Question about tulips in pots

AnniD · 10 February

I have several large pots of tulip bulbs in my greenhouse, kept in there to avoid the attentions of the local squirrel (just as well, as l have seen him burying the neighbour's tulip bulbs in my garden and then retrieving them several days later).

They are now showing shoots around one to two inches high, and l was wondering if it was now safe to move them out into the garden ?

Dovefromabove · 10 February

When I shared a garden with squirrels I made a ‘deterrent’ for pots of bulbs out of wire netting (a bit like a shower cap but tied under the pot with string. It wouldn’t stop a really determined hungry squirrel but did seem to protect mine … the tulips grow through the netting and the leaves hide it by the time they’re blooming.

AnniD · 10 February

Did you ever see squirrels trying to get through the mesh @Dovefromabove ?

Dovefromabove · 10 February

No I didn’t … but I did keep them pretty near the office window where few squirrels ventured.

When planting crocuses in the soil we made ‘bags’ of wire netting and put bulbs inside them and planted the ‘bags’ … that seemed to work pretty well too.

Lizzie27 · 10 February

Now, that's a brilliant idea @Dovefromabove to try with my crocuses next year so thanks for that tip.

Fire · 10 February

@Dovefromabove can I ask what kind of wire netting you use to make the bags?

Dovefromabove · 10 February

It was thus sort of stuff …
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MARKSMAN-Galvanised-HEXAGONAL-Quality-Chicken/dp/B09J9BFFZ3/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=rabbit+hutch+wire+mesh&qid=1707602295&sr=8-7

There were rolls of it on the farm used for all sorts of things. Pa would keep it and reuse it over and over again … most farmers did the same. Most country auctions of farm equipment etc will have a roll or two of used chicken or rabbit wire in the miscellaneous Lots.

Odd bits of pre-used netting are ideal for bulb bags, but new stuff will do the job too of course.

Fire · 10 February

Last year I did find this stuff - open weave, soft copper mesh. I think the roots would grow through it - and fine shoots. Maybe not a tulip stem if too thick. You can probably get different grades of soft mesh. It could be very useful stuff. It could be good for a small number of bulb bags.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374309026258

Fire · 10 February

AnniD said:

They are now showing shoots around one to two inches high, and l was wondering if it was now safe to move them out into the garden ?

My feeling would to wait until they have buds, to be on the safe side.

My snowdrops are out and my mini daffs are just starting and it's so frustrating to see slugs eating off the heads before they have barely started.

Dovefromabove · 11 February

Fire said:

Last year I did find this stuff - open weave, soft copper mesh. I think the roots would grow through it - and fine shoots. Maybe not a tulip stem if too thick. You can probably get different grades of soft mesh. It could be very useful stuff. It could be good for a small number of bulb bags.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374309026258

I wouldn’t try that … the holes look much too small IMO.

Butterfly66 · 11 February

The squirrels here never seem interested in bulbs. I occasionally find nuts buried in my tulip pots but no tulips taken ( fingers crossed that this isn’t a “famous last words” moment).

I wonder if it’s about the range/quantity of food sources locally or simply preferences, learnt behaviour ?

Question about tulips in pots

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