# Unplanted spring bulbs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unplanted-spring-bulbs/282303>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 30, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unplanted-spring-bulbs/282303 "2004-12-30T20:13:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unplanted-spring-bulbs/282303/1 "2004-12-30T20:13:47Z")

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I’ve got several dozen spring bulbs (mostly crocus) that I didn’t get around to planting in the fall. They’re still in the garage, in their original packaging.

Is it ok to leave them there over winter? Can I plant them in the spring, and expect them to bloom the following spring?

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**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unplanted-spring-bulbs/282303/2 "2004-12-30T20:45:12Z")

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Is your ground frozen solid? If it isn’t, or if it thaws sometime soon, I’d go ahead and plant them, preferably below the frost line in your area. Crocus are pretty hardy. They might not bloom this spring but I’m pretty sure they’d make it through alive.

I planted some tulips about 2 weeks ago and have great confidence in them. Of course I am somewhat south of you, in TN.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unplanted-spring-bulbs/282303/3 "2004-12-30T22:18:50Z")

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The ground has been either frozen or muddy. Right now it’s under about 1.5 feet of snow; when that melts, it’ll be a muddy swamp til it freezes again. If I can plant them before spring, I will, but I’m not optimistic.

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**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unplanted-spring-bulbs/282303/4 "2004-12-30T22:36:56Z")

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Two years ago we came home to find the builders had already started an addition on our house. It was no big deal except my wife fretted about the Irises that were covered up. I noticed some loose dirt out in the yard but thought nothing of it until the next spring when the Iris started coming up. They had been on a mound that the builders dug out and just threw at random on the ground. They have now been transplanted and cover an area bigger than the original. I’m not saying to cut them up and throw them on your yard, but that they are hardier than you imagine.

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**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unplanted-spring-bulbs/282303/5 "2004-12-30T23:53:46Z")

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My limited experience is that the bulbs will dessicate if they’re left outside in the dry air for too long. You could always put some of them in a shallow pot and force them. It’s kind of nice to have crocuses blooming on your desk in February.