Can Spring bulb flowers be dug up before summer's end?

Question

I have already posted two questions regarding my beloved flowers, as they froze two days ago after they had just started blooming and I was wondering if the blooms could somehow be "thawed-out" to enjoy them in bouquets(would still welcome answers about this!). I have lived at my rental property for almost six years and this was the best year yet-they were looking absolutely beautiful as they have become well established (daffodils, hyacinths, etc.). Now I am going to be moving and since my landlord is not a "flower person" they will literally be mowed over after I leave. Where I am moving to I will not be able to replant them immediately and may have to store them for awhile-can this be done? If so, how do I store them? Also, they will need to be removed before the greenery has died off and completed it cycle-will this kill them?I will be moving mid-summer and I live in northwest PA if this makes a difference! Fellow gardeners and flower people please help!

Answer 1

As bulbs finish blooming, remove faded blooms to eliminate seed set that reduces bulb growth. Maintain foliage for six weeks for good bulb growth and rebloom the following season. Do not cut or braid foliage, but allow it to die down naturally. Foliage can be removed when it has yellowed, fallen over, and comes loose when slightly tugged.
Once all have gone dormant they can be safely dug up and stored. There are powdered fungicides made especially for storing bulbs to prevent them rotting if you wish. Other wise store them in wood shaving or peat moss. Be careful not to bruise your bulbs before storing, and make sure you check them periodically through winter. If you find any that are rotting, discard them in the trash (not the compost). If you store bulbs in peat moss or vermiculite be sure to use fresh material The best temp is 35 - 40 F. If your basement is generally warmer than 40F, try putting your bulbs on newspaper in the coolest darkest corner with a concrete floor.


Next fall plant them as you did originally adding bone meal or organic bulb fetilizer.
http://www.johnscheepers.com/index.html
They sell Dutch Organic Bulb food (7-10-5 fertilizer)


Next spring feed the bulbs. Tulips are "heavy feeders" and require fertilization as foliage emerges and again after flowering. Fertilize other bulbs after flowering to support foliage and increase bulb size.

Answer 2

To answer, I pose this question to you: Is it worth the time and effort to dig them all up, dry them, store them, and then finally replant them? or is it better to buy a new selection of bulbs, design the new bulb and garden area, plant them and enjoy your new garden? I ask this because individually each bulb is worth, what, .10c or up to .30c you are inveritable going to slice some bulbs with the digging tool, and kill them. There will be others that just don't survive the drying process...

The process can be done: After they are done blooming, leave them alone for as long as you can. When you decide it's time to dig, use your garden spade and as carefully as you can, dig the bulbs up. Remember they are up to 8" deep, and the top isn't directly above the bulb, it's likely it's 2" or so, one way or the other. If you cut a bulb with the shovel, it's probably a gonner. Once the bulbs are dug, rinse them clean of dirt, and lay them someplace (out of the sun, and where the vermin can't eat-em) to dry. Once the tops have dried up, cut them back, and store the bulbs in paper bags. It's best to have a little Perilite or Sawdust in the bag... not to cover them, but to 'absorb' moisture. Keep the bags in a cool dry place. In the fall replant as you desire, be sure to use a bulb-starter fertilizer at the time of planting.

I hope that this helps
Good luck-

Answer 3

the right time is after the blooming season, from July through October. if you're getting waiting a sparkling section for planting, you are able to artwork some fertilizer into the soil, water and enable the mattress settle for some days. Trim the tops of the recent divisions to about one 0.33 of their correct to seem after moisture and keep the flowers more advantageous strong. Plant 10 to 18 inches aside in a strong organic and organic and correctly drained soil, to a intensity to the position the rhizome is merely coated. See source for more advantageous suggestion on growing to be iris.