I'm moving, need bulb advice

I moved in here 13 months ago with a plan to stay for 2 years before moving further north here in Florida (zone9). Well, my landlord is selling the house and I now find my plans are bumped ahead of schedule. I will be out of here by 12/31 at the latest. Once I got to thinking about it, I came to the conclusion bulbs and seeds are a LOT easier to transport than potted plants. So for the bulbs, here we go.

Naked Ladies: They have been putting out foliage off and on all summer in various beds around the yard. Will they be blooming soon and if not will it hurt to dig them and send them into dormancy until January or so?

The more I think about it, the more bulbs I need to search around in the ground for. You know, out of sight, out of mind? Let's see: Glads, freesias, rain lilies, hyacinths amaryllis, peacock orchids, tuberose, alliums, naked ladies and that's all I can think of for now. But I bet when I start digging I will run into bulbs everywhere.

My alliums that never bloomed all year still have a scallion like foliage and have not died back. Can I dig and store them?

Is there a general rule of thumb that I can go by, or shall I just dig them all up and hope for the best?

Any and all advice is much appreciated. Thanks,
Molly

Molly,
I was going to respond earlier but wanted people from your area to give you advice.
If it were me, I would just dig them up and take them with you. Either they will bloom next year or they could wait a year to bloom. But if you don't dig them, you end up leaving them for the new owner. That won't be good to do.
A lot of people dig their bulbs up too early because they don't like the dying foliage. The bulbs may suffer a bit but in the future years, they will be fine.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Happy digging!
Carol

Opposite end of the US here, but I would dig them too - then stick them back in your new place asap. My naked ladies put out foliage for three years - I forgot what they were- and low and behold this year they flowered!! I've had alium just to the foliage thing too - I assumed they were offsets that were starting up and would bloom in a couple of years.

Carol, Thanks so much. And that is good news even if I have to dig them earlier than the bulbs like.

The new land is mine and I won't be leaving it anytime soon. Got plenty of time to wait for them to perform.

Molly
:^)))

Sarv,

Thanks to you too. I was waiting for word here so now I can go out and get my hands and knees dirty and start digging.

It's overcast out there, a great time to work in the yard.

Molly
:^)))

Molly the naked ladies don't have a problem with being moved. I sent some this year and just got an email where they were blooming. I don't think any bulbs would pose a problem with being moved. Let me know when you get moved and I will have you some things ready next spring.

Jim,

Thank you so much, you are so kind and generous.

Molly
:^)))

P.S. I have some hostas that a little bird send me last year that are gonna love their new home in zone 9.

Molly...if you had been asking about Grape Hyacinth, Gladiola, or Liatris I could have helped you out. I thought maybe you might be asking about lilies, too. I guess, in a way, you were. LOL

So I'll ask...What about Lilies??? Can I move them now...even though I'm not moving to a new home? :-D

~julie~

Julie,

You mean like Daylilies? I say yes, you have time before first frost? Any other lilies? me....duh

Molly
:^)))

I will love to send you some new plants too, Molly, next spring. You know that. I will have more perennials that will need to be divided so you will be first in line.
Just let me know when you are ready to fill in spaces, lol.
Carol

Carol,

Oh my, my, did I tell you I have 5 acres? mmmmwwwwaahhhhhahahahaa

((((((((Daisyruffles))))))))))

Molly
:^)))

Yeah, you told me 5 acres. lol

So when I want to get rid of something, I will think of you, hehe.
Tho I won't send you any invasive plants. I am kind of sick of them and have learned some hard lessons.
You know I will have good old dahlias for ya.
Later, Carol

Hey Molly! I've got CANNAS!!! Mwaaaahaaaaahaaaa. :-D (LOTS of them!) Seriously, you *do* know that you could dig those and let them go dormant, don't you?

I just came in from watering (and planting those 'invasives' that Carol sent ~grin~). It looks like I'll be able to help you out with plants come spring, too! And I'm sure I'll lots of seeds that you can grow down there, as well. (I'll start a 'Molly' box...and keep seeds and notes in there.)

Little girl, you won't go in 'need' for plants, that's for sure.

Oh...and I was talking about Orientals, Asiatic, etc.

~julie~

Julie,

I bet I have sent or given away 30-40 pounds of cannas this summer (some to local members) and yet I still saved a few for myself. That is very good to know they will go dormant. Moving further away from here, maybe the leaf rollers won't be able to find me. heehee

You are so sweet making me a Molly Box. My heart is swelling with yours and everyone else's generosity. And it is much appreciated. With this major change in everything, home, job etc, I will have to refrain from frivolous and impulse buying, most of that has been plants of course. I don't spend much money for things other than basics and plants.

I also have some oriental/asiatic lilies in the flower beds. I received them from the KYRU not even knowing what they were until they sprouted and bloomed. So what is the answer to that bulb question? Do we know?

Maybe the same as the rest.

