Planting tulips

[pinkfrocks]

Is it an absolute no-no to plant tulips early? ie now?
All the gardening books say wait until Nov/Dec to avoid bulbs being eaten or rotting but TBH who wants to be planting when the ground is frozen or soggy?


I've done both BTW- planted early and late- so welcome opinions.

[echt]

When I lived in the UK, I always planted tulips, and all other spring bulbs in pots, storing down a sheltered part of the garden so as not to sprout too soon. I put old fridge shelves on top of the pots to stop the squirrels digging them up. I've been away too long to remember when to plant them.

[MokunMokun]

Oops! I planted mine today.

[Phalenopsis]

Planting tulips late in cold soil is to prevent viral and fungal diseases taking hold as they would in warmer soil. They also don't start putting roots down until then so they're just dormant in the soil if planted before and can rot.

[pinkfrocks]

yep I know that- Phalenopsis- read all the Sarah Raven blurb...but just wondered if people had still got good results planting early.

It's just hard work planting in almost frozen soil.

[Liara]

I plant early, as I want to get the bulbs in place so I can put the other plants I plant around them in place with enough time for them to get established in before the cold sets in.

I haven't noticed a problem, but then it's the only way I have ever done it so have no counterfactual.

[Liara]

Oh, and should add that I am in southern France, not the UK, although I did the same in the UK.

[pinkfrocks]

Advice is conflicting in a way. The science is to leave until the ground is cold so they will then take root quickly.
On t'other hand, some advice is don't leave bulbs in bags, inside, unplanted, once bought.
Given the shops tend to whip bulbs out and replace with Xmas stock by October, this is a problem because if you don't buy now they are sold out by the time the weather changes.

[Liara]

You're not supposed to leave them in bags, you are supposed to have them in trays dusted with fungicide. You are supposed to dig them up when the leaves have died down and keep them that way till November.

You are also not supposed to dig or walk on soil when it is too wet, for fear of compacting it.

If I followed all the instructions I would have about one plant in my garden. Fortunately my plants can't read, so they cope OK.