too late to plant bulbs?

Hi I'm looking for some advice I have just found some bulbs in my green house.
I bought them at the end of last year and completely forgot all about them . They are tulips and alliums and they are now starting to grow in the packet, should I plant them or is it too late?
Fiona

 

Probably a bit late, but they will die anyway if not planted, so get them in now.

 

Yes plant them. They will just die otherwise. Worth chucking them in the ground and those that survive can be dug up in the Autumn and re-deployed (or put them where you actually want them and cross your fingers )

Edit: Palustris beat me to it!

 

I'm guessing as a rough rule bulbs have a certain date they go 'bad'? They aren't like seeds that stay 'good' for years and years and years?

 

You can probably put them in cold storage for "some time" ... but if they are at normal temperatures they will just start to grow - whether they have moisture or not - plus they are using up energy just sitting there (maybe seeds too? but if so then at a much slower rate). So they will shrivel over time from the energy used up,a nd eventually will not have enough stored energy left to grow - or will have started to grow and used up the stored energy in the process.

Hence need to plant any bulbs that are found "lying around" rather than keeping them "until next year" - which would usually be fine with seeds as most [but definitely not all!] will be viable for two years, often much much longer.

 

Agree with above. Plant now, they will be much happier.

 

Bulbs now in here's hoping thanks to all for the advice

 

It truly makes me wonder why many people do ask about planting "found forgotten" bulbs.
Bulbs are alive little gems of roots in a round container, they can only handle just so much out of the nutrition soil and water just so long. They also breath, thus never should be stored in a closed plastic bag.

 

My first reaction too, but then I do have the benefit of some (several ... a lot?!) of years of experience. Perhaps they just seem like "seeds" to a layman?

 

The reason that I ‘forgot’ my bulbs was that I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had recently under gone major surgery, I had a bit more on my mind.
It would help if people do not make assumptions before giving their opinions
Once again thanks to those who actually gave me the advice I was looking for.

 

Ermmm ... no one did



We get lots of people asking here whether they should plant, or delay planting, bulbs previously mislaid and now recently found. Redstar was curious why folk think that delaying is an option. I am too.

Seasoned gardeners are just as prone to forgetting bulbs in a draw I can assure you !!

 

Thank you Kristen, yep that is all I was doing. This is not the first thread of people asking about planting forgotten bulbs , in fact probably the tenth one.

 

Hi Fiona they will be fine but ya have to get them in right away .. they may be a little later than usual but no problems .. also very sorry to hear of your surgery and health problems .. i wish you a speedy recovery and Happy times in your garden .. take care Micky

 

Well, I have been gardening off and on since I was 11 and I still forget to plant things. Just found some Lilium martagon seedlings which should have been potted on last year. They have just begun to grow in their seed tray.
Hope it is a better year ,indeed a future for Fiona too.