Planting bulbs..

I planted mine 2 days ago Usernut some say to leave the tulips until nearer Oct but mine`s potted :~)))

I'd plant now, as Mobee says, though I might be inclined to wait till later to do the tulips.

thanks, the only bulbs i planted before where anemone and oxalis.

Alliums prefer to be done earlier rather than later. And if you have heavy soil, mix in some grit into the bottom of the hole and place the bulb on a thin layer as they can rot if sitting in wet soil

should I water the bulbs after I,ve planted them?
can I also put some in large pots?

large deep pots are best but it should have depth to plant on bulb packet, so best to buy accordingly. Yes you can water if soil is dry but as some alliums are planted 8 inches down!, the water may take time to reach that far, So plant, back fill a little then water a bit

I,ve checked and just as well you mentioned it, a depth of 20cm for the alliums, i,d have planted them a lot shallower.
the others are 10 and 15cm, lol,

I'd stuff the whole lot in right now, before you end up having to do it whilst it's raining.
Don't worry about the tulips. The only thing they really need is a good baking in summer, and I suspect that Autumn is most certainly upon us.
Oops, sorry Bamboo, just read your comment. Bamboo is most knowledgable, so wise words indeed. Risk a later planting if you prefer.

I think they'll be okay if you do it now, but there's supposed to be a greater risk of tulip fire if you do it too early. Never had a problem myself, and there's something to be said for getting it out the way all at once.

thanks everyone, it supposed to be a nice weekend here so i,ll probably plant them tomorrow.

Today when planting I accidently dug up a tulip bulb it has rotted to a sort of clay coloured pulpy thing the one near by it is fine. This happened so quickly. What is tulip fire please.

Tulip fire - caused by a fungus in the soil or in an infected bulb - I've never really understood why it's more likely to happen if you plant the bulbs earlier rather than later, though. You only know you've got it when the foliage emerges - looks withered, distorted and covered in buff coloured flecks.

Thanks I have never come across it.Yet!

If I might just adjust thinking here. Tulip Fire is commonly heralded as fungal, as it keeps the populace keen. In reality, it is a genetic base that allows TF to prolifercate, and ALL hybrid tulips have it. The result I'm afraid of over hybridization.

RHS says its caused by "Botrytis tulipae, which overwinters as pinhead sized sclerotia in the soil or on infected bulbs". Surely if all tulips had it, wouldn't we all be getting tulip fire all the time, burgundy? I've never yet seen it in 25 years of gardening... Or are you saying the constant hybridizing has introduced a weak gene which makes them more susceptible, rather than having it already?

Precisely Bamboo. Modern hybrids will invariably succome, which is rather useful for the industry, although attention to habitat will do well for longevity.
Tulip Fire, Bamboo, is sometimes used deliberately to herald new hybrids from which a resistant bulb can be bred.
Yes, it can be the gardeners enemy, but also the botanists friend.

Fascinating stuff, Burgundy, thanks for the info.

I dont understand what you mean by 'tulip fire is used deliberately to hearld new hybrids from which resistant bulb can be bred' . could you explain please?

I thought that the reason you plant tulips later in the year, is because they like a cold spell before they put their roots down? Planting too early (when the soil is still relatively warm) means that they will sit there for a while, without rooting, and the bulbs will be prone to rot if the soil conditions are warm and wet?

PS. I'm probably wrong though :))

but i leave tulips in all year and they do loose their roots when fully dormant. so i cant understand the logic of that one though i often see it magzines etc :o)

good job plants cant read......

Ahh good point Seaburngirl :)
I always ditch mine after flowering, and plant fresh each year (I know, I know....extravagent or what? lol)....but new tulip bulbs are one of my little luxuries in life...:))

well as little luxuries go its a lovely one that others can share when they see your lovely garden. so ofetn our luxuries are for us alone unless children beg borrow or 'steal' [my] chocolate/ bubblebath etc.

Lol....thank you :) Tulips come just below chocolate on my "luxuries' list"...but slightly above bubblebath, and alongside lilies and daffs, oh and a decent bottle of wine...;))

greatest luxury for me at the moment is a day of un interupted gardening. rarely happens:o(

that,s my idea of luxury too, a good day peacefully pottering about in the garden...