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Tulips, daffs and alliums in pots to borders?

I planted a load of bulbs (tulips, daffs, alliums) in Autumn and they're starting to shoot now  :D

It's my first time planting bulbs as it's my first year with a garden, and I was wondering if I can take them out of their pots and put them in the borders? And if this isn't a daft idea, when would be best to do it? I'm in Manchester and have a southwest facing garden.

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Much better to leave them in the pots until after flowering and then plant them in the ground, with the exception of tulips perhaps which are best lifted, dried off and then replanted next Nov/Dec if you want to.

    In the meantime you could simply dig holes and drop the pots into the border where you want them. It's what I'm planning to do with various crocus and iris pots.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I've done that when I've not got a bit of garden ready for bulbs. I let them grow on til the roots hold together when removed from the pot, then plant them without disturbing the roots. If they're too close together or too shallow you can correct that after flowering just as they go dormant


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Great, thanks for the advice! Some of the smaller pots have roots coming out the bottom so it might be good to just drop them in the ground in their pots. I didn't have a lot of terracotta pots so most of them are plastic though...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I do the same as @nutcutlet has described, and even if some don't hold together, you can usually just fumble them into the ground if you have the space already well prepped. I've never had a problem. Daffs in particular are pretty forgiving.  :)

    I wouldn't worry too much about the roots coming through, but if you're concerned, just wait until they're finished. Usually, the roots will just pull through and no harm's done at all.  It does depend on how congested they are though, and the varieties  - some won't flower for months if they're later types , so you may have to judge whether to leave them and sink the pots, or just go for it. I'm of the latter persuasion.  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's fine to plant them out any time from now onwards. I would plant them rather than just sinking the pots. I usually start new bulbs in pots, and plant them any time from now on, and I usually try to get them a bit deeper than the pot. They'll easily grow through an extra inch or two of soil. It's no different from buying them growing in pots at the garden centre (but cheaper and more choice of varieties).
    Last autumn's ones are ready to go but I need to clear a bit of old herbaceous growth first so I can get to where I want them. They'll probably be planted as I make space, over the next month or so.



    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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