Last year, we had some landscaping done and in the areas where rocks were going to be placed, I dug daffodil bulbs and put them in the basement, hoping to plant them in the fall. Because I don't have the best memory, I forgot all about them. When I did remember, I found that most of them had survived the winter and were sprouting. I know you aren't supposed to plant spring bulbs now, but what is the best thing to do with my sprouted bulbs now?

This is what I would do. I would pot them up and put them outside. Let them stay in the pots for summer. Then in the fall replant them. Just what I would do. What do you have to lose?

Jean, I think you might as well plant them out. If you don't they will certainly not 'hold' until next fall since they're already sprouted.

They may bloom this spring, but they might not bloom next year. It's hard to kill a bulb plant, so I say "go for it".

Jennifer, we cross posted - would you use a pot instead of straight into the ground so that you can grow them shallower this spring? Then plant them deeper when they're ready to go back into the garden? That's a good idea.

Actually, I don't know why I would put them in a pot first. My gut just leads me to do that , I have no scientific reasoning! But allowing them a shallower planting first sounds good!

Thanks, Jennifer, Elaine and Sue. That was my first thought to get them planted either in a pot or in the ground as Elaine said I doubt they would last until fall so I've lost ALL of them. It might take them sometime to get adjusted between spring and fall, but at least they will have a chance.

If you do put them in pots, be sure to keep them in the coolest, shadiest part of the garden so they'll go slowly and maybe have a chance to develop some roots, too. A pot will tend to warm up faster than the ground, especially if it's in the sun for any part of the day. I'd water with cold !! water, too. Again, keep them going slowly if you can. Even if they just make leaves and roots they will still re-generate a bulb for next year, which is the best-case scenario, I think.

Thanks, Elaine, I have the perfect place for them. Most of the yard is shaded and there is a raised bed I can't use for anything that needs sun because of the shade. Trees have a habit of growing and I was tempted last year to have DH cut some branches that shaded the bed. Now I'm glad I didn't! Procrastination does work out well sometimes

Jean ....

I couldn't plant the daffs that I bought last fall because the soil was way too moist. Actually, it was very wet. The rains came early. When I pulled the bulbs out of the cupboard I had thrown them in today, I found that none of the bulbs were mushy. I know they won't bloom this spring because the daffs that were already in the ground are finished. I just started planting the new bulbs in the ground. I figure they will make it or they won't make it. If I do nothing, they certainly won't make it.

Before I mulch the bed, I am going to put down some bulb food and will forget about them again.

Smiles,
Lyn

Lyn. Doing nothing will certainly mean that all are lost. Even if a few of mine survive, I will be happy, but I have learned over the years not to obsess too much over plants' survival. Mother Nature is a pretty tough old gal, just like me.

Jean ...

The reason I am adding the bulb food is that they can't create their own store of nutrients for next year. At least it gives them a little leg up.

I consider myself to be a novice gardener with everything except roses. Anything else I plant is always an experiment.

Good luck with your bulbs.

Smiles,
Lyn

Lin, I will be sure to throw in some food for them. Can't let them starve all year through the long hot summer