Planting bulbs this week

Hi,

I plan to do all my bulb planting this week. (zone 6) temps will be 40 to 20's

I'm pretty sure the daffodils in the ground will be OK but I had planned to fill my hanging basket containers with early flowering tulip bulbs. When the tulips are done I'll replace them with the ususal annuals. Am I too late for the tulips? i.e. won't the small containers freeze before the tulips have had time to put out roots. I just can't seem to get any good information on tulips in small containers and what kind of protection they need (if any) in my zone.

Anyone had any experience with this in my zone?

Thanks!

You're right, probably late for them to root before the pots freeze, but if you keep the pots next to the foundation of a structure with some mulch piled on they should be fine. That's typically how I overwinter fall bulbs in pots. I've used my unheated basement with good results too. I've found if they freeze before roots are established they'll sometimes turn mushy.

I always end up ordering clearance bulbs at the end of season and some years the ground is already frozen, so I pot them up and treat them this way.

If you can plant the tulips and other bulbs in the ground anytime in Dec or even during a Jan thaw they should be just fine. I plant them at 8" using an auger at the end of an electric drill. We just planted more 6000 bulbs this week in Nantucket which is slightly warmer than you. Our ground was frozen the week before, but we had a warm spell this so we had great planting weather. But we have planted in Dec to mid Jan. in Southern Vt and had a good show. Many bulbs fail because they are planted too early when the ground is too warm. Good luck. Patti

Just wanted to say I did go ahead and plant them in the container. To heck with it - lets see what happens!

I heard where it's ok to plant them BEFORE a freeze as bulbs don't mind a cold snap..it may get them started growing. I could be wrong however.
I have put frost cloth over my planters hoping they will survive our freeze that we get in Feb. ( actually there is a freeze going on now!!).

I plant them fall or spring
planted in the fall for spring blooms and planted in the spring may not bloom till next year
it does not matter about the cold since bulb need cold winters to build blooms for the next spring most will not grow in warm climates unless they are summer blooming bulbs