliable sources and a their warning about buying bulbs that are not stored correctly.
Lily Resourceshttp://pnwls.org/id10.html
Please do not buy your lily bulbs off the shelf, especially from "big box" stores - they are usually sprouting prematurely or dried out and dying, as they are kept indoors in heated areas. Unfortunately, even most retail nurseries do this. Lilies never go truly dormant like tulips or daffodils, and they must be kept in cold storage to retain their vital moisture, as they have no protective covering like most other bulbs. Buy local, buy mail order and you will really see the difference.
I agree that most big box stores are not the way to go, however, I have had nothing but the best luck with Costco bulbs. Of course, Costco orders once, and the packages of bulbs fly off the shelves, so they need no care. Blink, and they are gone! And unlike the big box stores, they get some great bulbs in small amounts, like fritillaria, giant allium, etc. I find them even more reliable than the garden centers.
Shai, my experience with tulips is that they come up when they're ready. I would expect the angeliques to come up later than many other tulips. I'm in 6b, too, and the first things out are generally daffodils/narcisus and grape hyacinth (muscari), often preceded by iris reticulata, which you do not even see until they're in bloom.
With regard to lilies, their first year is usually their worst, especially for the orientals, and they thrive after that. Last summer was unusually hot for this zone, and most of the lilies did not do well. The asiatics that bloom earlier were ok, because they came up before it got too hot. However, orientals that don't start to bloom before July 4th and go through the third week of August were spent by the end of July. It was not the most satisfying year for gardening. Bulbs are wonderful and produce beautiful blooms, but there are a lot of great plants (and herbs) that require little care and make a great compliment when the blooms are gone.
Keep in mind that with regards to lilies, they do not like wet feet, so make sure you planted them where they have good drainage, and they will pay you back!
You might also try some zantedeschia (calla lilies). Not only are they pretty, but they can be planted in the spring, and the bloom lasts a long, long time. They come in seemingly unlimited varieties.
shaigirl, See my post about container bulbs, the third photo. As you can see, I have tulips up also, even at this early date. I don't know if their green tops are as freeze hardy as daffodils, but we will see. There will definitely be more sharp frosts this winter and spring.
