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Potting bulbs temporarily?

Allthegear17Allthegear17 Posts: 8
in Problem solving
I’ve gone overboard with the bulbs this season as usual.... problem being now that I want to redesign the front garden so I have a much bigger bed. Thinking now is the best time to do it as the path will need taking up and moving et al but everything is dormant or will be soon. My question is can I pot up all these bulbs in containers until the works are done and then plant them into their positions in the ground in a month or 2? 
Will this cause some catastrophe or will they survive? 
I’ve read about plunge planting in baskets but I’ve literally got about 500 bulbs to do so that’s out of the question! 
Any help or advice gratefully received!

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - just put then in pots, but make sure you label them  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    You don't say what types of bulbs they are. Bulbs are designed to survive adverse conditions, either cold or drought. If they are of a reasonable size I would just store them as they are until you are ready plant in spring. Small bulbs can be stored in damp sand.
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @Inglezinho the OP has bulbs which need planting this season in order to flower in the spring.  

    Delaying the planting until spring is likely to result in poor,  possibly stunted blooms, and weak foliage which is unlikely to provide sufficient nutrition to the bulb to flower the following year. 

    @Fairygirl is right ... planting the bulbs in (labelled) pots now and sinking them into the beds when ready (as long as the  ground isn’t frozen)  is the best course of action. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Allthegear17Allthegear17 Posts: 8
    Thank you all 

    Dovefromabove said:
    @Inglezinho the OP has bulbs which need planting this season in order to flower in the spring.  

    Delaying the planting until spring is likely to result in poor,  possibly stunted blooms, and weak foliage which is unlikely to provide sufficient nutrition to the bulb to flower the following year. 

    @Fairygirl is right ... planting the bulbs in (labelled) pots now and sinking them into the beds when ready (as long as the  ground isn’t frozen)  is the best course of action. 😊 
    when you say sink the pots in do you mean in bulb baskets? 🥴
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wouldn't bother sinking them into the ground - just pot them up, but yes- you can dig a hole and sink pots too. They won't be in the ground for long  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I've planted some of my bulbs already, but some are destined for an area that needs intensive weeding to push back the ground elder. I have begun planting those bulbs (dwarf daffs and alliums) in pots filled with old compost.
    I put them in small groups of 3 or 5, so I can simply decant them into a hole as the space becomes ready, with minimum disturbance. That will probably be early spring anyway, when the noses start poking through and I can see the few places left where there is still room for more bulbs!
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