I live in Marin County, CA...just across the Golden Gate Bridge. I just bought some quality bulbs on sale for dutch iris, lilium, and bearded iris.
Should I plant them now or just keep them dry and plant in the fall? The cold weather (such as it is) has passed.
I already had some of each planted ages ago which bloomed just recently and are now in the process of turning brown.
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Wait until fall MJ
Bearded iris are not true bulbs. They are rhizomes. They should be planted immediately since the plants tend to be evergreen and not die down like true bulbs.
Dutch iris and lilies, however, are indeed true bulbs. They should be stored in a slightly damp medium (sand, sawdust, peat moss) until fall and then planted.
In Marin County, CA with that mild climate I don't think it much matters when bulbs are planted, any time of year is fine.
Glad to hear it because I was going to try some anyway. I was just googling about putting bulbs in the fridge for 6 - 8 weeks before planting them. Would that encourage them to grow even though it isn't fall yet?
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No matter when planted they will adopt a pattern of flowering based on climatic conditions... that's what bulbs do no matter where grown, assuming the climate is generally condusive to growing the particular bulb(s)... I don't think tulips will survive Death Valley.
OK...I'll be planting lilium and dutch iris. Any recommendations for any other bulbs I could plant?
I also had trans-planted (long ago and gifted from a neighbor) nine bearded iris plants but only two produced any flowers. Maybe I should have added some plant food/fertilizer?
I would just plant them and see what happens.
If you fertilise your garden once a year then do not add any more plant food. Fertilising Once a year is more than enough for bearded iris.
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