Tulips- anyone dared to plant yet?

[JulesDorney]

I know it advises not before November but I've got loads to plant and hate doing it when the ground is wet, frozen and my fingers freeze!

Is it still really too early?

Me, mine are in. The bulbs have never read the instructions.

Oops didn’t realise you’re not meant to do it till November!! We just started yesterday. We got a bulb planter which was a life saver!!

The reason for waiting is that

a) the soil can contain a virus that kills tulips but the virus goes dormant/ dies in cold weather

b) the soil if it's still too warm can 'bake' the tulips and they die.

I have around 100 to plant, although 30+ are into pots.

I've chucked mine in and it's fingers crossed.
That's pretty much my approach to all gardening 😃

Do you have a link to it please?

Same. Got a bulb planter from b&q to make it easier.

Hoping squirrelS dont eat them

I've got 13 packs of tulips in the shed but they won't be going into tubs and containers until mid November.

I always plant them then, I think I was told they like the colder weather and has been said by another PP, they can get a virus.

I never plant into the garden, my success rate doing that has been zero. My container tulips though, they are absolutely stunning. I buy the tulips from Lidl and have not been disappointed yet by the quality and how fab they look.

Eek did mine last month.

www.bostonseeds.com/products/autumn-flower-bulbs/bulb-planting-essentials/

they also do really cheap bulbs in bulk, just planting them this season so can’t vouch for them

aHA this is the thread for me.

shoukd you mix any fertiliser eg manure pellets with the compost for tubs?

can alliums go in the ground yet (in north Ireland so always freezing here tbh sob)

I planted some at the weekend. Hampton Court are planting theirs now so if its good enough for them. I'm still waiting on some from Rose Cottage Plants though

Nah, I always plant bulbs too early, it’s easier to see where the gaps are when your garden has more foliage so come spring they dont end up coming up in random places too close to shrubs that take over.

I don’t understand why you have to wait. I leave mine in all year!

I was going to ask about Aliums. We have lots of squirrels so they’d better not eat them.

I’ve always planted mine in early October in containers and they’ve always been fine.

I planted mine in containers yesterday. The squirrels have already dug up one pot, so have now covered them all with netting. Maybe I should have waited until the squirrels are not so active. Last year, I had a fantastic display, but have had to buy a whole new supply of bulbs as they all seem to have disappeared.

Did over 100 yesterday. The squirrels dig up loads so I plant extra.

Daffodils bulbs are in. Apparently squirrels don't like them.

I have (LOTS of) tulip bulbs from Lidl and Wilko to plant this year. I'm waiting for the frost to kill off my dahlia flowers then the bulbs will go into the pots the dahlias have been in when I remove the tubers.

As others have said, November for tulips but now is daff planting time.

Squirrels don’t like daffodils? Thank you! <rushes off to the garden centre>

I have read somewhere that if you sprinkle chilli flakes over the soil after you've planted your tulip bulbs then that puts squirrels off.

I’ve planted some but dam foxes are attacking the planter ,

do you all plant it on the ground or planters

I planted mine last weekend, they were ordered from Farmer Gracy and said 'plant immediately we only send out bulbs when they are ready to plant' so I followed this advice.

They do!

I might get some daffs in

I plant all my bulbs in pots to begin with. Then when they are growing in Feb/March, l transfer them all into the ground.

It’s much easier to plant them when you aren’t fighting back autumnal foliage. You can see clearly where they should go.

Works every time