Um...Forgot To Plant the Bulbs! What Now?

[ramama]

So, what are my options here?  I had each of my DDs pick out a bunch of tulip bulbs, and then promptly forgot to plant them (or, more likely, procrastinated so long that I totally forgot.)  Can we plant them in pots and grow them indoors?  Or plant them in the spring and have them still grow that spring (we got a mixture of early, mid, and late blooming tulips--truly a mix because they're all in one bag mixed together LOL).  Or do we have to save them until next fall?  Is that even possible?  I'm such a noob.  Help!

[philomom]

You don't sat where you live but I've planted bulbs as late as Valentine's day and still had them come up just fine. They bloom later of course, but they look just fine.

[ramama]

Sorry!  Yes that would be important information.  We live in Maine, so the ground is pretty well frozen :(

[philomom]

How about put them in a container now and then transfer them to the yard later in the fall?

http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Bulbs_in_Containers

[KBG8]

We are in Maine also... planted some last year in containers inside and then moved them outside in the spring... :)

[tankgirl73]

I've been wondering the same thing about garlic... I bought some beautiful garlic bulbs for planting, but didn't have time to get them out before things froze up.  I know you CAN plant garlic in the spring, I did that last summer and got some cute little bulbs and some cute "garlic onions", but I'd like to get something BIG, you know.  So I was wondering the same thing about planting them indoors... would there be a difference that they're growing in the warmth indoors rather than 'hibernating' outdoors???

[Carma]

They need a cold period. So you could put them in a container in the fridge and then plant them in Spring.

Carma

[cschick]

Originally Posted by Carma 

They need a cold period. So you could put them in a container in the fridge and then plant them in Spring.

Carma

Yeah, this. There's info online about how long they need to be in the fridge, my brain is saying that six weeks is good. Although, if they are in a bag out in an uninsulated garage or planting shed, that's equally fine. Just plant them in spring.

Of course, the bulbs I planted this fall decided to come up with one day of 50 degree temps in late December. Ugh. I don't even get that . . . it was in the 30s the day prior, the 50s, then the 20s, and I had inch-tall tulip suddenly sprout and freeze.

[plantnerd]

If you can find unfrozen potting soil you can plant them in pots outdoors now and they should be just fine.  The only prob with a a fridge is the fruits and veggies give of ethelyne gas that can make the bulbs rot.