Forgot your flower bulbs? This is the last minute you can still plant them.
Every gardener knows it: you enthusiastically bought bags full of tulips, daffodils, and crocuses… and then the hustle and bustle of everyday life set in. Before you know it, it's December and that paper bag is still somewhere in the shed. Is it too late to plant your spring bulbs then? Not necessarily! Find out when you can still plant your forgotten flower bulbs – and when it's truly too late.
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Spring bulbs, such as tulips , daffodils, and hyacinths , need a cold period of about three months to complete their winter dormancy and prepare for flowering. The bulbs use temperature to determine which part of the plant they should develop at what time. If you plant them too late, they may not get enough cold. This can result in poorly developing roots, or the bulbs may produce very short flower stalks—or even no flowers at all.
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For spring bulbs, "too late" is rarely truly too late. As long as the ground isn't frozen and you can still dig in with a shovel, there's hope. Most bulbs are tenacious and persistent: they always try to take root, no matter how late it is. They might bloom a little later or less profusely, but they often recover fully the following year.
In the Netherlands and Flanders, the ideal planting time for most spring bulbs runs from September to November. However, the calendar tells you less than the soil itself. Is the ground colder than ten degrees Celsius, but not frozen or waterlogged? Then you can still plant perfectly well – even in December or, in mild weather, even early January.
Some varieties tolerate late planting better than others. However, only plant bulbs that still feel firm and intact. Soft or shriveled bulbs have lost their energy.
- Tulips are surprisingly adaptable. You can still plant tulip bulbs in December, as long as there's no frost.
- Daffodils are best planted a little earlier in the fall, but late November is often also possible. They can withstand a bit of rough treatment.
- Hyacinths should be planted in the ground by mid-November at the latest, as they need a little more time to develop their roots.
- Crocuses can be left in the ground until late, as long as the soil is not rock hard.
- It is best to plant Alliums in October, but November is also fine.
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