Yes, You Can Still Plant Bulbs

In 2008 my husband and I moved to a new property in Sandwich, where we started many gardens. For several years we made it a tradition to plant daffodils on Thanksgiving. Now, those bulbs that we placed in the ground many years ago have multiplied and naturalized, and every year our spirits are lifted in the spring by their cheerful yellow flowers. So when our customers ask, “Can I still plant spring-flowering bulbs in November?” my answer comes from personal experience. “Absolutely!”

In fact, this past weekend I planted my boxes and large troughs with tulip bulbs. Since most tulips don’t spread and naturalize like the members of the Narcissus family do, I grow them in containers. And since the bunnies, deer and random squirrels delight in biting off the tulip heads, I grow these on my front porch and deck where they are protected from the critters.

Here are a few tips for bulb planting now.

• If you want to plant bulbs in containers, empty the pots or boxes of old soil first and use fresh potting mix. Be sure that the container has holes in the bottom as well; this ensures that there will be good drainage and the bulbs won’t rot. (Older potting mix that’s been used for summer annuals doesn’t drain as well. You can put that in your compost pile or in a raised bed. After your spring bulbs are done flowering, remove them and use that same potting mix for your summer annuals.)
• If you’re using bulb fertilizer when you plant, scatter it over the surface of the soil where you’ll be placing the bulbs…don’t put it in the bottom of the hole.
• Tulip bulbs in containers can be packed in – space them one to four inches apart for a fantastic display in the spring. Space daffodils six to twelve inches apart in the ground so each one has the space to multiply.

• Whether you’re planting bulbs in the ground or in containers, water them in well immediately after planting. This settles the soil so that the critters won’t disturb them. Squirrels and some birds sense disturbed soil, and they dig there hoping to find a tasty treat some other animal has buried. By watering well immediately after you put them bulbs in the ground, the critters aren’t likely to dig in the area.

• Pay attention to the information on the packages of bulbs. They give the height of the stems when the plant is in bloom, and often say if the bulbs are in flower in early, mid or late spring. When planting in a container, put the shorter flowers on the edges and the taller ones in the center or the back.