Saving Tulips in Zone 8

They are *almost* hardy here. I planted abunch last year and a few came back but never flowered. This year I also planted a ton but want to save them. I can't afford to buy them every year.

I waited until most of the foliage was gone and dug them up. I put them on the porch in a box for about a week. Most of the stems came off the bulbs. The bulbs are also all split, some big, some little. So I seperated them all. I am letting them dry a little longer then storing in the dark until fall, them back to the frig. Planning on storing in a peat/soil mix, dry. Please tell me if this is right.

Also, should I even bother planting the little ones? Will they grow in storage? Or should I just send them to someone who can plant them permanently and wait a couple years for blooms?

Michelle

Discard the small ones. Store the bulbs dry, but i would just use straight peat or wooden shavings (soil can affect storage).

If you have room in your fridge you can chill them in there over the winter, and they should bloom again for you.

I am thinking about getting a spare fridge just for that purpose, but since I live in Zone 4 it would be used for my summer bulbs that aren't hardy in the ground overwinter.

I think the problem with tulips in warm climates is that they actually need the cold they get so easily in the north! I don't know the exact techniques that are used.

What kind of bulbs are you talking about? If it's daffodils, and jonquils they can stay in the ground. I've heard that there are about 6 kinds of tulip that do well in Texas. Supposedly you can leave them in the ground and they will even multiply and bloom. Somebody sent me a link about that. If I can just find it I'll post it here.