bulb ?

I saw on martha once(b4 i quit wathcin)that you should peel the dry stuff off your bulbs before planting them-what do you all think?
I know if you see moldy stuff your suppose to take that off.
Opinions Plez!

I just left mine on when I planted. I really don't know if it makes a difference.

After she peeled off the dry stuff, did she recommend rubbing the bulbs with an Irish linen tea towel moistened with a flavorful fruity extra-virgin olive oil to prevent further dryness?

nope dont remember her doing that-but i dont like to pay attention to her! =]

Maybe you should get a second opinion after the advise from Dr. Pardancanda...??

John, that was good!! LOL!!

isnt he a card! lol

lolol@John. I've never removed the skin from bulbs - I figure God and nature put it on there for a reason, and who am I to second guess? (Maybe THAT's the difference between Martha and the rest of us mere mortals?!?!)

Some Tulip varieties, mostly Darwin Hybrids and some Fosteriana have such a hard skin, that the new roots go all around the base of the bulb inside the skin before finding a crack to go through. It is with those varieties that it would make it much easier for the roots to develop and go staight down instead of all in a bundle. I have never heard it done for other bulbs.

the only reason bulbs have difficulty getting through tunics is cos they are dried out by being out of the ground.

the tunic is just the old scales from years gone by and is probably there to protect the bulb