Bulb rescue tips?

Hi fellow gardeners!

Has anyone out there tried planting bulb out of season? If so, how'd they turn out?
I just received two large bags of daffodil and tulip bulbs that never made it into the ground last fall; there must be dozens of them. I promised to see if I could rescue them. I've actually got some space, and I hate to waste plants, but I don't know if they even have a chance.

They've been stored cold and dark, and they've all got small (< 1") green tips peeking out the tops, while in my garden the tulips are already 4-6" tall and my daffs are going to open this week. (I'm in Seattle, zone 7~8-ish.)

I'm guessing the biggest concern is for these bulbs is, they've got no time to develop a root system. Can I solve that problem by simply snipping off all the flower buds this Spring, or would they still not develop roots? Should I just not bother with them? Does anyone out there know any cool tricks?

Thanks so much, everybody!
Larisa

Larisa,

Well I have a similar situation in that I had a few packs of tulip bulbs leftover in my bulb refrigerator that I just planted a little over a week ago. I will let you know how they turn out! My opinion about the root system is that in both your climate and mine we really don't get long periods where the soil freezes solid, so they should be able to root. I bet they bloom. So, with that said, I would go ahead and plant them if I were you.

Steve

This message was edited Feb 19, 2006 9:45 PM

I'd plant them as is. Their clock should get reset eventually. I wouldn't cut anything off.

Steve and Beaker,
Thanks! I'll pop 'em in and see what happens, especially *next* Spring. I'll be sure and post the results.