Planting tullips and other fall bulbs in Feb

Anybody has this kind of experience? Yesterday my friend brought me tulips and daffodills that she forgot to plant in fall. Wondering what will happen if i plant them now? Is it just a waste of time and my energy or not?

I just recently planted some in a container - many of them had growth already so I have high hopes!!!

I had bought some daffodils from my grandson's school fund raiser.... and there they sat. A few weeks ago I planted them, not even very caringly, and yesterday I noticed they are up about 5" ~ whether they'll bloom or not I guess I'll see! They're really not too far behind bulbs that have been in the ground awhile.... I always figure it's worth a try.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I still have about a hundred to put in the ground. Should be out there now, but can't bring myself to go out...

Gwen

Here's the probable answer: tulips and, I think, daffs, need 8-12 weeks of cold in the ground to bloom well, which is why people generally plant in the fall. If you are lucky, planting now might get you some blooms, but the more likely scenario is that you'll get leaves but no flowers the first year. If you have the kind that come back again every year, then you should get flowers next year. It kind of depends on how fast 'spring' comes. But at any rate, they won't do anything for you sitting in the garage! LOL!!.

Pixydish, thanks for information, i have planted some in pots and now thinking if it depends on "How fast spring will come", maybe i should move pots with later tulips to Northen side of my house where spring will come later. Will do today.

the ones in pots you might try putting in the fridge (if you have an extra one, that is) and taking them out in June. It might 'trick' them into blooming late. I've never tried it, but who knows?

BrierGardener, I had a similar experience with hundreds of bulbs 2 years ago. I went to a Lowes Hardware Nursey area in December and found hundreds of bulbs on clearance due to lack of sales in the late fall; reduced down to 3 cents each. I went crazy and bought nearly 300 bulbs but for less than $10 total. I have deduced that all the Crocus were planted too shallow but the remainder have thrived. Thank god that most bulbs associated with Holland are zone 3-4. Anyway after 2 years it appears we have more tulip, daffodil, hiacynth and allium bulbs than what we started with. They tend to split and usually thrive most everywhere in Washington, even here on the edge of the desert. We can all take pride in the vast tulip and daffodil nurseries in the Skagit Valley and also those near Puyallup.

I have planted some bulbs at the end of December prev years (bought on sales as photographer) and they went fine, but I have never tried to plant them in Feb at time when their "brothers" are almost ready to pop up.

Don't have place in frigde for bulbs, well, will see what happens.

I finally got the last bulb in the ground yesterday. Will report back in spring of '08 and let you know how they did.

Gwen

keep a good thought and WILL them to bloom for them!!

A few weeks ago I planted some daffs I had in my garage as well. They were starting to grow in the garage so I thought I would see what happens. If not this year, well, next.

I just read in my new issue of Horticulture that your daffs should bloom, albeit late this year. The tulips, however, they said would not be worth saving. So good news on the daffs, anyway!

Very cool. Thanks Pix!

:) You bet!

Pixy, throw that mag away - that's NOT what I want to hear. Mine are all tulips and alliums. And I about killed myself getting them into the ground.

Gwen

I'm right there with ya, Gwen!! I just got my tulips in the ground a few weeks ago! Even if they don't bloom this year maybe I'll be around to see them bloom next year?

Here's my advice: plant them and forget about it!! Nothing you can do about it now, and you never know! You might get lucky. Gwen, I'll bet the alliums bloom, but late. If the tulips have been stored in the cold, they might surprise you.

Mine were in the house most of the winter. Then I finally had a duh moment and put them in the garage......when I just couldn't find the time to get them in the ground. Needless to say, when I finally planted them it only took me about an hour and a half! Sheesh, why didn't I do it earlier!!?? (Laziness!)

I've been pleasantly surprised more than once - or maybe I should say rewarded - when a bulb I planted ridiculous late came up and bloomed! I planted a ton of tulips in January, but I think that timing was still okay - they are all up beautifully. They are all in containers and I need to move them to the front and/or the deck so I can see them when they bloom. I planted a bunch in containers last year as well and then put them at the back of the property when they were done - all seem to be returning!