Spring bulbs already coming up. What to do?

I have been growing bulbs in containers for a long time, with mostly satisfactory results. Maybe all of this is normal, but it just seems far too early for all this growth (winter isn't even here yet!) Would appreciate any advice on the situations below..

1) Many of my container-grown bulbs (daffs, tulips, crocus) are already starting to poke out. Isn't this far too early? Should I try to put more soil and/or mulch over them?

2) Also, have some pots of grape hyacinth that are full of green leggy stuff. Looks like somebody needs to get in there with the lawnmower. Last spring was my first experience with these so I don't really know if this is normal in the late fall/early winter.

3) Pots of dutch iris are sticking thin green shoots out. I think this is normal but would appreciate advice

Jo,

Totally normal on both the Muscari and Dutch Iris. Mine always come up in fall and that is after having been in the ground for several years. Sometimes I will even see Muscari leaves in late summer. Both plants seem to bloom at normal time however, which would be March for the Muscari and April for Dutch iris for me.

The daffs, hyacinths and tulips will normally start to gradually grow and sprout for me as the weather cools. If they're planted deeply in the ground they normally won't break the surface until January or February for early blooing daffodils and some hyacinths, and still usually flower in March (early daffs & hyacinths) or April (tulips and later daffs). Some daffodils, esecially late varieties like Sir Winston Churchill, bloom in April with the Irises.

When you plant in a pot, the pot is naturally going to likely mean a shallow planting depth. Not entirely abnormal to see early sprouting but since it is still November I might be a little worried about those, especially the tulips, since those normally aren't the best for containers anyway. Do you normally grow in pots and allow to return each year, or are you talking first-year bulbs here that you replant each year? If forcing hyacinths, I plant in a pot in soil and refrigerate the whole pot. I do have some hyacinths in outdoor pots but they're fairly deep and while they may emerge early the first year, they will return to a more normal timetable in susequent years and I have some hyacinths that have been potted up 6 years now and still blooming at normal time (though blooms are not nearly as full as they used to be).

thanks steve-

You're right about tulips -- I never count on them coming back, but some of these seem to be trying. I discovered them by accident while putting some new bulbs in the containers. I guess I'll put the new ones in there too and see what develops come spring time.

I have a bit of room left in the containers with daffs, so I guess I'll top them off with a bit more soil and leaves and hope for the best. Am putting in some new ones too just in case none of the older ones make it.