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Bulb advice (tulips, alliums)

LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360

This year was a bit of a disaster for my bulbs in pots. Squirrels (mainly) and foxes dug them up repeatedly, took some away, chewed others and then finally bit the flower heads off the few that survived to grow.

The last bit also happened to the bulbs planted in beds but at least I saw some flowers before they were decapitated. Of the ones in pots, I only saw about 1 in 5 even get to grow. So I  have resolved to put them all in the beds for next year.

I need the pots for tomatoes anyway, so have started to empty them (All the foliage has completely died down). I wasn't expecting to find much, but in my first pot, which had allium purple rain and purple sensation, there are loads of good solid bulbs and bullets - I only had a single one grow to flowering stage in that pot!

My question (sorry for being so long winded) is: do I plant them all out now or is it better to dry them out and store them? Does it matter? Is there something else (e.g. putting them back into some compost) I should do? 

'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
- Cicero

Posts

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527

    I dont think it matters what you do. If you know where you want to plant them get them planted, otherwise store them until you know where to plant them. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I do exactly as Perki says. The ones that hadn't had the green died right down, I plant put in the garden.

    some I've stored for tubs to plant back in the autumn when the annuals have finished.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360

    Thanks both. I tootle along thinking I know what I'm doing, then I suddenly realise when I'm in the middle of something that I have no idea! Too hot to be outside gardening today, glad to hear they'll be OK until I'm able to plant them.

    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
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