What was I thinking? Every year I do this. Bulb overindulgence. They didn’t look like so many in balmy September, but after a temperate fall, I was forced to plant them in winter, out in the cold. All 262 of them.
On the packaging, planting bulbs looks hard. As a novice gardener, I was intimidated. All those diagrams showing the little spade digging a very deep hole. All that math complete with rulers that I guess you are supposed to stick in the hole. Have I told you all how much I hate math? I’m probably a writer simply because the journalism school at OU didn’t require any math for a degree.
Plus, I’ve got three kids, one of whom shares a birthday with my mother (today) almost one week after Christmas. If I took the time to plant per the instructions, I would never get them in the ground. This would mean no spring show for Easter at our house, and that would be a pity. I like a few flowers while I hunt Easter eggs. Looks good with the attire.
So, this is how I do it. Dig hole. 
Place odd number of bulbs in it. Throw down a mix of bone meal, blood meal and maybe a long acting fertilizer. Cover the entire mess with more soil. Throw some chopped leaves on top.
Voila!! The bulbs are planted.
A couple of notes. No, I don’t dig to the standard depth. You’re supposed to dig at a depth of three times the bulb’s size. You can if you want to, but I’ve found, in Oklahoma, it makes absolutely no difference. In fact, for most winters, you may want to place the hyacinths in a refrigerator in September and leave them a couple of months so they will get their full chilling. Hyacinths like a little chill. Closer to the surface is colder.
As to tulips, treat them like annuals. It doesn’t get cold enough here to make them multiply. After they’ve flowered, pull them up. Next fall, I’m planning a species tulip trial. I’ve heard they will naturalize somewhat. A few bulb companies supply them, but don’t expect them to look like the tulips seen in magazines. I repeat . . . those are annuals here. However, the last few years, tulip bulbs are pretty cheap, so I just throw some in with the narcissus (daffodils,) hyacinths, grape hyacinths, anemones and others. This year, I decided to try rununculas. Those are some crazy rhizomes. I had to consult the internet to see which end was up.
I braved the cold and got the bulbs in the ground. Hooray for me!
One thing I forgot to mention. The stringy roots should be planted on the bottom, and the pointy end should be pointing upward toward the sun.
Hi Dee –
Ah bulbs.
We estimate that we put in 2,000 more bulbs in 2007 between beds and pots.
For some reason, my luck has been better with planting bulbs in the ground than in pots. I suspect is because I don’t water the pots regularly enough. At least the ones in the ground can go looking for water.
We are having our second 70-plus-degree day in Muskogee so the back yard is getting a workover. And so are out backs.
A person can get way out of shape over the winter!
Keep on planting.
Martha from All the Dirt on Gardening
http://muskogeephoenixonline.com/blogs/MollyDay/
Gosh, Dee, now I’m wondering about the bulbs I have in pots. I also am intimidated by bulbs. I have a pot of tulips that are coming up, but I know in my heart of hearts they will probably never be as beautiful as that first year they were gifted to me. And I have a pot of something a neighbor gave me when they were dry that I threw into a pot and they are ALL coming up and look really healthy. I don’t even know what they are! I’ll take a pic and post when they flower. I think your post will inspire me to give more attention to bulbs. I guess it’s a little late to put them in the ground now! But it is freezing. Does that help???
Kathryn, I forget where you’re located. If you’re in the south, which I think you are, yes, go ahead and plant in the ground now. If the bulbs aren’t shriveled, it isn’t too late. I can’t wait to see what your surprise plantings are. Be sure to take a picture.~~Dee
I’ve been telling people for years to treat bulbs like annuals. This way they won’t be disappointed every year when the bulbs either don’t come up, don’t flower or change color. People look at me like I’ve gone mad. I’m getting used to it.
Jim, thanks for coming by my little place. The only bulbs that really multiply here are the daffodils. They like our hot summers and dry winters.~~Dee
Greetings, Dee. And Happy New Year! You have had a prolific blogging week (guessing you’ve taken full advantage of “winter break”). Tonight I was able to read your many wonderful entries which allow me to vicariously enjoy Oklahoma and my Red Dirt girlfriend’s life.
