Crocus bulbs planted in Autumn, now appearing on the surface - Frost Heave?

Hi All,

I planted 60 tiny crocus bulbs at the end of Autumn (near Ross-on-Wye, loam soil) and have noticed over the last couple of weeks quite a few (it seems more each day) appearing on the surface of the soil.

They look like they have started to grow, there is no obvious disturbance of the soil around them and don't look nibbled, really odd

Do you think it is frost heave? I have read about it, but have never come across it and am not sure if it also happens to bulbs?

- What would you advise, just planting them again?
- Or as the weather is freezing again here at the moment, should I pick them up, keep them in the garage, until the weather warms up and then plant them again?
- Or, plant them in a pot in the garden please?

Many thanks for any advice, a real head scratcher

 

I think that as the shoots have appeared above ground a blackbird or imilar has pulled them out, like they do with onion sets.
Unless the ground is frozen solid I would replant them between 1 and 2 inches down, weed the area and then wait.
How deep did you plant them originally?

 

Arh, thank you @NigelJ that makes sense, I have quite a few Blackbirds in the garden, never thought of that

I will collect them up and get replanting over the weekend, wallpapering today, much less fun

I put them in about 4-5 cm deep, should I go deeper?

Many thanks Nigel, I will be watching my lovely Blackbirds more closely now

 

I would poke them back in. A couple of inches deep is fine for crocuses.. Or chuck some more soil in on top of them - that corner looks as if it could use topping up a bit.

 

Thank you @JennyJB, I will get them back in and top up the area

 

They dont appear to have much root in the picture, for some reason.

Which would make them easy for birds to pull out.

 

I hadn't noticed that @pete was just bemused as how they ended up back on top of the soil

They are going back in and hopefully the Blackbirds will leave them alone this time

 

Hi

don’t look like crocus corms..

 

@Barders @Spruce has a good point there, have you planted any other bulbs?