"Johnny Johnson" wrote in message
news
Hi folks,

I'm located in zone 7a and just received a shipment of daffodil bulbs
from Park's. I seem to remember reading somewhere that it's important
to plant bulbs as soon as possible after receiving them but I'd really
like to hold off on planting these for a month or so. So, do you
think I'd be safe waiting until the first of November and, if so, how
should I store the bulbs until then. I was considering storing them
in our dry basement which stays relatively cool.

Thanks for your help,
Johnny
_____________________
Johnny Johnson
Cleveland, GA


just another hint, John, whenever I get my bulbs, (I too, live in zone 7a
kinda straddling the fence as Mom's Nature does what she pleases in Eastern
Tennessee) since I don't want to plant them now either, I store them in the
vegetable drawer of the back refridgerator. If you do this, make sure there
is NO fruit in the fridge as the ripe fruit will kill the blossom embryo in
the bulbs. I do this to give the bulbs the proper chill before I plug them
into the ground.

Another note, open that box right now and make sure all the bulbs are
without mold or fungus (Park has excellent bulbs). If you do store them in
your basement, make sure it's not only cool and dry but that you kind of
check the contents to make sure they don't start molding. and to make sure
the little mice that are starting to come back inside with the cooler nights
haven't discovered your buffet for them! lol

Don't wait too late, though, as the bulbs really need time to grow their
roots before cold sets in and they go dormant. You don't need to give them
bulb food as the bulb is complete with all that it needs, but you can
purchase a few bags of the bulb granular food at the end of the season when
they start making room for it with other things and sprinkle some on the
bulbs as they emerge next spring. Hope this helps. (by the way, for a lark,
you could take one of each kind of bulb and force them for winter display if
you're ambitious. Just grab an old nursery pot and fill it half way with
soil-less mix, put the bulbs securely in the mix, topdress to an inch of the
top, and water thorougly. Then put those pots in the cool basement, and
topping with a piece of cardboard on the top of the pots. Check the pots on
occaison to make sure the pots aren't totally bone dry, just enough of a
dribble to keep the bulbs from stressing and breaking dormancy. Then start
watering after New Year's Day a little bit and move to a warmer spot with a
little bit of sunlight. When you see "noses" poking out, take some of that
granulated bulb food and sprinkle on top of the soil, water a teeny bit
more, and move into the sunny room of your choice and wait for the bulb to
do it's thing. If you have a really sunny spot, make sure you turn the pots
halfway around to get the plants and bulb shoot to grow straight. It will
otherwise lean towards the sun. Don't soggy the soil, and try not to put it
in the warmest room of the house. Comfortable like you are is fine. You'll
be able to enjoy a preview of what's planted in your garden's outside.

Once the bulbs have done their thing, let the leaves completely die back
normally. Water on occaison and put outside when the frost has ended. You
can plug the whole thing into a spot in your gardens and next year, they'll
surprise you and come up when they're supposed to, but make sure you mark
the spot and sprinkle a couple of tablespoon's of granulated bulb food on
top in the early fall to feed the bulbs more.

good luck!
madgardener up on the ridge, on a perfect ending September day, overlooking
English Mountain in Eastern Tennessee, zone 7, Sunset zone 36