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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:23 AM
Original message
A question for any gardeners out there.....
Edited on Mon Jan-09-06 11:25 AM by Shine
Will tulip bulbs that were SUPPOSED to be planted in the fall still be viable if planted in the winter? Or does it really matter? Will they just bloom later than they normally would've, if planted "on time"?

I've got about 20 "Gudoshnik" variety (peach, deep rose colored) bulbs leftover from a fall school fundraiser that I haven't gotten around to planting yet, so I'm curious if the timing is really that big of a deal. :shrug:

Thanks, in advance, for any input!
:hi:

On edit: BTW, I'm in central coastal CA, so our winter weather isn't too severe, except for rains....
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:26 AM
Response to Original message
1. I am not sure about tulips. My husband has a degree
Edited on Mon Jan-09-06 11:27 AM by Shell Beau
in horticulture and he would know. But it does matter when you plant them. They should bloom around Feb. :shrug: But it may not hurt to plant them now. I really don't know. I'll ask my husband.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:29 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. Thanks, Shell!
:pals:
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Call Me Wesley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:27 AM
Response to Original message
2. If the ground is easy to dig in,
I'd say put them in now. I had tulips planted in early spring, and they flowered, a bit later than usual, and they were not as big as they should have been.

Water the ground plenty after planting them. :hi:
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:31 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. Thanks for the input, Call Me Wesley!
:pals:
Yeah, around here, the ground is still completely saturated from all the rains, so that shouldn't be a problem. Interesting point about the size of the bloom being different. Hmmm...
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Call Me Wesley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:32 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. Ooops,
I didn't mean big, but tall. The flowers were the normal size, but the stems weren't as tall as supposed to be.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:36 AM
Response to Reply #5
7. Oh, gotcha.
still interesting, though. Makes sense, I suppose....

Guess it won't hurt to plant them and see what happens, right?

Thanks, again!
:hi:
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Call Me Wesley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:48 AM
Response to Reply #7
8. I'll be a bit concerned if the ground is too wet.
I had some special breed of tulips, and 80% of them grew mold and died ...
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NV Whino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:36 AM
Response to Reply #2
6. Wesley...
Watering the ground plenty after she plants them is not a problem right now. We (in California) are still recovering from the floods.

:D
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Call Me Wesley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:49 AM
Response to Reply #6
9. I forgot that ...
Then I'd be worried about mold growing on the bulbs.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 12:49 PM
Response to Reply #9
14. Jeez, if it's not one thing, it's another!
hadn't even considered MOLD. :eyes:

hmmm....

think I'll just go for it and hope for the best....

I'll plant them in containers, so I don't have to worry about the gopher factor, too.
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swimboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 11:51 AM
Response to Original message
10. Plant them today.
They may do all right. They will definitely not bloom if you don't plant them!
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 12:48 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. You're absolutely right, swimboy.
better late, than never!
Thanks!
:hi:
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Tsiyu Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 12:06 PM
Response to Original message
11. You can also "force" them indoors
Sounds kinda kinky ;)

Here's a website or two 'splaining.

Hope they bloom profusely in any case

http://www.tulipworld.com/tulip.asp?contentloc=/info/bulbcare/Forcing_Bulbs.shtml

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2005/9-14/tulips.html
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 12:50 PM
Response to Reply #11
15. Thanks, buddy!
I'll check out those links.
:hi:
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Gormy Cuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 12:07 PM
Response to Original message
12. Tough call.
Edited on Mon Jan-09-06 12:09 PM by Gormy Cuss
Sunset says if they've been chilled you can plant them through mid-January, 4-6 inches deep, in loose sandy soil with bulb fertilizer mixed in the soil.

I gave up on tulips because the reblooming rate is very low if I don't lift them, plus the yard critters enjoy them as snack food. I made the mistake of planting them in wet average soil one winter and half of them rotted.

The tulips sound very pretty. If nothing else you could force them.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 12:53 PM
Response to Reply #12
16. I'm bulb-planting challenged
I've gotta do some research on "forcing" them, to see if it's worth the hassle. Think I'll be planting in containers, to avoid the critter factor.

I hadn't even considered the possibility of mold and rot, until somebody upthread mentioned it. Jeez, who knew?

Thanks for your input, Gormy Cuss! Good morning to you!
:hi:
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Gormy Cuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. Good morning, Shine!
It's sunny in the East Bay and I'm loving it.:hi:

I'm bulb-challenged too so I focus on narcissus and irises.
Narcissus need a good start with some loose soil and fertilizer but they come back just fine in subsequent years even if the surrounding bed is clay; same deal with Dutch irises.
Our heavy clay soil doesn't seem to bother the bearded irises because the rhizomes sit above it.


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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. Sunny here, too!
Shine is VERY happy today.

'cept I'm procrastinating on the laundry, though....

:hi:
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Saphire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 01:11 PM
Response to Original message
17. I planted tulip bulbs before winter ( like the instructions say) but,
as of today, no winter....so all of my bulbs are coming up...
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #17
20. Hi, lady of texas!
welcome to DU, btw!
:hi:

we don't get much of a winter season out here in CA, either, except for lots of rain....

How nice that your bulbs are coming up already!

Enjoy!
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GumboYaYa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 04:38 PM
Response to Original message
21. You can plant the bulbs in individual peat pots and put them
in a flat. Put the flat outside and cover it with several inches of leaves and mulch. When they start to develop stalks, replant them where you want them in your yard. If you do it soon, it will work.

Good luck.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 04:47 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. Thanks!
that's gonna be one of my goals this week, to get them planted.

:hi:
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bettyellen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 05:05 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. plant them someplace with good drainage, not a muddy spot... or
put a big handful of gravel underneath. tulips rot really easily, especially if they haven't had time to put out roots to suck up some of the water.
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tigereye Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 05:43 PM
Response to Reply #22
24. bulbs are pretty fool proof
I've planted tulips and other bulbs pretty late (I'm in Zone 6 here in the East), and they still came up. I just leave them in the ground and try to mulch them some, and they keep coming up pretty much year after year. I have had a few fall apart after a while, but othewise they are fine. I love bulbs since you don't have to mess around with them.
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Blue Gardener Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-09-06 06:03 PM
Response to Original message
25. Should be ok
As long as the ground isn't frozen there shouldn't be a problem. You can always contact your local county extension office and ask them, or call a reliable nursery in your area. They usually have someone on staff who can answer your gardening questions.
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