((((Julie))))

Molly
:^)))

Molly, on your lilies, like asiatic, oriental, orienpets, trumpets, etc. make sure the stem has died or is a dp. brown, then you can safely dig them. I would pot them up as they should not be out in the open very long or the bulb drys out.
Or you could put them in some spagnum and put in frig. Don't keep apples or potatoes in the frig with them. Retards them from blooming.
Also don't have the spagnum wet, just barely damp!!

Thanks Maxine, I will have a care about that.

Molly
:^)))

Molly...here's a special (((( ~hug~)))) for you.

BTW...I got the 4:00 seeds today...I didn't plant them! LOL

OH...nearly forgot! Thanks for the info Maxine...I'll wait until they go brown and transplant them immediately.

~julie~

Julie,

Isn't it great? All our questions are getting answered today.

So glad the seeds arrived and you had to take some pink with the white, that is the rule. Heehee. Getting more and more seeds daily.

Molly
:^)))

Molly,
Can these 4 o'clock plants grow in pots? Or do they need a deep root system?
Can they be controlled in pots without reseeding all over?
If so, can I have some??? Please???
Carol

Carol,

I don't believe they are very deep rooted so you can grow them in pots. They do make a lot of seeds but I'm sure you can control that. They smell lovely and they bloom every day by 4 or 5 during daylight savings time, until well after dark.

I am gathering seeds every day so will put some together for you this weekend.

Don't be frightened by what you see here. I intentionally planted all these 4:00's here along with the sweet potato vines to rule over the wild aspargus vines. AND, they succeeded.

Molly
:^))

I was out gathering seed this morning, barefooted. (Keep in mind I have 2 dogs) I am wading through the vines to get the seeds. Doggy doo was either 2nd or 1st in my mind, the other thought was: what is lurking beneath the vines.................................

I've experienced the doo before and once found a shed snake skin out in that patch. Luckily I have very nice snakes.

:^)))

Hi Molly, long time no talk. Since I have been hesitant to ask for anything, but seeing other people have, can I have some 4'oclock seeds. I like so many others am gathering seeds everyday. I will start you a box also, then when you are ready, LMK and I will send it to you. Are you planning on having a veggie garden also? I can furnish lots of garden seed too.

Everything has worked out great for the RU. Bob & Esther are staying with me. Don't know them, but seem like lovely people. I'll give you a report after next weekend. Really gonna miss meeting you! Okay start marking your calendar for 2006!!

Bonnie,

I am so happy you worked that out with Bob and Esther. They ARE lovely people. They had the cabin next to mine last year and they gave me a lot of wonderful things, even a burpless cucumber, my very first. Please give them hugs for me?

And yes, you may certainly have some 4:00 seeds, still gathering through the weekend and putting you down for mailing. With the land I have, I hope to put in a veggie garden and I would love some seeds for edibles. Maybe sooner than your spring though. We start ours earlier down here to beat the heat.

I have your address in the KYRU file.

Molly
:^)))

Carol...I grew 4 o'clocks in containers last year ('04)...1/2 barrels...and the roots got really big but they did just fine. I didn't have a single volunteer seedling. But you have to remember I'm in Z4b/5a so I didn't expect that to happen.

~grin~ Yep, Molly...I saw the pack of pink along with the pack of white. I grinned when I saw it. Oh...I was going to tell you that the inside of the package was a little damp. Did I get a little bit of 'Rita' in there? :-)

~julie~

Julie,

I believe you might have a little Rita in there. I ran 4 packets and 1 box to the post office that day just to find they had chained the door shut and sent everyone home. I drove around hoping there was a mail carrier still out on the streets, but no luck.

We could dramatize this by saying that I went through a hurricane to get those to you, but that's just plain silly. The weather did nothing more than our regularly scheduled daily tropical storm.

I didn't dig bulb 1 yesterday. Couldn't seem to get away from this electronic contraption. But, it's the weekend now and I'm getting out there today.

Molly
:^)))

Molly...you're a *good* person. It ain't just anybody that would tear out in a hurricane to mail some seeds! LOL

Now...get busy. Cuz if you answer me *I* won't get anything done either. :-D

~julie~

Molly,
Cute statement!
But I forgot to tell you. I have seeds that you can have from my garden that I harvested this summer/fall. I have delphiniums (about 6 different colors), a few columbines (diff. colors), sweet peas, Sweet William (Dianthus, mixed colors), and Ragged Robin (wildflower). Can't think of any others yet. Brain isn't in gear this morning yet.
Would like some of these seeds for your new place? I can send them now or wait until you get to your new places so you don't lose them. Just let me know.
Get digging, girl, lol!
Carol

Carol,

They all sound just wonderful and I would ask that you wait until I have moved. You are right, we don't want to lose them in the mass exodus from S. Florida.

I painted myself a "Plant Sale" sign and while I am digging bulbs, my DS will be manning the "cash register" with the listing of plant names and descriptions.

That's what I decided I wanted for my birthday and he's out now cleaning debris from the yard and hauling plants to the front yard.

