When to Plant Bulbs?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by HarryS, Sep 21, 2020.

  1. HarryS

    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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    I normally plant my Daff and Tulip bulbs in November to Early December. My sister would like to get her bulbs planted in late Sept, but has held back. If you plant bulbs in late Summer or early Autumn does this cause a problem?
    TIA
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I think the sooner the better.
    I'm betting if you dug up some existing spring bulbs you would find they are growing new roots already.

    Might be a bit too dry for that at the moment though :biggrin:
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

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        @HarryS Personally I think it's a case of sooner the better, depending on space being available.
        As Pete said they are forming roots and getting ready now. I know that my snowdrops are forming roots in August and Crocuses are not far behind. Some of my spring flowering alliums have already pushed up leaves.
         
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        • Emily Jones

          Emily Jones Gardener

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          I've already planted in tulips, daffodils & anenomes. Hoping to get some more in this week too. Praying I've not started too early. :spinning:
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            To be honest, the general advice regarding Tulips is to leave planting them until November or December to avoid the disease Tulip Fire.:dunno::coffee:
             
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            • Mike Allen

              Mike Allen Total Gardener

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              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                So what happens if you leave them in the ground year after year?;)
                 
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                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                  Well, I do, pete, and some have been in there for years. But, we're talking about planting not those already in the ground. So, the general advice, if you want to avoid newly planted Tulip bulbs getting Tulip Fire, is to plant Tulip bulbs in November or December, that's not my advice but the RHS's:love30::dunno:
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    OK, stopped buying the RHS book some years ago, but I guess there must be some evidence to prove that, I dont doubt.

                    Kind of suggests the bulbs must be infected before you plant them, then.:scratch:
                     
                  • Mike Allen

                    Mike Allen Total Gardener

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                    I can well understand Pete, what you are getting at. Not intending to boast in any way but I consider I have thoroughly learned my skills, if you like relating to gardening and groundsmanship etc.

                    I have always said that all the books etc are there for our help and guidance. What works for one in the highlands, may not work for one on the IOW, but the information gives us perhaps that bit of insight we never had before. A quotation that always amuses me is that of watering. Don't water in sunlight. Water only the base of the plant etc etc. So. What about rain, violent storms, summer showers.

                    Back to bulbs. Bulbs, like even the tiniest mustard seed, have this wonderful inbuilt system. Sometimes called the botanical clock. Even if a bulb is laying unprotected on a shelf somewhere. Come the time preplanned and set in that clock, the bulb will using it's stored moisture, will automatically begin to wake up, roots will appear and also the start of green stems. So this IMO is perhaps one, if not a good indicator when to plant. The question of, what about bulbs already in the ground. Basically ALL plants go through a period of dormacy. During this stage in a bulb's lifespan, the bulb is naturally protected. Similar to hibernating mammals. Hope this helps.
                     
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                    • ARMANDII

                      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                      No, not really. pete. What they're saying is that there many types of fungal diseases spores in the air, including Tulip Fire spores, due to the natural life cycle of the fungi during the late Summer and early Autumn. The Spores aren't active towards the cooler end of the year which gives a better chance of the bulbs not getting infected by spores already in the soil. So, I guess it's all about lessening the chances of losing newly planted bulbs:dunno:
                       
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                      • HarryS

                        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                        Thansk all for the advice, I think I understand it better now. I'll leave my planting until Novemebr. but my sis can get hers planted now :blue thumb:
                         
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                        • Cuttings

                          Cuttings Super Gardener

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                          Except Camassia, they need to go in before the frosts.
                           
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                          • Emily Jones

                            Emily Jones Gardener

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                            My tulips are in..yikes..I'll let you all know if they succumb to the tulip fire spores :gaah:
                             
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