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Is it too late to plant daffodil and tulip bulbs?

fizzylizfizzyliz Posts: 398
in Plants
Is it too late to plant daffodil and tulip bulbs?
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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Bare Bulbs, yes, but you can buy them, about to bloom, in pots. The best time to plant bare bulbs that bloom in spring, is Oct-Nov.
  • fizzylizfizzyliz Posts: 398
    Thank you @Firei thought so, will save them for October then 😊
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    If you have bulbs that you have bought and not yet planted, then do plant them now. They probably won't survive the year and have to be planted.
  • fizzylizfizzyliz Posts: 398
    @Fire oh really?! I was given some at Christmas and also bought myself some but can’t remember when for those ones… if I plant now will they still flower next spring? Or yage I lost them either way? ☹️
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They're better planted, and then you can lift the tulips if you don't have suitable conditions to leave them. It will depend on what type they are as to how well they come back anyway.
    They'll need planting so that they can glean some benefit from the growth even if they don't flower. A feed as they die back also helps. The daffs can then be left in situ.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    As I understand it, all bulbs will rot away if you don't plant them, so yes, I would do it now. They might even bloom really late this season, who knows? You might find that they have begn to sprout in the packet. Give it a go, anyway.
  • fizzylizfizzyliz Posts: 398
    @Fairygirl @Fire ok thank you! I’ll pop that on my list of jobs then! Thank both 😊
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Bulbs will just dry out and be completely unviable, or if they're in a damp place they can get mouldy and even rot, so you wouldn't be doing them any favours by just leaving them. 
    Get them in pots with a suitable soil mix -grittier for the tulips to avoid any waterlogging, and tuck them somewhere suitable.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • fizzylizfizzyliz Posts: 398
    Ah ok, so in pots rather than the ground? Would I then transfer to ground later on? When would you recommend? Thank you 😊 @Fairygirl
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's probably easier - depending on how many you have, because you can then put the ones that grow over the next few months, where you want them, later in the year. The daffs could be transplanted at any time after they've died back fully. Keep a note of the ones that have grown, even if it's only a little - a bit of string or similar tied round the stems makes it easier to keep a check on them.
    Any that aren't viable - ie have rotted or withered, can be chucked. No point planting anything which doesn't make it.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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