Pot up bulbs in containers now for enjoyment next spring. Photo courtesy www.bulb.com
On Fox 59 Nov. 11, we answer a question the Hoosier Gardener gets every year, usually in January:
“Oh, my gosh! I just found this bag of tulips (daffodils, hyacinths or any other spring bulb) that I didn’t get planted this fall. What can I do?”
Plant them right away! But how can you do that in January or February, when the ground is frozen? All is not lost!
When you find the bulbs, plant them in a large container, cover them with soil, water the pot and stow it in an unheated garage or porch until the tips of the bulbs break through, then move the container outdoors to a sunny spot. In spring or early summer after the bulbs bloom and the foliage has turned yellow or brown, called ripening, replant the bulbs in the landscape.
Layer the bulbs in the container, placing the largest ones, such as tulips and daffodils, 6- to 8-inches deep in the container. Add soil to cover all but the tips of the first layer of bulbs. Place smaller bulbs, such as hyacinths, crocus and Dutch iris in between the tips of the lower level of bulbs. Cover the second layer with soil and add more layers as needed.
You can also follow this method any time you want to plant spring bulbs up in containers.
