I wasn't sure if a really cold spell would damage the bulbs now that they're sprouting. I am fairly new to bulbs, but I planted giant alliums last year and they did not begin sprouting until the spring. We were away for the month of November, so we got our spring bulbs in the last week of October tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, Crocus, grape hyacinth. Some of them have leaves up now, and my understanding is that those plants won't bloom this coming spring except maybe the grape hyacinth.
Will they bloom the next spring ? I plan to leave them alone, cut off the leaves after they die, not water so the bulbs don't rot and then keep them mulched with yard waste compost made of shredded leaves over the summer. I'd appreciate any suggestions you might have to improve their odds. Many thanks! In late November, I noticed my daffodils coming up; by last week, they were about four inches above the soil. My friends have told me similar stories about other spring booming bulbs.
Should I be concerned about this? Will it affect their blooming in the spring? I'm inclined to just let nature take its course, but they are my favorite flower and I want to make sure they are as beautiful as ever in a few months. Yes, Spring is bustin' out all over—or at least it was last month. We received a record number of questions, concerns and expressions of outright panic between Thanksgiving and Christmas over the sight of Spring bulb leaves appearing above ground.
Were the bulbs planted too shallow? If a bulb is planted too shallow, it is more likely to be exposed to the above-ground temperatures and disruptions in the growth cycle. In the case of daffodils, being planted too shallow leads to the development of non-flowering new bulbs. Being too close to the soil surface could also be fatal in the case of unusually cold winters. Below is a list of common spring bulbs and recommended planting depths based on the usual, purchasable sizes.
As mentioned above, planting depth depends on actual bulb size. Keep that in mind when planting if you end up with some unusually large or small bulbs in the mix. Another possible cause for the lack of bulbs in spring is animal damage.
There are two primary ways animals can negatively affect bulbs:. It is important to remember that not all wildlife eats or disturbs flower bulbs, and not all flower bulbs are susceptible to animal damage. If you are suspicious of wildlife damage, check the diet of the suspected animal first.
For example, herbivorous voles feed on plant roots, seeds and bulbs, while carnivorous moles mainly eat worms and insects. Gardeners with a recurring mole problem may quickly blame the moles for a lack of spring bulbs when another animal is to blame, although mole tunnels can provide access to bulbs by other animals.
Where animal damage is a regular occurrence, focus on bulbs that animals avoid. All parts of a daffodil are poisonous to animals, and animals do not like the strong scents produced by allium bulbs and their foliage. Some bulbs, such as squill or Puschkinia, are sensitive to soil disturbance created by tunneling animals.
In contrast, other less sensitive bulbs, especially ones in heavy and clay soils, may benefit from soil aeration created by a tunneling mole. Mulching is a common practice that can help regulate soil moisture and temperature, but too much can affect bulb growth and too little can make plants more susceptible to harsh temperatures and pests.
Around 2 inches is the recommended amount for more common bulbs like tulips, which will also provide excellent cover to rodents like voles. Take care not to over mulch, especially for minor bulbs, and keep total depth of the bulb in mind.
In late spring and early summer, after blooms have faded, the leaves are busy photosynthesizing. The resources created during this time are what will fuel the bulb through the next growing season. Leave the leaves until they have yellowed and withered. If you have minor bulbs naturalizing in your yard, take care not to mow the leaves before they have yellowed. Deadheading is another action you can take to help your bulbs build up resources.
This will prevent the seedpod from forming and can redirect resources into the bulb instead of using them to produce seed. Sometimes bulbs can become overcrowded and this may cause them to flower less. Every few years or when you suspect this is happening, dig up and divide your clumps and replant them. This can be done in late summer or fall, after the foliage has died back.
Some bulbs are more likely to come back year after year than others. Narcissi, crocus, muscari and scilla naturalize much more easily and take more neglect than bulbs such as tulips. Even within some groups e. Species tulips, Darwin hybrid tulips and Fosteriana tulips survive many more years than other varieties.
When shopping, look for bulb varieties that are labelled self-naturalizing or perennial-like over others. With this new stockpile of knowledge, get out there and take some action to bring your bulbs back to life. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. Where are my bulbs?
Bulb quality There are factors that affect if a bloom will return even before bulbs are in the ground. A batch of tulip bulbs infested with mites. Bulb mites are often a secondary pest after infection by another insect or a soil-borne pathogen. They can cause stunted and unhealthy plants as well as entry points for other pathogens.
When you are thinking about your site, ask these questions: What is the soil structure and fertility like? Planting time Proper planting time is all dependent on a soil temperature, which controls the bulb growth cycle. Climate extremes It is always helpful to reflect on any unusual or extreme changes in climate patterns.
Ask yourself: Was it unusually hot or cold this year? Planting depth The depth at which you plant a bulb plays a large part in how the bulb will be buffered from climate extremes and distance the plant will have to grow to reach the surface. When thinking about planting depth, ask: Were the bulbs planted too deep? There are two primary ways animals can negatively affect bulbs: Digging or tunneling.
The leaves may look a little tattered later in the spring, but the flowers should distract from them. Unfortunately, if flower buds emerge in the winter and normal temperatures return , they will usually be frozen and fail to bloom. The return of cold weather can delay further growth and keep bulbs from flowering until a more appropriate time.
A blanket of snow on the ground can halt progress as well as protect the emergent foliage from extreme temperatures. Got questions? Call toll free at , Monday to Friday, 9 a. Home Blog Why are my bulbs coming up early?
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