When Are You Planting Bulbs This Year?

Dave47.....yeah my first year planting bulbs and now I'm having second thoughts. 45 lbs of bulbs, mostly small bulbs, arrived yesterday and I'm wondering if the lawn--I'm naturalizing nearly everything--will be garish. Maybe I just don't want to go out this chilly morning and start putting in another two thousand bulbs. That could be it.

Postive aspect is planting won't take much thought as whatever color/design scheme I had in mind for the lawn---and I did have a rudimentary plan--is now pretty much history. I bought on price. So 11 cent red and yellow species tulips are going to be in proximity to 4 cent purple sieberi crocus, 5 cent blue scilla, 6 cent mixed color Anemone blanda, 12 cent white galanthus and 53 cent peach and lemon hyacinth (my upper class bulbs).



This message was edited Nov 16, 2007 8:49 AM

Upper class? As in the East Side? Or do I have my locales all mixed up?

Who was it last spring who had a "stream" of grape hyacinth planted? She was head gardener at some fancy estate. Anyone remember? The pictures were stunningly beautiful. They had Brent and Becky up there personally. x, C

David, Your a color designer after my own heart! (and name)

the saffron crocus i got from blooming bulb's sale is almost all sprouting in the package.
can i do anything with them, or are they just a loss? (they were very inexpensive - thanks David!)

Amy, I'd just plant them and see what happens. Below is a link that might help.




http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/growguide-274.html

I agree, plant them.

i mean - they are sprouting.
but i'll give it a try.
whenever the predicted rain/snow lets me...

I have had daffs begin to sprout in the ground & still be fine in the spring.

Yes - happens every warm Fall.

David_Paul, Bulbs are never "garish" only joyous!

I just got back from a trip off island to VT and I came back with 400 lbs of cow manure in bags, but not a single bulb. I am going to first plant the last bunch of bulbs before laying down the cow manure. I had no idea how much to get, so I may need to get more on our next trip north. I have never figured out the size of my gardens so I think I will do that this week so I have a rough idea. Just saying "big" or "too many bed" , doesn't help when trying to figure for amounts.

I think the only time spouted bulbs in the fall is a problem is if you don't plant them deep enough. I have been trying to get my tulips a little deeper as I read that helps in improving the chances of having them come back. I planted 50 of a red tulip called "Come Back" last year. We shall see. Patti

Whoa, I missed a lot. Dave, the only "hickey" I know of is the kind you get in highschool.

I've got about 300 bulbs to plant this year... probably more, but I don't remember. I haven't gotten to them yet. Was supposed to this past weekend, but let it slip.

Patti, your photos from last spring are gorgeous. I'd like to see your place this upcoming spring. I'll bet it will be a show stopper for sure!

Harper

Ditto, Harper.
Patti's photos will be a joy to see, I'm sure.

Absolutely - should be a thread.

Oh dear, the pressure is on! I hope I can provide some good pictures to DG friends as only a handful of our friends ever see our garden and most aren't terrible interested. One always ask when it will be done? Too funny.

The nurseries in Vt and NH that usually have lots of bulbs left over on sale by now had almost nothing left when I looked last weekend. I didn't buy a thing. I think people are planting more bulbs in general. The Van Engelen bulb sale had far few available compared to what I remember from last year too. We planted another mess today. Almost done until the sale bulbs arrive next week. I will have tulips dancing in my head all winter.

I hope everyone has a wonderful T-day. Patti

bbrookrd . . .I wonder if we are seeing a lower stock of items on sale because some who buy large quantites of bulbs each year bought more this year in anticipation of higher prices next year due to the decline in the dollar. The Dutch are masters at pricing their merchandise to market, do hedge against currency fluctuations but we could see a price increase next year. I'm not putting in as many bulbs as you (I'm close however!) and the possibility of higher prices next year did factor in my decision.

David_Paul, that is an astute observation. I'll bet you are right. I keep track of all my bulb purchases in my journal so in the spring I think I will see what the price increase over three year (last 2 plus next spring) on some of my repeat orders for the same tulips from the same supplier is. I think I have a few bulb cats from the last few years squirreled away, so I will check those, too. I love the research.

