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Bulb storage

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Betfam
Member

Joined:	Sat Aug 25th, 2007
Location:
Posts:	2
Mana:

Posted: Sat Aug 25th, 2007 06:52 pm

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I have to dig daffodils, tulips and lily-of-the-valley but cannot replant them until spring. How can I store them over the winter here in Montana. I have had some success in the past when we moved here bringing bulbs in paper bags but where to store and do they need soil, etc.?.....

Newt
Administrator

Joined:	Tue Sep 2nd, 2003
Location:	Zone 7, Maryland USA
Posts:	2378
Mana:

Posted: Sat Aug 25th, 2007 08:14 pm

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Hi Betfam,

You don't say what your hardiness zone is or where in Montana you are located, but Montana has hardiness zones 2 to 5.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropmap/montana/maps/MThardy.jpg

Lily of the valley is hardy to zone 3 and most daffodils and tulips are hardy to zones 3 through 5 depending on which ones you have. I'm wondering why you need to store them out of the ground for the winter. If your zone is too cold for them to be in the ground, it's my understanding that you would treat these plants as annuals. I suppose you could try storing them in mesh bags in the refrigerator but you can't have any apples or pears in there as those fruits off-gas and will destroy your bulbs.

Newt

Last edited on Sat Aug 25th, 2007 08:14 pm by Newt

Betfam
Member

Joined:	Sat Aug 25th, 2007
Location:
Posts:	2
Mana:

Posted: Sat Aug 25th, 2007 10:39 pm

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Sorry, this is my first time on a site like this, and you are right about the hardiness zone. These are my daughters bulbs and she has to take them up as she was away and her husband let the beds become over run with thistles, grass, and every other weed and the only way to get rid of them is to round up and till and etc. She had no other place to put them and wants to be sure all aliens are gone and the soil restored before starting anew. There is not enough time now to get it done, let the ground recover and replant before the snows fly.

Newt
Administrator

Joined:	Tue Sep 2nd, 2003
Location:	Zone 7, Maryland USA
Posts:	2378
Mana:

Posted: Sun Aug 26th, 2007 02:46 pm

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Betfam, I would recommend that the bed be cleared of all weeds, 3" to 4" of compost added and mixed into the soil and the bulbs be replanted for the winter. To smother any weeds or weed seeds left behind the soil can be covered with 6 layers of DAMPENED black printed newspaper and then a 3" layer of mulch applied. Dampen the newspape so the first breeze doesn't have it blowing all over the yard. Been there! :shock:

Even if she is in hardiness zone 2 she has at least another month to six weeks before the ground freezes. Bulbs can be planted until the ground freezes.

I'm not a fan of herbicides such as RoundUp and don't use it for weeds. Not sure what you mean by letting the ground recover. RoundUp can stay in the ground for a long time depending on the type of soil. I would dig up the weeds, either after a rain or a deep watering so the ground is easier to work. She could use horticultural vinegar to kill most of the weeds. Thistle is very difficult to kill with herbicides and the vinegar will work if the plants are young and small. The rest can be dug out. Letting the soil stay uncovered
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2002/020515.htm
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=131932

Newt

Last edited on Sun Aug 26th, 2007 02:49 pm by Newt

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