When to plant summer flowering bulbs?

Hi everyone, I was just wondering would it be safe to plant summer flowering bulbs outside yet? I have started some lilies and delphiniums in the greenhouse but I have more delphiniums, dutch iris' anemonies and freesia etc which I want to plant outside, what is the best time of year to do so? I'm afraid of another harsh frost coming along, any advice welcome.

 

Hi Freedom

I think that anything that you have started in the greenhouse needs to be hardened off - ie introduced slowly to the cold.

However Delphiniums, Dutch Iris and Anemonies are all normally hardy. In fact if you were to plant Dutch Iris and Anemonies as bulbs now, they will be below the soil and not affected by a frost say tomorrow. In their own time they will produce foliage and as I said that will be hardy.

Freesias are a different matter. I don't know anything about them. But I think they are not hardy. This site http://www.gardenhealth.com/plant-care-and-propagation/growing-advice/choosing-bulbs/freesia/ says plant bulbs outdoors in mid April after the frosts. If you have already planted them in the greenhouse, in a pot, I still wouldn't put them outside until after the last frost.

 

Thanks Peter, very helpful.