I have 6 quite large Rubra (Fritillaria Imperialis) bulbs that I ran out of time to plant last Autumn. Am seeking advice on whether I should plant now for next year or hold back until Autumn?
Plant now. You might not get much in the way of flowers and if you do they'll be late, but if you keep them they'll dry out and quite likely not grow at all. Spring-flowering bulbs are generally harvested in summer and sold for planting in autumn, and it doesn't do them any good to save them for longer. having said that, I think many of us have done some "late planting" at some point, either because we didn't get around to it or because we bought them at the end of the season when the shops reduce whatever they've got left.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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