Help - 1000s spring bulbs I can’t plant until late January/ early feb

Elmroad82

Hi,
I wonder if anyone can advise. I’ve cleared some land at the end of lawn (60swm) that I intended to plant 2000 bulbs into for spring flowering (DAF, crocus, bluebell, tulips) and some trees. It was just brush land and very uneven. I’ve had to delay levelling the ground until January and so can’t plant the bulbs until late Jan/ feb. Any idea how I can avoid them dying/ going mouody? Or can I plant them in grow bags and transplant in feb? Or another option?

They’re currently in an outside metal box. 

Thanks!

FlorayG

It's normally too late now for anything except tulips
On the other hand, if you don't plant them now they definitely won't grow, whereas if you do plant them now they might and even if they don't flower they can build up for next year. You need to plant them in tubs ASAP

Elmroad82

Will grow bags be ok? If so, can they be dug up and transplanted in early feb?

teaselMay

I've previously transplanted late on, I don't recall how late but it was technically way too late. The other thing is what will levelling the ground involve? Could you plant them deep enough in the cleared ground so that most will survive the levelling?

fatbelly

I'd be tempted to dig some trenches and bung them in.

I did this in mid-november with some cheap daffs I got from T&M Clearance sale

Even then it was a bit late for planting but it at least gives them a chance

Elmroad82

teaselMay said:

I've previously transplanted late on, I don't recall how late but it was technically way too late. The other thing is what will levelling the ground involve? Could you plant them deep enough in the cleared ground so that most will survive the levelling?

It will probably require a mini digger moving would have about 1ft depth but maybe I can section off an area. Do I literally just push the bulbs in the soil then transplant them in Feb when the soils levelled?
what sq footage size would need to house 1500 bulbs?

twopenny

Could you put a whole lot of growbags along the boundary, slit lengthwise and put them in? Going to be a lot of work for so many bulbs but you would get a flowering in a line for the time being.

Feed with bonemeal after flowering and leave them to dry out.

Plant where you want at the end of the year.

It won't do them any good to transplant that late but you could try.

If they are going into hard soil you need a bulb planter (look them up because there are different types.

As said they need to go down 2 or 3 times the length of the bulb. If you push them in they will push out by the roots almost immediately, blow away or be eaten by slugs.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/bulbs/planting

Here's another way to plant several at a time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS2icGmlGnA

It's going to be hard work whichever so wear a wrist brace and if you use the spade method, make sure it's not blunt.

You could use a turf cutter for the H and a fork to lift the turf which is easier.

alicef

I would be tempted to put in some temporary trenches for the larger bulbs. Re the smaller bulbs - Crocus I would plant up into pots; also Bluebells; the latter can be planted 'in the green' - not sure on the crocus, (I would probably let the crocus flower and die back and then plant the next autumn. Narcissus - well I have quite a number in cardboard boxes in an outbuilding at the moment, (I really shouldn't be let near a sale) - unlikely that I will get these in before the end of December and I'm relaxed about that, but if you cant get yours in until Feb. then I would go for trenches and lift/plant the next autumn.  In my cut flower beds I planted narcissus 9 to 30cm square - but you could go tighter as long as the bulbs aren't touching.  Tulips - don't know as I don't plant them.   

Trees, if bare root, can be heeled in and will be fine to plant in Feb.  If in pots then you can plant whenever really.

Elmroad82

That’s some good advice. Why can’t you plant them close together?

twopenny

You can. Alicef just left space which is the 'correct' way.

But sometimes if they are very close the mass of roots will push them out of the soil.

Also it leaves room for them to multiply the following years. One bulb will produce more bulblettes from the base after the first or second year which will take a couple of years to get big enough to flower

alicef

@twopenny you are probably being too kind re. my advice!!

@Elmroad82 I posted this picture on another thread but it may be helpful

this is the start of the bulb planting for my cut flower bed - the grading of the bulbs was (from memory) 12/14 i.e. 12/14 cm. As I don't intend lifting these bulbs for a few years (3+) they need enough space to be able to produce offsets.  If bulbs become too crowded then there is a risk of them not flowering.  As mentioned - if your trench is a temporary solution then you could pack your bulbs in tighter but I still wouldn't have the bulbs touching, (risk of rot spreading, though personally I don't plant any bulb that is soft or has visible signs of mould).