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Is it too early to plant spring bulbs?

TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
in Plants
I have set tomorrow aside to pot up my new plants bought last weekend and give everything a tidy. 

Is it too early to also plant the aconite, tulip and snowdrop bulbs I bought?  They'll be going in the larger pots and troughs with the perennials so that I have something to look at before the other plants spring back to life next year.

Most places say to plant out the bulbs in September but we're only two weeks away from it.....is it to do with temperature or other factors?

I continue to be astounded at the thought required when maintaining and establishing a garden.  It's very much kept me going this year!

Thanks :smile:
James. 
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Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    I know tulips shouldn't be planted until October/ November as any earlier there is a risk of tulip fire.
    Never has success with snowdrop bulbs as they are better planted 'in the green' in spring.
    I have had some Allium bulbs delivered way too early and nowhere to plant them yet so was thinking of potting them up for now rather than store the bulbs which essentially is what you would be doing.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It's great that you have caught the gardening bug!

    Small bulbs like snowdrops need planting straightaway to stop them drying out and I tend to soak them in cool water for at least a couple of hours first.

    Daffodils start putting out new roots about now so can also be planted straightaway but tulips are susceptible to a blight if planted too soon so store those in a cool, dark place till mid November and then plant them.  If necessary, put sticks in to mark where you want the tulips so you avoid planting other bulbs which will be disturbed when you add the tulips.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • yorkshireroseyorkshirerose Posts: 574
    September is fine for your Aconites and Snowdrops, but hold off planting your tulips until later. I usually plant mine in pots at the end of October and November in the ground. Tulips are susceptible to virus if planted too early.
    https://www.sarahraven.com/articles/planting-tulips.htm#:~:text=Tulips don't need to,traditional means of disease protection.
    A gardener's work is never at an end  - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Thanks @Obelixx @K67 @yorkshirerose :smile::smile::smile:

    I shall leave the tulips until November. 

    When you say you soak the bulbs @Obelixx do you mean just plopping them into a bowl and letting them bob around for a few hours?  

    It's my first time with bulbs and I bought them from Wilko so I'm not going to expect pots full of flowers but I'm willing to give it a go.  
  • sarinkasarinka Posts: 270
    edited August 2020
    I put my aconites in my pretendy-rockery-trough yesterday, having soaked them overnight (yep, just put them in a tupperware bowl of water) as that's what the packet said to do. Fingers crossed.

    Oh, and everything I have bought from Wilko has absolutely flourished in the garden. :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Just as @sarinka says @jamessayersbrown.   I've had some of my best results with bulbs bought from the supermarket I used when we lived in Belgium but then they got a new manager and re-organised the shop and out went the garden section.   Boo.



    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Amazing!  Thanks @sarinka I shall pop them in a tupperware bath tonight :smiley:


  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Obelixx said:
    Just as @sarinka says @jamessayersbrown.   I've had some of my best results with bulbs bought from the supermarket I used when we lived in Belgium but then they got a new manager and re-organised the shop and out went the garden section.   Boo.



    I think I saw some comments about Wilko's bulbs not always growing but I guess it could have been a bad batch or a faulty gardener  :D
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I guess Wilko can get a bad batch now and then but a lot is down to the gardener as well and the most important thing is not to let small bulbs dry out and go wrinkly.  Get them planted asap.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • newbie77newbie77 Posts: 1,838
    edited August 2020
    Can I plant out crocus and aliums now? I want to plant out crocus in a portion of lawn to naturalize. will they be ok if we have another dry period for a while? i dont water the lawn at all.
    South West London
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