Saffron crocus were fun, but they didn't last for me very well. It was probably the chickens, or the drought, or maybe the deluge 5 years ago. Ah, well, I gave some very lush Christmas presents (saffron threads) for a few years.

d

Are all of the rotten bulbs in the same bed, or are they in different places? Maybe we can sleuth out the problem. It may be the weather, but I've had some that survived 65" of rain in one year, in clay soil, and survived. They also survived through years when the ground was so dry it had cracks from April to October, except when the dust filled in the cracks.

d

Molly

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The Earth Laughs with Flowers  -  Emerson

I was told that a lot of bulb houses didn't order in the quantities that they have in the past because they had so many left overs last year. That's probably why you're not seeing such good deals. Some places had really steep discounts (more than usual) for pre-orders before July 1.

d

450? Oh, my achin' back! I've done a few hundred at a time and I still wince when I think about it. It was worth it, though. It's been about 20 years since we planted them, and they still bloom every year, though in recent years, the trees have covered quite a few of them so that they don't bloom as well.

d

That's good. Mine mostly went into either beds that I hand dug myself, or between trees where the tiller would have damaged the roots. For those, we used an auger that attached to a reversible electric drill. That drill could still hit a rock and kick hard, though.

d

Daryl, to tell you the truth, I don't remember if they were doubles or not when I planted them.  I do remember that the bulbs were very large for tulips, but thats about it.

We don't plant them deep here because if we did, they don't come up.  My MIL told me not to plant them deep, but I thought she was full of it, so the first ones (years ago) I planted at the recommended depth.  They never came up and just sat there.  This was in a bulb garden that I had.  I have never figured out why this is the way it is, maybe you know - it doesn't make sense to me.  Maybe they don't get enough consistent water? 

Iris are the same way.  We don't cover them at all, not even lightly.  Just lay them out where you want them and water. 

I'll go out later today or tomorrow and snap a pic of the area where they are planted.  Maybe you can tell me just from the area what might be causing it.

Molly

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The Earth Laughs with Flowers  -  Emerson

French drains are illegal here.  Although there are several places that still have them. 

A raised bed is a good idea.  Maybe when I can get Joe motivated with the backhoe he will build my raised bed around the corner of the driveway and lift that corner where the tulips are.

Molly

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The Earth Laughs with Flowers  -  Emerson

Molly

Women's Forum

Gardening Forum

The Earth Laughs with Flowers  -  Emerson