I am so pleased that you’re blogging and bringing us into your world. Your bulb entry cracked me up. I used to feel sooooo guilty planting bulbs in my former Seattle garden on Thanksgiving….but now, hey, you’ve raised the bar. Is it possible to plant bulbs in frozen soil? Yup, just ask Dee! Good daffodil karma will come to you in springtime. I’m jealous.
dkp xoxox
Debra, You guessed it! Being stuck 30 minutes or more away from everything has made me blog more. That, and I got a new camera and a laptop for Christmas. HH thought I could go to the “Y” and then to Panera for lunch while I work on my articles and blogging. We’ll see. I didn’t raise the bar that high. My soil isn’t frozen; just a little colder than normal. I put shredded leaves on top as a blanket. I’ll take a pic on Easter and see if it worked. Last year, my bulbs were bloomed out by Easter.
Dee… good for you getting your bulbs planted. Many gardeners would have given up thinking it was too late. I say, as long as the ground isn’t frozen solid yet, you can still plant bulbs. I also treat my tulips like annuals and pull them out in the spring when the blooms have faded. I may get a few to come up a 2nd or 3rd year, but they are more solitary tulips at that point, and not the big groups I originally planted.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Thanks, Carol, for commenting. I’ve been enjoying all of your goals instead of resolutions on your blog. Like I said, I’ll try the species tulips next year just to see.
btw where is your blog hosted at. If you don’t mind me asking.
It is hosted at Midphase. I wouldn’t recommend them though. They don’t have pretty permalinks. Choose someone who isn’t window based.
Hey Dee,
I thought I wouldn’t plant bulbs because they wouldn’t come up in time. Due to not enough time in the cold. But I may rethink that. If I can still find bulbs.
Curtis, they should come up, if they are still in good condition. The food for growth is contained in the bulb itself. That’s why it’s important to buy good bulbs. I found most of mine at the box store, but they are all out now.
Hey Dee,
I’ve been peeking in from time to time and enjoying your pics and stories so much. Haven’t been much good at letting you know though. Sorry about that. Some days it’s all I can do to keep my clients from barking at me and the dishes washed. You just left me the kindest note about the beautiful colors in one of my photos from a few days ago, and how much your eye misses color in a world of brown. Then I look at the post above and the last few before that and I think I see colors. So I’m just wondering. You willing to play a bit?
I’d love to see how many different colors and color combinations you could actually find within a hundred yards of your house if you went out with just that as your goal. Give yourself a half hour, just a manageable amount . . . and take your camera. I’ve got a hunch that upon closer examination you will find that gray is made up of many, many colors. Browns too. Lichens, seed pods, old farm implements, tree bark. Surprise us. We, your readership would love to see what you come up with if you’d post it up.
David, thanks for the comment. You’re on, my friend. I see a really good future post from your challenge. As to comments, on your blog (wonder filled BTW,) I took you at your word. I leave my comments as peaceful notes left at a lake house or cabin. I’m glad you read them though. And, to my other readers, if you haven’t been to David’s blog, it’s on my blogroll. See what a real photographer can do with a camera.
I do the same thing– and I’m not even a dedicated gardener! There’s just something about those beautiful pictures on the bulb package. Also unfortunately, I don’t know what I am doing and a lot of my bulbs do not come up.
Remember those irises you gave me, umm, fall of 2006, I think. They all came up and were beautiful, and a few even bloomed back in November. I love them!
Hugs to you, honey-bunny.
Hah! I would have to take a pick ax to the ground to get bulbs in this time of year. I hate to admit it, but I still have some tulips that didn’t make it into the ground. I’ll be putting them in the refrigerator to force, so they won’t be a waste.
Good for you for getting them done!
–Robin (Bumblebee)
Robin, Forcing them is a great idea. That way, your house will be sweetly scented during the darkest part of the year.