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Miniature bulbs
Patiopansy
Posts: 32
Hi, I'm new to gardening and to this forum, so please be gentle with me! Someone has given me a long tray of ready to plant miniature bulbs. I guess I just put them in a container, cover with compost and wait (the instructions are in Dutch). I have bought a long rather ugly plastic trough (can't afford a posh one) but I think it's not deep enough (6 inches or thereabouts). Also, if I plant them now, how do I stop them from flowering before Spring, or will they know to sit tight for a few months?
Yours, bewildered,
Pansy x
0
Posts
Hi Pansy. Is there enough in English or a picture to see what the bulbs are?
Now is the time to plant, bulbs know what to do. Crocuses are probably shooting already but that's fine. They'll flower in their own time.
I think you'll be OK with 6 inches for crocuses .Have you seen the tiny containers flowering bulbs are sold in?
If you can let us know what's in there we can advise more
In the sticks near Peterborough
In the sticks near Peterborough
Oh you're so kind - thank you for your responses. Bulb tray is in the garage at the moment, but tomorrow I'll lookproperly and get back to you if necessary. There are several kinds of bulbs from memory!
Really appreciate your help,
P xxx
Had another thought; are they ok, once planted, to leave out on my patio? Or should I put them in the garage? I remember having to put hyacinths in the dark. Also, the trough I have does not have holes; should I make some?
Thank you Philippa - so helpful!
Oooh yes,drainage holes. I'd assumed they'd be there already. Soldering iron is good for that
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks NC - was going to drill but soldering ironing a better idea as it's less like to crack trough!
I usually put different bulbs in their own pots. Plastic ones are cheap and you can often come across discarded ones. The advantage here is you can bring them to the fore or remove them when over.
as a rule of thumb, bulbs go pointy end up, Rooty end down, roughly double the bulbs length under the surface (so if the bulb is 2 inches long then dig a 4 inch deep hole, if its 3 inches long then 6 inches down etc.)
the tub will need drainage hole otherwise they'll drown, part from that most bulbs are easy to grow.