As most enthusiastic gardeners know, the best time to plant bulbs is in late fall, before the first hard frost. However, you may stumble upon some forgotten bulbs. Or maybe you just couldn’t resist taking advantage of end of year bulb sales.
So, what can you do now, in February? Wait until the next planting season? Or go ahead and plant your bulbs? Here are a few issues to consider:
- Bulbs Don’t Have a Very Long Shelf Life
Although you take care to ensure the best conditions (cool, dry, dark place) bulbs will not survive out of the ground for a long time. If you don’t want to lose them, you should take a chance and plant them.
- Cover Them Properly with Soil
To ensure the best chances of blooming, make sure that you dig a 6-inch deep hole for each bulb. If the soil is too frozen, cover the bulbs with plenty of soil and a good compost for plants – at least three times the height of the bulb.
- Use Planters If the Ground Is Too Hard
If you really cannot plant the bulbs in the garden, use terracotta planters instead. However, make sure that you keep them in a cool place (around 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit). You can use a tool shed or any other annex of your house that is not heated.