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Bulbs

tony williams2tony williams2 Posts: 288
in Plants
I have a lot of bulbs in pots tubs etc, which is the best way to treat them now ready for the growing season ahead please.
Thanks Tony

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    At this stage the flowers are already formed in the bulb so as long as they aren't dried out, they'll do their stuff (assuming they're either new last autumn or were fed and watered during the dying-back process last year). Just put them where you can see them!
    If you planted new bulbs in pots temporarily (like I do because there's too much stuff in full growth for me to get in and plant them in September/October), get them in the ground in their final places.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Hope you don't mind me adding to this.
    We have 3 lovely blue pots that we plant bulbs in for summer flowering. This year "something" dug out all the pots and took the bulbs. So managed to find some replacements and replanted with new compost. Covered them with old fridge shelves to stop "whatever" was diging the bulbs up. Today one pot has all the bulbs gone just leaving the foliage. The fridge shelf was wider than the others so rat/mice/squirrel? Never had it happen before.
    What do others do to stop this sort of thing happening? Or maybe it is just our bad luck.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited March 2023
    1.  If the bulbs are ready to flower, leave them to do this.

    2.  If they have finished flowering, continue to feed and water until the leaves die naturally.  Then store or replant depending on the species.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @bertrand-mabel Squirrels love tulip bulbs. You could plant up your pot, just before you add the last of the compost, add some chicken wire that has been cut to fit flat inside the pot. Cover with remaining compost to cover the wire. Just to add you will have a tangle of leaves and chicken wire after flowering but worthwhile id you actually have flowering bulbs. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    The trouble with pepper is that when animals tread on it, it sticks to their paws, and when they clean their eyes with a paw... 😢
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Rats and squirrels are quite strong and any wires/netting/hanging basket needs to be well pegged down with steel tent pegs. 

    I use upturned old wire hanging baskets pegged down over my big bulb pots.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Lizzie27 said:
    ...

    I use upturned old wire hanging baskets pegged down over my big bulb pots.

    Good idea! I have one sitting in the border over a catmint plant to stop the local moggies from rolling on it and squashing it flat. It grows through the basket so they can still sniff and nibble if they want to. Fingers crossed - I haven't had anyone eating my bulbs yet. I have seen one of the catnip addicts seeing off a grey squirrel on my fence so maybe they stay out of her territory.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Yes hanging baskets are brilliant aren't they? I used to pot up herbs for my horse field and tie a basket over them so they could nibble.
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