I don't know about you, but this fall I have had a hard time finding an opportunity to plant my spring-blooming bulbs, like tulips and daffodils. The dry start to fall made digging a hole nearly impossible and then it seemed like when it finally rained it would always be on the weekend when I have time for planting!
If you still have unplanted bulbs, you can still plant them. While October is the ideal time to plant hyacinth, crocus, tulips, daffodils and other spring-blooming bulbs, as long as the soil is not frozen you can still get them in the ground. Learn more in this article: Selecting and Planting Spring-Blooming Bulbs.
If you don't get them in the ground before the depths of winter arrive, the next best option is to force them into bloom in a container. Learn more about that process here: How to Force Spring-Flowering Bulbs Indoors.
Waiting until spring to plant them is not an option. Unplanted spring-flowering bulbs typically dry up and die over winter. Bulbs that remain viable (alive) until spring usually don’t perform well when planted in spring. They are planted in fall so they have adequate time to develop good root systems before winter. Additionally, they must be exposed to cold temperatures in order to bloom. Spring-planted bulbs don't get time to grow roots or cold temperatures to initiate flower development so they don't grow or bloom well. If you don't get your bulbs planted in fall and can't force them, it’s best to discard them.
Photo credits: Cristina Ionescu/AdobeStock
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Yard and Garden, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on December 6, 2024. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.