Hi, can I plant my discount flower bulbs now in winter?

Will they bloom? Or should I just open a bag of potting soil and give them assyl until spring?

Hi, can I plant my discount flower bulbs now in winter?
I am planting mine today. You can plant them as long as the ground is not frozen. Since I also have the discount bulbs, I will give them the chance to shine. I have also done this in the past and they have bloomed just fine. I am in zone 6 so spring is still a long ways off. Just try it and good luck!
Reply:I posted same thing a few days ago...great answers!!! thanks!!! been a plantin' fool the past few days!!!..at 75% off here in PA.,you can't beat that!!!
Reply:I agree with Isadora - I too have planted bulbs as late as mid-January with no problems. Go for it....
Reply:Depends on where you are %26amp; the weather . If you think the ground will be thawed for another 3 weeks , or more , go ahead . It takes about that long for a decent root system to grow. They will be late ,or not bloom 'til the following spring, depending on which bulbs, and if they get enough chill hrs.



If you don't think they'll get enough time for root growth, you can plant them in pots . Keep them cool (%26lt;50F) , but not frozen solid , until the roots start to poke through . Then you can put them out , or where they are cold ( no higher than 34F) .



You just need a spot where the outside of the pots aren't exposed to the weather, and can be covered . Dig a hole now, just big enough, make a little enclosure of cinder blocks, or put them against a wall . Then cover with a sheet of plastic, then snow,%26amp;/or hay,%26amp;/ or evergreen branches .Plant them out in the spring , or keep them in the pots , until they are done , just like any other flowers , then plant . One advantages of this , is you can bring some in, if you want a midwinter pick-me-up. ( Probably from early March onward) .



Congratulations . You 've just learned how to force them . In the future , if you want to, start them this way, in mid Oct , leaving them out, uncovered, 'til late Nov./early Dec.
Reply:If you can get a shovel into the ground, go for it. They will bloom a little late in the spring, but next year will be right on track. I have often planted bulbs in January when I found them on sale, it is no problem as long as you can dig the holes.



Keeping them in the refrigerator is an option if you can't plant them because of snow, but you can't keep them in there with apples or other fruits as the ripening fruit puts off an ethane gas that will kill the flower buds. If you have another place where they can be kept cold but don't freeze, that is also an option until you can get them in the ground.



They need a cold period of about 8-12 weeks in order to bloom, so planting them in pots that you keep in the house is not a good idea. Putting them outdoors is not either, if they are not protected by the ground, and are just in pots, chances are they will freeze., regardless of the fact that they are winter hardy.