Hey everyone! I have a bunch of spring bulbs (like tulips, daffodils, and ranunculus) that I meant to plant last autumn but just never got around to it. I'm wondering if it's too late to plant them now for blooming next year, or if they should just be tossed out. I know many might say to just give it a try, but I'm really swamped with gardening tasks, and I'd love to hear if anyone has actually had success planting bulbs this late in the season. I'm located in the UK. Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
I totally relate to your situation! I'm in Texas, and I'm hoping to figure this out too. If you've got bulbs that are still good to touch, you might want to plant them, just like the others suggested. I’ve heard that if you can keep them in a cool place until planting next season, that might help too, but I'm not sure how well that works. Anyone else had experience with that?
From what I know, your best bet is to plant them now rather than waiting. Daffodils are generally pretty tough, so they might do alright. Tulips can be a mixed bag, but they may also have a chance if they're still firm. As for ranunculus, they really prefer spring planting, and they might not handle the UK winter well. Give it a shot, and worst case, you’ll have some nice compost!
Honestly, just put them in the ground! It hardly takes any time, and you'll either get flowers out of it or they'll contribute to the soil over time. I once forgot some daylilies and irises and ended up planting them super late. They barely bloomed at first, but now they're thriving! So you've got nothing to lose by trying!
I've tried storing last year’s bulbs in a cool, dry spot, but they didn't fare well. It's better to plant them if you can!