Bloody Bulbs are Sprouting!

[highlander]

oh no - some of my bulbs are coming up already

what can I do (other than spray the ground with cryo spray every day!)

I nealry punched the radio the other day. Some smug gardeneing twat was saying you should never follow the planting guide; always wait a few weeks and take into account the previous years' weather and the long-range forecast.

lol, no idea about the bulbs but pmsl @ 'smug gardening twat' !!!

P.S. Highlander, are you the mner who is about to embark on a medical degree ?

Don't worry, mine did that one year. When the weather gets colder they will just stop growing, and then continue again in the spring.

this happens to us most years as where we live is freakishly hot (according to gardeners' question time. i am for knowing that!). it doesn't make any difference, they still flower in the spring as normal.

If you anticipate really nasty weather, maybe some well-rotted manure mulch might help ?

Yep mine too, look quite good aswell. think its ok..im gonna throw some more compost over mine to protect them from the frost...is that a good idea>?

manure or some kind of bark chippings, or if you want to be fancy some horticultural fleece might help.

Personally, I'd probably leave them as I'd guess they'll look after themselves, plus I'm a lazy git.

Im not lazy and I do have bark Thanks

Just to clarify, cb, your compost will be fine for them. luverly stuff.

My bulbs are coming up, too. It's weird in the gardens as we haven't had our usual autumn frost yet this year, so there are still summer flowers blooming alonside the bulbs!

some 'orrible squirrels have picked all mine out that I put in the borders and left nice big wholes where they once were

any ideas what to do anyone???!!!

We've got squirrels eyeing the (rather expensive) bulbs I just put in this weekend. I run at them, waving my arms. They don't give a sh*t.

LOL.

I'm aching all over as I had a marathon session today planting the vast array of bulbs I seem to have acquired this year. I also developed a 'the full works' migraine, I guess with all the bending etc. It'll be worth it next spring when the garden is awash with flowers - shame I'm unlikely to see it cos we're moving away for a bit!

yes NDP - I have deferred until next year. I will officailly be old enough to be some of the students mum (if fact, got mistaken for a mum when interviewed at Leeds. I think I was offered a place purely out of sympathy )

it's not the squirrels round here - it's my neighbur's psychotic kitten/cat. Shes' already manged to poison herself with Lilys. her favourite trick (other than bulb excavation) is to get onto the garage roof and screech at passers by.

apparently squirrels don't like white crocus bulbs!

there was a guy on the radio yesterday saying we should introduce a cull of grey squirrels as they are out-manouvering the native red squirrel. I think the RSPCA is in favour of this but they are worried that they will lose the support (read:hard cash) of old grannies (much like the outrage at the Harris hedgehog cull).

I havent seen a red squirrel for YEARS. Have any of you?

Yes, lots of reds around here. But we're in NE Scotland, which is one of their last strongholds. There are greys about, as well.

Hihglander, I read about a proposed cull, too, but because squirrels have the 'cute' factor it will be very difficult to win over public support. It would be such a shame if the reds died out completely.

Squirrels don't like chili.If you dust your bulbs with chili powder,they may give up on digging them up.