Have Bulbs, Will Plant?

It was like Christmas morning, sorting through this shipment of bulbs, dreaming of the flowers blooming next spring.

Unfortunately, the weather gave us a white Christmas morning.. before Thanksgiving.

There was only about a week and a half between the time most perennials went dormant and there was snow on the ground. It is looking like more snow is on the way. Additionally, the ground may be too frozen to work with next week.

These bulbs were fortunate enough to be hastily put into the ground before the snow came. However, the other 1,000 or so may need long term storage.

I am ever hopeful that the stars will align and the ground will thaw in December enough to put them in the ground with care. Until that time, the bulbs will need to be prepped for proper storage.

How to store bulbs for long term:

Keep them cool but not frozen (50 Fahrenheit is best)

Keep them dry

Keep them separated

Making use of short but long cardboard boxes, and your basement or crawl space, will help you with this. Using peat moss or wood shavings will also work to your advantage. The peat moss or wood shavings will keep moisture at bay, as well as keep the bulbs from touching. The short but long boxes, allow for many bulbs to be stacked on one another in the boxes; again the bulbs will not touch this way.

I keep emphasizing that the bulbs should remain separated. This is because, where they touch one another, mold and rot is more likely to occur. Once the bulbs have mold or rot, they are no longer healthy or usable.

Planting bulbs in the spring is okay.

Putting bulbs in the ground during the spring time does not cause detriment to the health of your plants. The plants may not bloom the first year, but they should produce foliage. The second year, they should bloom beautifully.

I really can not wait!

The snow is pretty and all that; but flowers blooming improve my spirits much more.

Side note: Do you leave your echinacea and black eyed Susan seed pods for the birds to eat? I have chosen to do that this year. It may seem a bit sloppy in a professional setting, but giving the birds some forage is worth it to me.

Good luck with your bulbs if you are in a similar predicament!

*By bulbs I am referring to daffodils, tulips, crocus, and the like; not dahlia tubers, gladiolus bulbs, and other less hardy plants.