Pamela H in Texas Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 So if I didn't plant the 30 bulbs I bought back in the fall that were supposed to be planted then, is there any way to plant and grow them still? They've been sitting in the garage all this time. :::hoping y'all say yes and how!::::: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 stick them in the ground now. how they respond depends what temps are where you live, and what kind of bulbs they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 I've planted during the winter. If the ground is still soft, you can put them in. Not this year though. Everything is hard as a rock, and DH just yelled that it is snowing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 THis is Texas. We played outside in short sleeves today. Not sure "winter" here is much different than any other season (well, other than summer, of course). Maybe those of us feeling well enough can do that tomorrow afternoon. I think the kids will enjoy it. I hope they work :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 I'd heard that if you don't get 2-3 weeks of hard freeze, you need to stick them in the freezer to psych them into thinking winter has happened or they won't bloom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 So I was reading the board and saw that Mama Geek had asked about "forcing bulbs" I didn't read the thread (yet), but figured it had something to do with making the bulb do differently ,earlier?, than it would naturally...maybe. So I looked it up. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/force_flower_bulbs_to_grow_indoors_to_battle_the_blues It says that you'd do the first part of this for like 12 weeks. That would put us at the beginning of May? That may be a little late (in Texas). Wonder if it is possible to hurry it along a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowing Brook Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 We had some sit in a plastic bag for two years behind our back porch. They got watered only when it rained. Finally after two years I got around to planting them. They grew just fine. Now I am :blushing: and :leaving: for admitting to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 What type of bulbs? My answer will depend on the bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Yep, depends on the bulb type. Regardless, stick them in the ground. Be delighted if you get flowers. Shrug and move on if you don't. Hope you do get pretty blooms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Narcissus?? Showing my stupidity here....it looks like a Daffodil but is white with yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Narcissus?? Showing my stupidity here....it looks like a Daffodil but is white with yellow. Stick them in the ground and they should be fine. They're very forgiving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 If the mice haven't eaten them by now, you have a good chance of getting them to flower if you plant them now. They might flower late though. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Narcissus won't be eaten by mice or squirrels, it is poisonous and they can tell. They also don't need forcing or putting in a fridge. Just plant now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 So glad you asked this, because I've got about 10 sitting in my garage somewhere...But this isn't TX! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 In general I'd say stick them in the refrigerator for 2 weeks and then plant them. But Narcissus/Daffodils are very hardy and will usually do fine. I know for transplanting them you don't have to be very careful. I would make sure you water them once a week for a couple of weeks if you don't get rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Can I plant tulips and daffodils in SC that have been in the freezer for three months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Yes, Kathryn, go ahead. Now putting them in the freezer for so long may have damaged them but I would go ahead and try. (NOrmally, it is better to put them in the fridge, if you will have them that long or to put them in a freezer for a shorter time). After all,. tulips can't be grown in the ground in most of Alaska and some other very northern places in the US. Tulips are originally from Turkish mountains which have dry summers and cold, but not frigid, winters. Daffodils don't need cold weather to bloom so they can always be planted straight from the bag to the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Thank you! Should I put them in the fridge to thaw out some first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Narcissus won't be eaten by mice or squirrels, it is poisonous and they can tell. They also don't need forcing or putting in a fridge. Just plant now. Yes - I hadn't read down to find that they were narcissus. I had tulips eaten by mice this year. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshin Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 What kind of Narcissus? Do not give paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) a cold treatment. They can't tolerate it. Just plant them out now and they should be fine. For all other narcissus/daffodil varieties, stick them in the fridge for four weeks (in a sealed bag, otherwise the gas produced by fruits and veggies in the fridge may cause them to rot), then plant them out at the beginning of March. They've likely already experienced some cold in the garage, so four weeks should be sufficient. They just need eight to 10 weeks under 45 F, but four might work even if your winter temps have been higher. You may not get a lot of flowers this year, but they should at least send up some foliage. Cut back the leaves after they die back on their own so the bulbs can get nice and strong and they should perform perfectly next year. Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Daffodils don't need cold treatment. People have naturalized daffodils blooming in areas where there are never 8-10 weeks under 45 degrees including right here in Northern Alabama. In fact, lots of bulbs don't need cold treatment. In Belgium, where we did not have 8-10 weeks of cold weather under 45 degrees- daffodils were planted all over. Snowdrops also came up very reliably and the woods, not planted, were filled with bluebells, Other bulb like plants that don't need cold are lillies of the valley, and one that is popular around here is Leucojum= otherwise now as spring snowflake or summer snowflake, depending on the exact species. They grow very reliably with little cold. So do grape hyacinths (muscari). Now even many warm or moderately warm areas have a winter. We have one here but our average high is never below 45 degrees. In fact, our average high for this part of Feb is 53 degrees and we are now having a cold snap so our high is only in the mid 40's. But that is the cold snap= not the normal. As yes, lots of daffodils around here including I saw a bunch blooming in one sunny location in my area this week (last week of January). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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