Uh Oh,

I planted these anemone 'Lord Lieutenant' yesterday http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/103402/index.html
without reading up on them. So of course I am one zone off plus I didn't soak them. What are my chances? Should I mulch heavy and hope? Water lots in the spring? We planted 45 of them!

Thanks!
-Kim

Wow--that's a pretty anemone! I would just mulch really heavy with pine needles (if you have some near you) and then hardwood on top. The pine needles will provide an "air layer" of insulation and then the dark hardwood will heat up fast on any sunny day.

I realize I'm way out of your zone--but I bend zones for tropical bulbs too. We've already had 3 freezes and last winter only had one.
Debbie

Kim, my fingers will be crossed -- I want to see those! :-)

I've been asking around about soaking Anemone blanda, and I think my conclusion is that it's OK not to soak them if planted in fall since our winter rain/snow seems to pretty much do the job. If you soak them and plant before the soil is really cold, there's a chance they'll try to sprout too soon.

I don't know if that holds true for the ones you planted, but as you said, I'd "mulch heavy & hope." I sure wouldn't want to try to dig up anemones to soak them or to move them! The A. blanda I planted looked like nothing so much as little "nuggets" out of the litter box, and they were almost impossible to see if you dropped them in the dirt. Depending on where you planted them, you might also be able to create a warmer micro-zone by putting a big rock nearby to act as a heat sink... Out of 45, I'm sure some of them will survive the winter!

Ok, I will mulch them and we will have to wait and see next year! No instant gratification with bulbs.

Debbie - you have had freezes in zone 9?? That can't be good. So much for global warming in your area.

Jill - they just disappeared the minute I put them in the hole they matched the dirt so well. I was almost wondering if I got bad ones since they were so shriveled up and dark brown-LOL. I do hope they come up, we planted them on both sides of the front walkway. BTW, I got them @ DPF for half price.

3rd one so far last night--I'm really on the edge of 9a/8b. This is a typical winter so far...last year was unusually warm.

I just checked the cultural instructions leaflet that came with my Brent and Becky's order, and it says to soak Anemone blanda and Anemone coronaria in tepid water overnight if the soil is not moist. Our soil has definitely been "moist" lately, LOL.

I guess I should've paid more attention and tried to plant them on edge, but I think chances are slim that any of them ended up perfectly flatly upside down! I put 210 into one little bed (new little "island" in front with dogwood saplings & azalea trio), so surely some of them will bloom & grow for me. *fingers crossed!*

Critter I bet yours and bluekats will do great. Bulbs really are pretty durable, tough, and forgiving. That's what they are designed to survive! =)

Debbie, I hope you are right! Who knows which way mine ended up - one side or the other not on edge that's for sure. Mine will be growing down to China-LOL

A friend of mine here in zone 6 also planted tender anemones last fall and they survived fine without mulch. I picked up 80 at half off and planted them deep and mulched them well, so we'll see. My friend said he just dropped them in the holes not knowing which way was up, but they seemed to right themselves. Mine are mixed, but I sure hope I see some of those gorgeous blues!

Well that gives me hope, Thank you gemini. Our winter has turned back into fall 50's and 60's this week. I hope that is good for bulbs, corms, whatever....