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#1
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Question about bulbs
Ok, we purchased a bunch of tulips and daffodils from Brecks and then
never got them planted this fall. We are in zone 5 (extreme SE Iowa) where it is currently 6 degrees F and falling with approximately 4 inches of snow on the ground so they are not going in the earth until next spring. Now what the heck do we do with them over the winter so that we can plant them VERY early next spring and still have them bloom? we do have a small unheated garden building that we could store them in.....wouldn'd that be the same as having them in the cold earth? Of course we could put them in our shop which is normally heated to about 50 degrees F. What do you all recommend? Thanks a bunch, Don & Rhonda |
#2
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Question about bulbs
I would try to warm the area you were going to plant them in, and dig the
holes and get them in the ground. Most bulbs I've bought, dry out within a couple of months and then are no good. Maybe someone else has some better advice for you. Dwayne "Donald Gares" wrote in message ... Ok, we purchased a bunch of tulips and daffodils from Brecks and then never got them planted this fall. We are in zone 5 (extreme SE Iowa) where it is currently 6 degrees F and falling with approximately 4 inches of snow on the ground so they are not going in the earth until next spring. Now what the heck do we do with them over the winter so that we can plant them VERY early next spring and still have them bloom? we do have a small unheated garden building that we could store them in.....wouldn'd that be the same as having them in the cold earth? Of course we could put them in our shop which is normally heated to about 50 degrees F. What do you all recommend? Thanks a bunch, Don & Rhonda |
#3
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Question about bulbs
Call Brecks and ask them. They should know. It probably happens to lots of
folks. Alternately, I heard the vegetable drawer in the 'fridge is a good place to keep them. "Donald Gares" wrote in message ... Ok, we purchased a bunch of tulips and daffodils from Brecks and then never got them planted this fall. We are in zone 5 (extreme SE Iowa) where it is currently 6 degrees F and falling with approximately 4 inches of snow on the ground so they are not going in the earth until next spring. Now what the heck do we do with them over the winter so that we can plant them VERY early next spring and still have them bloom? we do have a small unheated garden building that we could store them in.....wouldn'd that be the same as having them in the cold earth? Of course we could put them in our shop which is normally heated to about 50 degrees F. What do you all recommend? Thanks a bunch, Don & Rhonda |
#4
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Question about bulbs
first caution
Storing the bulbs in the veggie bin of the refridgerator is a BAD idea if one keeps onions and or garlic in there as well... the sulphur compounds emitted by the onions/garlics will infiltrate the bulbs and kill off the plantlets inside of them. Second caution... reifridgerating bulbs then placing them out in the spring is called forcing and can cause many bulbs to survive but a single season. Best to do is to store them away in a dark, cool , but not freezing location. there are many ways to do this, from storing them in dry peatmoss to hanging them up in pantyhose. they should keep till warmer weather Virgo91967 "de Fragile Warrior Sports Supplies" wrote in message ... Call Brecks and ask them. They should know. It probably happens to lots of folks. Alternately, I heard the vegetable drawer in the 'fridge is a good place to keep them. "Donald Gares" wrote in message ... Ok, we purchased a bunch of tulips and daffodils from Brecks and then never got them planted this fall. We are in zone 5 (extreme SE Iowa) where it is currently 6 degrees F and falling with approximately 4 inches of snow on the ground so they are not going in the earth until next spring. Now what the heck do we do with them over the winter so that we can plant them VERY early next spring and still have them bloom? we do have a small unheated garden building that we could store them in.....wouldn'd that be the same as having them in the cold earth? Of course we could put them in our shop which is normally heated to about 50 degrees F. What do you all recommend? Thanks a bunch, Don & Rhonda |
#5
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Question about bulbs
One possibility would be to put them in pots, water them just enough to
moisten the soil and place them in an area which is close to freezing (like 33 degrees) for about 10 weeks. Then put them in your shop at 50 degrees for a week or so and they will probably start to put up foliage. After the foliage has been up for a few weeks, you can move them into the house and they should bloom shortly thereafter. It's worth a try, and would give you some great indoor flowers in March. "Donald Gares" wrote in message ... Ok, we purchased a bunch of tulips and daffodils from Brecks and then never got them planted this fall. We are in zone 5 (extreme SE Iowa) where it is currently 6 degrees F and falling with approximately 4 inches of snow on the ground so they are not going in the earth until next spring. Now what the heck do we do with them over the winter so that we can plant them VERY early next spring and still have them bloom? we do have a small unheated garden building that we could store them in.....wouldn'd that be the same as having them in the cold earth? Of course we could put them in our shop which is normally heated to about 50 degrees F. What do you all recommend? Thanks a bunch, Don & Rhonda |
#6
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Question about bulbs
On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 20:43:53 -0600, Donald Gares wrote:
Ok, we purchased a bunch of tulips and daffodils from Brecks and then never got them planted this fall. We are in zone 5 (extreme SE Iowa) where it is currently 6 degrees F and falling with approximately 4 inches of snow on the ground so they are not going in the earth until next spring. Bet if you stick a good spade in the ground, especially near the house, you can get down 12" pretty easily. (I grew up in Polk Co.). If you don't want to do that, pot them in clay pots, soak the pots well to water, and bury them in insulation (vermiculite, leaves, straw, etc.) in the garage this winter. Bring them in and grow them (this is called "forcing") and then plant the spent bulbs outside ASAP next spring. See: http://tinyurl.com/b49sy (and next time, you might try a specialty bulb supplier... you can get some really nice bulbs for not much money, and timed for planting.) Kay |
#7
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Question about bulbs
Get busy,go plant them right now! as long as you can dig it should be ok..move the snow aside and dig I seen me plant tulips on Christmas morning and they bloomed in the spring. I am in zone 5 as well -- Lynn "Donald Gares" wrote in message ... Ok, we purchased a bunch of tulips and daffodils from Brecks and then never got them planted this fall. We are in zone 5 (extreme SE Iowa) where it is currently 6 degrees F and falling with approximately 4 inches of snow on the ground so they are not going in the earth until next spring. Now what the heck do we do with them over the winter so that we can plant them VERY early next spring and still have them bloom? we do have a small unheated garden building that we could store them in.....wouldn'd that be the same as having them in the cold earth? Of course we could put them in our shop which is normally heated to about 50 degrees F. What do you all recommend? Thanks a bunch, Don & Rhonda |
#8
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Question about bulbs
Lynn wrote:
Get busy,go plant them right now! as long as you can dig it should be ok..move the snow aside and dig I seen me plant tulips on Christmas morning and they bloomed in the spring. I am in zone 5 as well Hey, thanks everyone and if it is somewhat warm on Christmas morning we will certainly do that but NOT now at -2 degrees F! :-) I guess we still don't understand what the difference is between them being cold (frozen) in an unheated building and being frozen in the ground. Cheers, Don & Rhonda |
#9
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Question about bulbs
On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 09:47:44 -0600, Donald Gares wrote:
I guess we still don't understand what the difference is between them being cold (frozen) in an unheated building and being frozen in the ground. Air temp does not equal ground temp... there's a big thermal flywheel effect, and soil temps are much more moderate than ground temps. So bulbs in the soil outside don't freeze completely. Bulbs in a pot of soil, with the pot not insulated, will freeze because there's less thermal mass. |
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