Maybe I will sell some bulbs too. Not sure yet. We'll see how it goes.

Molly
:^)))

Well, hope you sell a lot then so you will have money for the new place.
Tho I thought you wanted to take all the plants with you???
Your son seems to have come along in life and am so glad for you.
Well, I need to get outside too but it is cold out there. Like 35-40 degrees. Geez, not ready for this kind of weather yet.
Just let me know when you want the seed. I will be glad to save some for you.
Later, Carol

Carol,

There are quite a few that I can sell here. I have seed to grow more later. Tree seedlings and all the hibiscus from the coop are for sale anyway, except one of each hybrid I am keeping. So better to sell here than holding to sell later.

I still plan to take a lot north with me. Hostas, violas and of course the trade plants I got this year from you and our friends here. Those are all very special to me and they will do much better up there.

So sorry to hear it's so cold, my, way to early for that.

Molly
:^)))

Carol...I'm glad you mentioned that you're dealing with cold temps. I was just about to dig up some DL's to send them thinking you would have more time to get them settled in. (Whew! That was almost a mistake.)

Molly...I got you in my list for extra fans of DL's next spring, if you want some.

~julie~

Julie,
I will have plenty of time to plant perennials. It doesn't freeze here until at least Halloween time. I am still planting now and will be in the next month. So if you want to send them, that is fine.
It just seems to be so much cooler than normal tho. I just don't like it. We had a short summer so.... But can't complain. It really hasn't rained much lately. It has been clear and sunny, tho cold in the mornings and foggy some days too.
Carol

Hello Miss Molly! Out of necessity, I have been digging bulbs and hems and perennials by the dozen then I run over and pot them as soon as I have that many out of the ground. Nothing has wilted at all! All my lilies are just fine too! I tossed a couple inches of Promix in the bottom of the pots, set in the bulbs then filled the rest of the way with the Promix. I have not even had to cut back the hems unless they were super tall or bushy ones. I have 95% of the stuff dug from the back yard and will be working on the front soon. I need to be able to back a truck into the yard. LOL

Oh, we grow 5 o'clocks here. :)

Chele,

I just sent you a d-mail on that other item. But I did want to ask, about daylilies.

I was thinking it would be so much easier to transport them without soil and pots. So, can I dig them, lay them out in rubbermaid bins between shredded papers and move them that way? If I can, how long can they safely remain in the bin without danger of damage to them?

They could be the last things I pack on the last trip out of town. But once I arrive north, right now I have no idea of how much I have to do when I get there before I can hit the dirt.

What do you think?

Molly
:^)))

Badseed...that's good to know! (The part about the plants not wilting or suffering) I just may run out between rain showers and do the same thing with the lilies I want to move. I guess I can take an 'if they live, they live' attitude and they'll probably be just fine.

Carol...I might dig up a few of those DL's at the same time (IF I don't get drowned!) and send them off to you. LOL That box of Sweet Woodruff really was a bunch! But they're safely in the ground now. If you have a link to the Garnet Penstemon, I'd sure like to see it.

~julie~

Not to ruin Molly's thread here, but am too lazy and busy to sent it otherwise.
Here is one pic. of the 'Red Garnet' penstemon.

Here's a close up of it.

Molly, I kind of have a luxury you may not have. I have potted everything I dug until now. I am planning on getting the beds in this week. All the rest of the plants are going to get pitched in plastic bags, loaded up and replanted within hours. I only have an hour drive, door to door. It is also cool in the evening here and overcast and very humid during the day as we go into our fall season. Right now is a perfect time for planting here. I am not sure how your seasons work in Florida.

Since you don't have to deal with the harsh winters like I do, would it be possible to buy those plastic window boxes and put several in each one? That way you could set them in the sun, keep them watered and not have to worry about them. I imagine your plan would work as I assume that is how they do them when they sell them boxed. I think you would have to take care that they do not mold, get overly wet or overly dry. When not in dirt, the plant will still grow and zap every bit of life from the tuber/bulb/rhizome, etc.

Carol,

Thanks for sharing the photos, the penstemon are lovely, as are the other bloomers nest to it. And you are welcome to talk in my threads anytime you want :^))))

Chele,

Thanks for the tips. If I pack them into rubbermaids, I will have to get them there and soaking ready to plant, faster than priority mail service. That's possible, but the stress......Window boxes are a good idea too.

As the move draws nearer, I will be able to make more definite decisions on this and many other factors. After looking at the health department and building and zoning hoops I have to jump through, I may just pitch a tent. Don't need a permit for that. (I don't think)

That's todays frustration. I'll have a lot more complaints after I go up there next week and try to get something constructive done.

Molly
:^)))

Thanks Molly...I didn't mean to take as much time here as I've taken either.
:-D

Carol...that's gorgeous! (Sure hope it makes it through my winter) And you've got it planted with a super Dahlia. The colors look great together.

~julie~