bulbs: digging up in spring

Help! I have to move an entire garden of bulbs and I have to do it now. How can I save the bulbs for next year??? plant them now or store them? Help!

Are they all perennials? If so, you can get large plastic totes and place small holes in the bottom for drainage. Fill with soil and place your bulbs there until you are ready to plant them again.

I'd plant them if the foliage hasn't completely died back. I've moved them with great success as long as you don't damage the foliage. They will transplant into new beds easily and I've also potted them up and replanted them in new spots the fall. Hope this helps.

oops - my husband dug them up and took off the foliage. Am I done for? thanks for your replies

When did they finish flowering?

Probably around the1st or 2nd week of April - The stems were pretty ratty when he cut them down.

I think they should be ok then. There may have been enough time for the foliage to regenerate the bulbs for flowers next year if it has died back quite a bit, but then I'm no expert on how long things actually need to keep their foliage. Anyone? I think its worth a shot to keep them.

Sounds like they'll probably be ok. I moved mine to my new garden last year around the first week of June, and several of the daffodils were still green. I was concerned, but all bloomed very well this spring. Since you're in a warmer zone, yours would be a few weeks further along, so I'd bet they had plenty of time. The worst would be few or no flowers next year, but from there on they'll be fine. I'm referring to bulbs that are known to return well, like daffodils.
Neal

As far as I know bulbs don't have to "ripen" the way seeds would. I would assume that if the bulbs look like they are big enough to bloom next year they most likely will. Even if they don't they should be fine the year after.

Bulbs do need the foliage to feed on after blooming, however, in my experience once the foliage has become "ratty" looking, I have cut it down because of the look of it. I have had them return the following year with no problems. I have done this with Iris, Daffodils, Tiger Lilies, Day Lilies and Calla Lillies.