[barbarella]

I got a bag of free daffodil bulbs with a recent plant order (obviously unwanted stock )  I'm not sure what to with them though - what are the best conditions to store them until September or is it better to plant them now?

[mumofstig]

I'd plant them now, I think they'll get too dry, and so die, if you try to keep them til Autumn 

[barbarella]

Thanks 

[DD.]

I'd be prepared to say goodbye to them.

They certainly won't store. We planted some about this time of year that we bought from Heligan one autumn and forgotten to plant. Never saw them again.

It was our fault and I hope you get better results, but reading your original post, I think you know what you've been given!

[GrannieAnnie]

I got some really cheap bulbs a few weeks ago for the same reason.  The GC getting rid as it was too late to plant.  I was going to wait until I got the planter I want for out the front of the house and put them in there, but my OH said just bung them in anywhere, then move them when the time is right.

So I have one of those old recycling boxes that someone gave me, filled it with soil and bunged them in there.  They are just starting to sprout now.  I know they won't do anything this year, but hopefully they will be okay in their box until the autumn, and by then I may have my planter ready!

[strangerachael]

I was just about to post a question on a similar topic, so can I hijack this one please? I was wondering is there a particular reason why spring flowering bulbs are always planted in autumn? I've just been looking around my borders thinking, 'I could do with a bit more colour here, and a bit there', problem is, if you leave it until autumn you forget where the gaps were. I have taken some pictures but even so it's going to be a bit hit and miss. I don't want to buy the expensive flowering bulbs, but wondered if you can even buy the bulbs at this time of year? Probably not. If I could get hold of some, and planted them now, obviously they won't flower this year, but they would come up ok next year?

[mumofstig]

I think it's only bluebells and snowdrops that you can buy in the green - the rest are harvested when the leaves have died back to fatten the bulbs. That's why you can't usually buy them now.


I've just looked on ebay and there are a few narcissus and daffodils in the green, as well - a big surprise 
narcissus link
daffodil link

[Trillium]

Spring bulbs like tulips, daffs, hyacinths, etc need a good chill period and time to set their roots so they're ready to take off in spring, just like garlic, which is why they're all planted in fall.

If you're worried about locating them, plant them in pots mostly buried in the ground and label what they are. Come planting time or cleanup time, you can simply move what you want to the right place, and when they're finished flowering, you can take up the pot and re-bury it somewhere less conspicuous so the leaves can continue to feed the bulbs.

I have spring bulbs that I've recently purchased and I'll pop those into areas I don't worry too much about. If they bloom next year, great. If they don't, they don't, but at least I've given them a chance to get their act together 

[fatcat1955]

If you collect those blue plastic mushroom boxes from your local market, you can plant your bulbs in those and bury the whole lot in your garden. When the bulb's have flowered you can lift the whole lot and place in an out of the way area to allow tham to die down. In the Autumn re-plant them. Save's you putting the spade through them by mistake and free's up your border's for bedding etc.

[bendipa]

I've just been looking around my borders thinking, 'I could do with a bit more colour here, and a bit there', problem is, if you leave it until autumn you forget where the gaps were.

Not a problem at all really. Buy some white plastic marker tabs and place in the gaps while the plants have not yet died back. Alternatively if you think the tabs look too conspicuous, collect some 6" twigs and place them vertically in the gaps. Works well for me.

[strangerachael]

Buy some white plastic marker tabs and place in the gaps while the plants have not yet died back.

Simple but ingenious - why didn't I think of that???

[GrannieAnnie]

Those really cheapy bulbs I bought and planted in a plastic box are coming up now and several have buds on them!  So I will get a little show this year, although not a very pretty planter!  Then I can plant them up in whatever trough I buy for the front garden ready for next spring!

[Sweetpea C]

If you collect those blue plastic mushroom boxes from your local market, you can plant your bulbs in those and bury the whole lot in your garden. When the bulb's have flowered you can lift the whole lot and place in an out of the way area to allow tham to die down. In the Autumn re-plant them. Save's you putting the spade through them by mistake and free's up your border's for bedding etc.

Another hijack! My front borders look beautiful now, full of daffodils but then they look pretty untidy after flowering. Has anyone dug up the dads to let them die down somewhere else? Is this recommended? I want something else I. There ASAP because my greenhouse if full full full! Thanks x

[Sweetpea C]

If you collect those blue plastic mushroom boxes from your local market, you can plant your bulbs in those and bury the whole lot in your garden. When the bulb's have flowered you can lift the whole lot and place in an out of the way area to allow tham to die down. In the Autumn re-plant them. Save's you putting the spade through them by mistake and free's up your border's for bedding etc.

Another hijack! My front borders look beautiful now, full of daffodils but then they look pretty untidy after flowering. Has anyone dug up the dads to let them die down somewhere else? Is this recommended? I want something else I. There ASAP because my greenhouse if full full full! Thanks x

[snowdrops]

Yes you can dig them up & heel them in in an out of way bit of ground,need to take some soil with them. Old gardeners used to do that & put them on some chicken wire so they were easier to get up in the autumn ready for replanting. You would need to give them a good feed as well I would have thought.