Narcissi and tulips in pots did poorly this year

Helen Bang · May 2023

We had a very wet autumn and then suddenly temperatures plunged to minus 14 in December. Many of my bulbs in pots just rotted, especially narcissi and all of the anemones which either just produced leaves or failed to appear entirely, and now the tulips in pots haven't done as well as in previous years despite having lots of grit in the pots and being up on feet - the flowers are stunted and go over quickly. In contrast the bulbs I planted in the ground have done very well. Any suggestions as how to avoid this? I don't have space to keep all of the pots under cover during wet or very cold weather.

Ceres · May 2023

This has happened to a lot of gardeners this year. Without having prior knowledge about the weather, there is little to be done to prevent it. I did note that the bulbs that were started off in the greenhouse seemd to do fairly well but the ones that were in pots outside mostly suffered. The species tulips, which were started in the greenhouse, didn't perform at all well and mostly keeled over with the stem rotting just below the flower.

As these problems have not occured in previous years I'm hoping it will be a one off but I will certainly think twice about having so many bulbs in pots next year.

Sorry I can't offer a solution but that is gardening for you. Sometimes it works well and sometimes it's a disaster.

Fairygirl · May 2023

Unfortunately, anything in a pot is more vulnerable to that wet/freeze cycle, even in a fairly normal winter here where I am, due to temps and conditions. It comes down to siting them in a suitable spot -ie against a house wall or similar, and bringing them out to their intended site a bit later. Cold isn't a problem for any of them, especially dry cold, it's the wet, then a sudden drop which causes a freeze. When that cycle gets repeated, it's very difficult for bulbs to stay sound. I often lose some daffs in the ground each year to very wet weather, but that's just how it is. Tulips have to be in the raised beds where the drainage is sharp, or in pots, and they can still be variable in terms of flowering.

Even keeping them sheltered, then bringing them out, can be hit and miss. Most daffs are easier and tougher, but tulips are far more difficult because we can't replicate their exact conditions very easily in this country. The species ones are easier, and a few types of the 'usual' kind, but that's sometimes how it is with gardens, and climate, as @Ceres says.
You aren't alone this year in having a problem, although that isn't much comfort when you're looking forward to them flowering.

Narcissi and tulips in pots did poorly this year

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