Can I keep my bulbs in the frig over the winter?

Can I keep my bulbs in the frig over the winter?I have lots of hyacinth and frit bulbs I didn't get a chance to plant before it froze here, and since I just read if they don't have roots over the winter they will die,I can't afford to loose the frits they cost way to much.Please help.Thanks ahead of time :-)

Can you pot them and leave in the house properly cared for?

They all have to be cool/cold for at least 10-15 weeks, I think.
Do they have to be potted in soil or can I just put them in the frig,in the crisper?

How cold is your garage? You could keep them potted in there over the winter...keep the soil lightly moist.

I don't have a garage,I have a barn,but it's as cold as it is outside which is 8-10 degreees at night,over the last couple of weeks.I don't know what to do.:-(

Do you have a basement? You could pot them up and leave them in a cold area of your basement.

Jody... Not sure about your frit bulbs, but we keep tulip, hyacinth, daffodils, crocus and that type in the fridge. We put ours in seperate brown bags and then put in a card board box til we get ready to plant them. You need to make sure they are really dry, other wise they will develop some mold. We check every so often and if one starts to develop mold it gets pitched then.

You might try taking a wooden box of some sort critters can't get in and storing them in sawdust and putting in your barn and covering up good with some straw or hay. The extra cold may help keep them from germinating early. Not sure.

You can pot them up , putting several bulbs in a pot and puttign them in your fridge, but they will have mositure that way and eventually when they reach they cold requirement they will start developing roots and sprouting in your fridge when your not quite ready for them.

Also if potted in your fridge, you may see what looks like mold or fungi growing on the top of the pot, that is superficial. It will disappear once the bulbs are brought out into the warmth and sunshine.

Tulips, and hyacinths and such are all shipped and stored round the world with no roots. The roots don't start to develop til the bulbs have moisture and soil for food.

The frits, I think I would put in pots and make room some how in the fridge for them. Think they are kinda fussy about their conditions.

I have bulbs in my fridge now in bown sacks and wax paper sacks you can't see through chilling, but never handled frits.

If no Northern gardners chime in you might call the local extension office for advice. It free and they glad to help out. if they don't know the answer right off they will contact professionals with the answers and get back to you.

No basement either.

Thanks starlight,I will follow your directions..:-)

Jody, I got in the same bind last year and had too many to keep in the fridg. I potted them all up and lined them up right up against the house. Then I covered them with a deep layer of straw. It was spring before I got them in the ground and they all did fine. They were all hyacinths, daffodils, and muscari. Good luck!
Neal

Jody, I once potted up a bunch of bulbs that I was given in Dec and put them in the coolest closet in my house until the Jan. thaw and then planted the pots in holes I dug. I covered them well. In the spring I had pots that I could lift and enjoy inside . Most of them where fine and I planted them correctly in the fall. If your ground is too frozen to plant from now till spring, you could lay them out (in pots or not) on top of the ground and put 10" of dirt or potting soil and mulch on top and I bet they would grow as if they were in a raised bed. Worth a try. If you have critters, lay some chicken wire on top. Patti

Thank you Neal and Patti...:-) I might try several different ways.lol.
To see which works the best for future late plantings...I'm more worried about the Fritillirias,I spent the most on them.Thanks everyone for your help!