Planting bulbs. Too late?

[BlooDeBloop]

I have recently had dug over a patch of ground with good light. Ideally would love to see a proliferation of beautiful spring bulb flowers. But that isn't possible isn't it? What would you put in a bare patch today for colour later in the year? Many thanks for suggestions 😃

No advice but watching with interest as I failed to plant any spring bulbs.

This time last year we put in a bunch of mixed spring bulbs and most of them worked just fine. Squirrels ate a few, and a few didn't flower but 80% were good.

Worth a shot if you have some inexpensive bulbs

It is a bit late for dry bulbs but you can get fairly cheap potted spring ones already growing and pop them in, they will come back year after year. Also look out for bargain ones that have gone over; a good investment for next year too.

Hardy geraniums and Salvias are always a good bet for colour in a sunny spot, and dead easy for a beginner.

I've just bought a selection of spring bulbs already growing from Tescos and stuck them in!

I planted spring bulbs last weekend having established via the power of Internet gardening forums that it's fine. Just don't plant them in frozen soil.

Putting spring bulbs in a pot in the garden, should see them flower this year. I have done this before and it worked well

Ooo great. I'll pick up some bulbs on sale and pop them in. Liberal sprinkle of salvias (love these) and geraniums, fantastic. Thank you!

If anyone has planted late this year or a previous year, how long roughly does it take to see shoots appear?

Depends on the weather - a couple of months?

Ah thanks @Whataretheodds. Seems I'm being impatient as usual

I've had some bulbs festering in my bedroom over winter so have just chucked them in some containers today. I usually buy with good intentions in winter then forget to plant out until spring and they usually come up, even if they are a bit delayed. I don't know what the weather's like near you but we've just had a mild patch and everything's started growing like mad. Now we've got a bit of a cold snap again, so I'm not expecting to see growth for a couple of weeks while that lingers.

This morning I've been to the garden centre and bought some of the bulbs of daffodils and tulips already sprouting in pots and just planted them out in the garden. They weren't as cheap as buying dry bulbs and planting them in autumn but they were still reasonably priced. In autumn I'll be more organised this year.... hopefully!

I have no idea if this actually works but my uncle used to be a gardener for the council and they would put late bulbs in the freezer before planting them out. Apparently it tricks the bulbs into thinking they've had a frost and spring has come, so they start to grow quicker.

Just had a quick Google and that says Fridge not freezer, you are trying to trick them into thinking they have gone through winter. Please don't go killing your bulbs by putting them in the freezer and do your own research first. Definitely don't listen to some ditzy woman off the Internet who doesn't know what she's talking about.🙄

Ooh, that's a good idea! Thanks @BumWeasel

I have loads of daffodil bulbs that I failed to plant out, so am going to try the fridge trick. Thanks Bumweasal.

I got tulips in but I have a packet of allium bulbs that has been looking at me reproachfully since about November. Do you think it is ok to put them out now?

Even if they don't really do much this year, it's always better to get them in the ground rather than sitting sadly in the shed...

you are very wise. They haven’t even made it to the shed they’ve been kicking around the kitchen 🤦‍♀️ let’s see if I can do it this week