We had an early deep freeze last autumn and I did not manage to get in all the flower bulbs I had bought. After an already too long and cold winter we are in a thaw, and I am able to actually get my trowel in the soil. The remaining bulbs I have are some scilla and crocus which do need some cold weather in order to bloom nicely. I also have a lot of asiatic lilies and ornamental alliums which I usually plant in the autumn but are also sold for spring planting. It’s a given that our temperatures will drop below freezing again before spring, and we should get more snow. (spring in Kodiak happens during the end of April.) Should I get my cabin fevered self outside and plant these, or should I wait and plant in the spring, knowing that my scilla and crocus won’t bloom until Spring 2008?
Bulbs usually get a little root action established before going dormant for winter; they probably won’t have a chance to do that before they refreeze. For that reason, I’d wait – I’m not sure that freezing would be a good thing for unestablished bulbs, and it might be a bad thing.
This is just a guess, though, till someone who knows what he or she is talking about shows up.
Consult your nearest Extension office! Ain’t land-grant universities wonderful?
I’m way down south, so don’t have experience with your frigid temps, but, like Twickster, at this point, I’d say to wait before planting. the best strategy would be to put your bulbs that need a chill period in a pot with potting soil, and store them somewhere where they get a decent chill, but not the shock of the ground at this late date. IE ; the refridgerator, or a sheltered space under or near the house.
The main worry now is that your bulbs don’t dry out, so don’t just leave them in the bag they came in on a shelf somewhere. Couch them in some potting soil, and keep it on the dry moist side, or, in a box with sawdust or similar medium. You want to keep em plump and juicy, and not directly exposed to freezing temps. If the bulbs are starting to shrivel under their skins, they’re drying out.
And, as freckafree sez, your local extension agent in this rather slow time of year is probably very glad to answer your questions.