"Will Renkel" wrote in message
...

see below about what was in bed previously
did not do a sample test

OK. Do the test. Be sure to test in 3-4 spots in the same bed, testing for
both pH and nutrients (which means you need the fancier test kit). Tedious,
but worthwhile.

Then, down the list we go.....

- Where did you buy the bulbs, and what condition were they in? I've seen
bulbs in some stores that are slightly soft and wrinkled like old potatoes
that are beginning to dehydrate. If these poorly treated bulbs were
subjected to further insults, they might perform marginally the first year.

- In what week of what month did you plant them?

- Exactly where (town and state) in zone 5 do you live? Mini-climates are
important.

I'd ask about whether they were under too much snow cover, but mine were
under a 5 foot pile of snow until mid-March, and they started cranking two
days after it all melted. I think they see it as a challenge.