What to do w/found tulips?

I have about 100 tulip bulbs that I found when a landscaping crew was going to toss in the trash. They were done blooming. My question is how do I store these bulbs from now until next fall when I can get them in the ground? I cut the leaves off & have them sitting in a box in a cool basement. Should I plant these back in the ground now so they will have a chance to store their energy? I heard squirrels love to eat them? So afraid those pests will eat them all up. I have lots in the yard. If leave in the basement, I do not want to water them, right? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

tc

I always thought you were'nt suppose to cut the leaves off until they had died back. I really have never tried to move tulips I just discard when they don't bloom any more and plant new in the fall. Sorry I can't help tc.

Yes, the leaves really shouldn't be cut back until they've dried, as they provide nutrients for the bulb. I think you might want to just run the risk of putting them in the ground now and hoping for the best. I don't know that they'll do well in the basement as tulips need cold in order to bloom. Some tulips aren't good repeaters anyway, so maybe you've not lost much, but only time will tell that. They were free, so you've got nothing to lose! :-)

As for your squirrel problem......if you put them under chicken wire, they squirrels can't dig through to get them. They do love tulip bulbs, but for some reason, they tend to eat some types and leave others alone. Also planting frittilaria (sp?) bulbs next to the tulips will help keep the squirrels away as the bulbs smell like skunks!

I'm trying to get mine to divide and fill in space, any ideas?

planting them somewhere might be your best option. I've done that before and it worked. You just have to remember where they are so you don't dig there and damage them. Liz

yes, plant them! Hopefully they will grow some leaves. there are some types that repeat each year, like the Species tulips and the Darwins. If these tulips had been around for awhile, they are probably repeaters and may bring you some beautiful returns next spring. I also plant them about 8 inches deep instead of 6 inches to help avoid the squirrels and I put the chicken wire down at about 2 inches deep. I have put daffodil bulblets in with them which are poisonous and also deter the squirrels. Good luck.

The leaves are what send the nutients down to the bulbs. Since the bulbs were pulled out of the ground then cutting the leaves off was a logical thing to do anyway. They could have stored enough energy to bloom next year but at the very least you should have the foliage come up and if the foliage is allowed to stay until it naturally yellows next year then hopefully you will get blooms the following year. I would plant them in the outskirts of where you would like to see foliage. Don't make them your main show just in case they don't bloom, but the foliage on tulips is so pretty anyway I think. Maybe you can even get some bulbs to intersperse among those in case you don't get blooms. You never know, if you take good care of those bulbs they may grow more for you.

Thanks, everyone!!! Guess I need to start digging... was hoping i could wait until at least fall... :-{

These bulbs probably won't bloom next year, but don't give up on them. Hopefully they will grow new leaves next year and then bloom the following year. I never throw out forced bulbs. I plant them out of the pots when the weather allows. If the bulbs are firm, they will usually grow leaves the next year to rejuvinate themselves and then bloom the following year. Be patient and plant them somewhere "on the back burner"