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One question we have had many times over the years is what about my bulbs? The recent warm weather has made many gardeners very aware that their bulbs are already growing. Some get concerned whether or not the bulbs are tender or if they need special protection during spring cold snaps?. Hardy bulbs are planted in the fall and live through the winter each year. If they do not start to grow in the fall, they would not bloom in the spring. They sprout and grow every year. With the warm weather, they are more visible and the sprouts and buds are visible, but there is no problem with the plants. If you are wanting to do something to protect the bulbs, just relax. They have lived through much worse than this and there is nothing to you can do to protect them. They are able to stand cold temperatures and snow without serious damage. Another very frequent question goes something like this. “I bought all these bulbs last fall and I forgot about them or I never got them planted. Is it too late to plant them?” The answer is a resounding “No!” Get them in the ground as soon as possible. We plant spring blooming bulbs in the fall, so they can get several months of chilling to nurture the embryonic flowers so they can bloom. If you leave them in the bag on the shelf for next season, you will end up with some shriveled skins that are good for nothing. Plant them as soon as possible and even though they might bloom as well as they would have had they been planted in the fall. Planting them is the only possible way to salvage the bulb and hopefully preserve them for future gardens. If you receive potted bulbs as gifts in this winter what should you do with those? Bulbs are commonly put through a process of forcing, that is they are manipulated to bloom when they would not normally blossom. The forcing of bulbs is usually very hard on the bulbs. It takes all of their stored energy to grow and bloom indoors. If they have abundant foliage, plant them outside once the real cold weather has past. They will not bloom again this season but they may grow and store enough energy to bloom the following year. If the bulbs are very shriveled or are soft and mushy, the easiest and best process is to compost them. That way they will help other plant grow in your garden. Larry A. Sagers Regional Horticulturist Utah State University Extension Thanksgiving Point Office
