On 12/25/2010 10:43 AM, beecrofter wrote:
On Dec 25, 9:52 am, wrote:
Hi all

I'm an idiot-level white-belt beginner gardener. I've just moved into a
fantastic new place with a back yard. Since I grew up in Holland, I
immediately thought "crocuses" and "tulips".

No-one in the UK will need telling that it's not really possible to dig
and plant at the moment... (I'm in Glasgow: -10 most nights).

Is it too late for me to stick some crocus or tulip bulbs in, if we get
a thaw in the next few weeks? Or do they need to sit in deep-frozen
ground for a few months to start growing when things get warmer?

thanks!

seb

--
seb

If you can work the unfrozen soil then plant and water the bulbs and
put a mulch a foot or more thick over the entire area (remove at first
sign of spring emergence) you could get away with it.

Does the ground in Glasgow freeze hard and deep in the winter? If not I
wouldn't hesitate to get some bulbs in the ground and I wouldn't worry
about super-thick mulching either -- just get the bulbs into the ground at
the recommended depth (or even a hair more) in amended well-drained soil
and add a normal covering of mulch (preferably dark-colored). A
south-facing location up against a wall would be even better if you can
manage it since it will provide a better micro-climate. I've gotten away
with planting tulip and hyacinth bulbs in Anchorage, Alaska in November
when the ground was on the verge of freezing solid after clearing snow from
the bed and they came up perfectly and thrived for years. The great thing
about bulbs at this time of year is, if you can find them, they are likely
to be priced in your favor -- the garden center really wants to dispose of
them. The choice may be bad but the prices often make up for that.

I suspect that the largest top-grade bulbs such as tulips and hyacinth and
daffodil will respond better to this sort of treatment although I don't
have enough evidence to swear to it. For certain I wouldn't want to be
mucking about with tiny crocus or bluebell bulbs in the freeze -- just to
fiddly for cold fingers.