Have i left it too late...

wow! Lucky you!

 

Well, I spent yesterday planting about 300 bulbs....
Hubby came back from the UK at the end of October with 3kg of yellow trumpet daffs, which have been "naturalised" into the steep part of the bank. Trying to get a hole in the grass wide enough to slip a daff bulb in was strenuous, to say the least!
The planter and other bulbs were a little easier, thankfully!

I find that bulbs are not very good at reading the gardening text books. So long as you get them into the soil, before it gets too cold, they normally sort themselves out. Plant them a little late? They will flower a little late the first year, but be fine after that. Plant a little too shallow? They will pull themselves deeper, over a couple of years (have you ever tried moving snowdrop bulbs? They can pull themselves nearly a foot deep in just a few years!). Plant a little too deep? ... Um, never really managed this, as getting the holes deep enough has always been my problem, on clay, chalk, flint and sand soils! But I assume that they can pull themselves up, as well as down. I have even successfully planted out "spent" forced hyacinths. Yes, they send up scrappy apologies of flowers for one or two years, but then get back into their stride.

Whilst we may not give them the ideal start, they want to live, to flower, to divide. If we leave the leaves on after flowering, and dead-head to prevent energy being wasted, they will do the rest.

 

update:OK, Ive done it! Woo!I've planted around 450 bulbs including, snowdrops, crocus, iris, daffodils varieties, LOTS of Tulip varieties((how absolutely stunning are tulips?? I did not realise there are so many gorgeous varieties), hyacinth, Aliums, Wood and other Anemones. . Even though i'm quite gym and sports fit ,jesus, i thought i would collapse! Anyway, i hope they display OK March onwards. I will put some pics up for you all.
Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it.

Well done Sian. I know how challenging it can be and thanks for the advice.

Now i have questions about Violas that flower poorly or not atall in winter. I think that probably needs a separate thread.

 

Thank you.I know what you mean. It's a real challenge and so soul enriching.

 

Hey again

I've noticed some of my bulbs have already started to show signs of green shoots sprouting. I THINK it's the daffodils and snowdrops. Is this normal at this time of the year?
Also, i was a bit concerned that this eternal rain(what the hell is going on this winter??lol) will affect the growth of the bulbs, even though my soil is reasonably well draining.
Have any of you had any issues with cats digging up the soil where bulbs have been planted and using the area as a toilet!?

 

Hi Shane
Daffs can show green shoots very early . In fact they can flower in Novemebr ! The winter frosts don't seem to effect these early shoots . We have had the wettest 6 weeks I can remember , the bulbs should be OK depending on your soil drainage. Daff bulbs are pretty tough and dependable

 

I'm being impatient lol Any idea when the first Snowdrops, Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips might appear? I can only see a few green shoots( i think they are Daff's and crocus) but i planted 100's! Is it still very early? I think i'm worried this bleeding eternal rain we have appear to have been damned with has affected them .I was in Sheffield and we noticed they had an abundance of Snowdrops in the woods.

 

@Shaneoak
Here in Devon I have snowdrops in flower and crocuses just starting into flower. The Anenome blanda are starting into flower as well. Tulips are pushing up leaves as are the alliums. The snowdrops, anenomes and crocuses are patchier in their appearance coming out in small groups rather than altogether. This is probably related to the warm winter.
A word of warning snowdrops bulbs often don't do well from dry bulbs, hence people sell in the green after flowering or in pots for the more specialist varieties. Wood anenomes can benefit from a good soaking before planting also they may not flower the first spring as they settle in.

 

Hmm..i'm in Leeds, so maybe it's later here?We normally see Crocus in early March here. Yes, i think i wasted money on the snowdrops. Not asingle shoot is showing:[

 

Hey. Some crocus are starting to flower now. I can't remember what varieties i planted, but they are a lilac colour. I also have some yellow and white types starting to push through, unopened.
Not a single snowdrop i'm afraid.
I wanted to ask, if i scatter a layer of wood chip bark where the bulbs have strated to grow, to make the area look more attractive, will this hinder or stunt the growth of the bulbs that have not pushed through the soil yet e.g Daff's, Tulips etc ?
Thanks

 

cheers shiney