The strong euro will no doubt affect the spring bulb prices plus shipping charges are way up with the increase in the cost of fuel. The low value of the US$ has put a complete damper on our proposed trip to Spain and France this winter. We went through sticker shock a couple of years ago in Italy so I think we are staying home. We often use to go to Canada in the winter, but that is out too! Patti

Lots of beauty to see in this country!

Victorgardener, oh some of the best travel and visuals anywhere are in the good ol'USA !

I have travelled widely since I was born visiting every state except Alaska. I do want to do a long meander in the north west some fall with a sleeping van/camper and get up to BC again. That was were my grandmother was from. But then when would I plant bulbs? Actually we would go before bulb planting time.

But this winter may be the time to go to NOL but not during Mardi Gras. I haven't been there in years. My almost other son is now in Law school at Tulane so it would be fun to visit him in his new world. We would be able to eat well for sure. I promised a friend that we would visit her in Sanibel during Red Sox spring training, but that will be a quick trip. I don't love the heat but I do love going to the games. Patti

Wow - I'm jealous, Patti. Hope to travel half as much as you have. Please call me Victor!

But what about those of us who didn't buy Dutch bulbs long - or would it be short? Who didn't buy Dutch bulb futures? And how many traveling tourists buy cut flowers? Just thinking out loud. x, C

carrielmont....hahaha.....

Now we don't want to encourage any tulipmania on Dave's forum do we? At least of the financial sort. I like bulbs but I don't want to take out a second mortage to buy any.

Good question of the need of tourists for cut flowers though. Hadn't thought of that. We've received them from foreign visitors when they've stayed as guests.

This message was edited Nov 20, 2007 7:59 PM

Victor, except that the dutch tourist will come in the summer when all our dutch bulbs have gone by. Maybe we could sell them day lilies as they last but one day, and then they would have to buy more every day! My DH was passing through the Amsterdam airport this past Sept and he bought me some tulip bulbs. They were pricey with the exchange and being at the airport, but it was a sweet thought. Plus to me, it was a better thing to do with his time there than go window shopping! Patti

and they let him bring them to the US? i couldn't buy plants or even seeds on PEI this August!

They were stamped as inspected with a tax for the privilege. I am sure the dutch have this all figured out as it must be there biggest tourist item. Patti

Dutch treat!

hahaha.
i was so sad that i couldn't bring back any plants from PEI though. We even went to Vesey's and explored their test gardens. i cam back with plant markers and their "American" seed catalog. i wanted lupines from the island.

amethystsm
New Haven, CT
(Zone 6a)

November 14, 2007
1:55 AM

Post #4191267
any maureen tulips?

On sale today here at 25% off but they will go down more later. Gobble Gobble. Patti

http://www.tulips.com/bulbs_detail.cfm?bulbid=47&catid=All

Oh gee Patti, thanks a lot..... x, C (I notice shipping price is calculated on original price not sale price. gulp. DH's student loan came through so I guess we at least have more "disposable" income.)

minimum shipping charge is $10. after that, it is 25 cents per $ ordered. i ordered from bulbs direct - they allowed me to replace esther with more maureen in the collection that they sell. nothing's on sale, but they charge no shipping. i wish i'da asked them sooner, then i'd have them by now - but i was SO sure they'd say no.

bulbs direct - do we have a website? (Like I need more bulbs for other people to plant ---
xx, Carrie

http://www.bulbsdirect.com/

and for anyone who cares, HD in north haven has quite a lot of bulbs 50% off, probably so many because: A. they are hidden in the back of the store, and B. because there is NO signage admitting they are on sale at all. Lots of irises, crocuses, and chiano-whatevers, darwin hybrid tulips, some triumphs. And some QONs.
HD in Berlin had lots this weekend cause they were ONLY 33% off! And right by a sliding door so when you looked at them the door opened and you froze.

Brrrr!!!

I still haven't gotten my bulbs in the ground... I think I'm procrastinating...

Maybe just a bit, Harper. But, you still have time!

I hope we get a few warm days so I can do it. I'm dreading going out there in the cold.

I'm right there with you, Harper. I HATE being chilly! Give me temps of 68 - 72 and I am in heaven!!

i think i'm about 1/2 done.
DH is helping me w/more this am and Friday am.
Just learned my Maureens won't ship until Friday. i think i'll be planting on Xmas.
sigh.

I've done that! I planted 144 daffodils one Christmas.