I need help with tulip bulbs! - Big Big Forums

Frogs · 05-07-2003, 09:21 PM

I'm such an idiot, I could kick myself. I know it's way past time for planting bulbs, but I completely forgot about them. I dug them up last year because my gardining book said it's best to do so, however I won't be doing it again. I planted them in the ground a couple of weeks ago and some are coming up.

I don't think all of them will though. The only flowers the dear hubby has ever bought me were tulips for Valentines last year (he always gets me frogs..lol) so I kept those bulbs seperate and planted them in a pot. I decided I didn't like the pot so I took them all out. Anyway, dummy me put them on a lid to a popcorn tin and left them on my porch. A storm came the other night and blew them off the porch. I've only found 7 little bulbs and a couple of them are soft and all the rest are kind of hard. Are they still good? Is there any hope for them? For the ones I didn't find (I think they are under my porch) will they grow just laying on top of the ground? I know an Iris will, but not sure about a tulip. I can't tell if they're down there or not, but I know there were more than 7. The only problem is dear hubby sprays weed killer down there to kill the weeds. Will that hurt them. Please tell me there is hope for my little tulips. I can't believe I was so stupid. I should have left them in that ugly pot!!!! Also, does anyone know where I can buy bulbs real cheap? I love tulips and irises and I'd like to have them in all different colors next year. Thanks in advance.

Crick · 05-07-2003, 09:48 PM

I don't dig my tulip bulbs up in the fall. Depends on your weather conditions. From what I understand the bulbs need to have the ground frozen for a certain time to properly grow the next Spring. I know some people here (coastal SC) dig their tulip bulbs up and place them in the fridge until time to replant them. We don't get much freezing weather. As for the bulbs, my experience has been the soft bulbs don't grow but the hard firm bulbs do. As for growing while laying on the ground I don't know maybe somebody else can help you.

Frogs · 05-07-2003, 10:07 PM

Thank you so much for your help. I live in Texas, so it doesn't get real cold here either. I won't be digging them up again. Next year I'll buy some new bulbs to replace all the ones that don't come up. I found 3 more bulbs, two little ones and one medium sized one. All were a little soft. Only one or two are real hard so maybe it will come back and multiply. I planted them in small pots to see if I can get them to come up instead of in the ground. I put 3 bulbs to a pot, should I take them all out and put them in their own pots? Thanks again for the help!

Crick · 05-08-2003, 02:50 PM

I don't think two or three in a pot will be a problem. You can always divide them later after they multiply. Also, check out Wal-Mart and Kmart. They usually mark bulbs down around the first of summer. The tulip bulbs you could store in the fridge if you have room and then plant them in late fall. That's what I did when I first started with the tulips. Hope this helps.