On Fri, 21 Mar 2014 05:53:08 -0700 (PDT), mj
wrote:

Brooklyn1 wrote:
mj wrote:

Is it common for bulbs to grow but not flower the first year?
I am not having a great success rate with the many bulbs
I planted last fall.

I'll bet Critters are eating those flowers... other than dafs most
bulb flowers become critter food... deer/rabbits will feast on bulb
flowers.

Box store bulbs planted in November in the coldest year in recent North Carolina history.

It was a lot colder here in upstate NY, many mornings it was -20º and
never went above zero all day... it's still in the 20s and the ground
is frozen solid 3' deep. Every winter here is cold but my bulbs come
up and flower beautifully... most are dafs, everything else is behind
a fence, and even fenced from deer and rabbits the squirrels will dig
some up, in these winters with everything under several feet of snow
there's practically nothing critters won't eat.

Animals are not a problem (in this case). I have never had trouble with crocus and have
had 2 bloom out of 60 bulbs. Daffodils are growing foliage but not a lot of blooms and
they are really short. I have never had good luck with Tulips but I was really hoping
this year. Thanks for all the input. I am glad I got them all pretty cheep. Just a
disappointing spring.

Buy from a different source, often the cheap turns out expensive.
Perhaps those bulbs were old and/or improperly stored. The bulbs you
mention all should have flowered. I think you'd be much better off
buying from one of the major on line bulb companys... this one is
good: www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com

Proper planting is also important, I like to use a 2" bulb auger with
a 1/2" drill motor, makes the job effortless and quick... a corded
drill motor works much better than a cordless... I have several heavy
duty 50' and 100' outdoor extention cords. Cordless drill motors
don't have the oomph to handle a bulb auger, even with a freshly
charged battery by the sixth hole it's straining. I abhor cordless
tools and would no longer own any... were I a contractor, in the field
I'd use a portable generator.

Try again.