Help! I didn't plant my fall bulbs in the fall!

January 30, 2023

Question:

Dear Randy,

I bought bulbs back in October (tulip, crocus, hyacinth, and daffodil) and didn't plant them when you told us to, so I put them in the fridge because I was once told that will keep them from sprouting.

What should I do with these bulbs now? Are they goners? Should I give up on them or try to plant them?

Answer:

Great question! I know this happens all the time. We have good intentions in the fall when it’s time to plant our bulbs for spring, and then we get busy, and they don’t make into the ground in time to give them the proper chilling that they require to produce nice blooms in the springtime.

I like that you put them into the fridge, because this allows them that chilling time they needed to grow properly. Your bulbs are not goners.

You have two options here.

1. You can either plant them in the ground outside and hope for the best.
   
   OR
   
   
2. You can plant them indoors in a more controlled environment. Depending on Mother Nature and how long our spring will be this year, if you plant them outdoors, your bulbs may grow just fine, or their stems may become short and stocky. If you plant them indoors, however, you will have better control over them and will be able to enjoy your blooms longer, and having them indoors will give you a nice pop of color inside your house as well.
   
   The key here is chilling them for the minimum amount of time they need to be chilled before sprouting. For each of those bulbs you listed, their chill times will vary. It is approximately 12-16 weeks, but will depend on the plant.
   
   Research your plant to find out what that chill time is for the bulbs you buy. If you ordered them through a nursery or bulb catalog, these services often have a growing guide for the specific plants you buy. To grow your spring bulbs indoors, you need to find out how long your bulbs need to be chilled. If they have been in the fridge for that amount of time, you can pot them up, water them, and set them in a cool, sunny window. If they have not chilled that long, keep them in the fridge until they chilled for the amount of time required, and then pot and place them in a cool, sunny window.

For more information on fall bulbs, download our factsheet.