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I am a newbie to DG, and I've learned a LOT just from reading old threads...I love all the info here! I'm in Kansas (6a, I believe), and have a question about bulb planting.
I've been struck by bulb fever, and while visiting my folks in Massachusetts last week, I grabbed a HUGE pile of clearance spring-flowering bulbs (crocus, tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, etc.) from several stores. Everything still looks very healthy and decent, but I arrived home in Kansas this weekend to find our temps lower than I'd hoped for...I've been working my butt off to cut new beds and plant as many bulbs as possible, and I'm not even half done.
The next two or three days will be mid-40s in the daytime, with overnights between 22-28, but after that, temps will be in the mid/high 50s daytime with overnights in the low/mid 30s for about a week (enough time for me to get everything in the ground, at least). The question is, do I go outside now and try to plant even with the forecast low temps through the weekend, or do I wait until it warms up a bit after Monday? If I do plant now, will watering afterward risk freezing the bulbs? If I'd be better off waiting, should I get the beds cut beforehand (I can handle digging in the cold and wind), or will turning over the soil make it more susceptible to freezing? I must say, the soil here is quite rich...you put things in the ground and they come up with very little effort on my part. I've never fertilized anything, yet each year the blooms are bright and strong.
The bulbs were an outstanding deal (bags of 40 crocus, 14 tulips, and 20 drumstick allium for as little as $1.25 each!), and I have at least 500 bulbs to plant. Being a gardener (admittedly, one who is still learning!) on a limited budget, I can't stand the thought of losing them...I thought this was the perfect opportunity to have amazing flowerbeds, but I didn't count on the weather turning so quickly *sigh* (My first year in Kansas, 2004, temps were in the 60s/70s right through January!)
Thanks in advance for all your help!
Susan in Kansas
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