I had to go to Wallyworld today and they had their bulbs and root packs out on display. Since I have practically no self control, I picked up a few packages of "new-to-me" flowers - except for the Red Hot Pokers. They are: 2 types of Peonies (Sarah Bernardt and Felix Croussse) Clematis Jackmanii Astilbe Red Sentinel Bleeding Heart Pink root packs ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Now here's where I need your advice. I've bought Daylily Bulbs like this before and had terrible luck with them. So, I'm thinking that since we're in the dead of winter here and our last frost is typically the middle of March... that I'd go ahead and pot these up now and put them in the laundry room (which isn't heated). This would also let me know if they sprout since they are "guaranteed". (I've tucked away the receipt with my plant-tags). So... is this a good idea, or should I wait until maybe February and go ahead and plant them outdoors? (I'm in zone 8b). Ohhh... and I plan on keeping the Bleeding Heart and Astilbe together in a large pot so I can give them some shade. Will that be okay? And any growing tips on the others would be greatly appreciated too! Thanks in advance everyone.
I found a website that may be of some use for you Cheryl. http://www.plant-care.com/planting-daylily-bulbs.html By the way I love the selection you've bought and look forward to them all flowering for you.
Jerry... honestly... knowledgeable, or any, advice from a Wallyworld employee?? Eileen... Since I found the Daylily farm nearby, I have no need to buy questionable bulbs from WW. But thanks for the info.
If it were me, I would wait a while. Bleeding heart (or at least the ones I know) are woody stem plants . Did you say these are bulbs? Is there another type bleeding heart? I have never heard of bulbs for it and I had it for years at another house. Always got it from cuttings and root divisions.
LOL, if it was me I'd plant them right away. Zone 8B can't be that bad. Is the soil frozen? Snow? If not, why not plant them? These are pretty early blooming plants. Maybe not the Clematis, but I've seen my skills at planting / transplanting Clematis was always successful. So I am not sure what it's like over there, but even here (zone 7) now it's mild, above freezing, and if someone gave me these, I'd really go ahead and plant them
Cheryl, I would think it would be ok to pot them up so long as you can plant them out in a month or less. You just don't want them growing too long indoors without adequate sun.
Cheryl, if they are dormant plant them where you want them. The peonies will be hard to move due to the size of there roots once they are established. So, make sure you put them where you want them. They (all your choices)will actually do better if they are planted than if the are stored.
Calin... our ground isn't frozen, but we can get freezing temps even in March. I'd hate for them to pop their heads up only to get them frozen. Cayuga... the area I was thinking of setting the pots gets alot of sun. And I would plant them in the garden probably mid-March (that is if they actually sprout). Surely they won't get super big in that short of time? Carolyn... I was wondering about how long they could be kept stored in their little bags. Seems they would die if left in there for months.
Cheryl, They will keep for a while, but the problem is that the peat dehydrates and then starts pulling the moisture out of the root stock. If you keep them (in the crisper drawer) wrap them in damp news paper and place them in a plastic bag and just twist it shut. check them weekly to make sure whether they need a little more moisture or not. I just bought 2 bunches bare rooted asparagus at a trade show (wahoo...$5.00 a bunch) and did that very technique to keep them until spring when I can get them in the ground. Keep them cool, dark and damp....BUT it won't hurt them to go on out and plant them. They will begin growing roots as soon as the ground is the appropriate temperature for them. If you are worried about them....quite worrying. It is much colder up here and all of those over-winter for me. the ground even freezes here (Monday's high is to be 19f.) and they all come back out in the spring with no problems. If the ground isn't frozen you can plant them. If it is just too cold for your hands to work out there yet, store them.
Cheryl, as a transplanted New Yorker, with extensive experience with astilbe, peonies, and bleeding hearts, I can tell you they like cooler weather. Plant them where they will get afternoon shade, keep them moist, and pray, girl, pray! Wallieworld sends out what they want sold, not what is appropriate for the climate where the store is. I've seen blueberry plants offered here in Texas with our very alkaline soil! Follow Carolyn's advice if you want to keep them before planting, but I'd plant them right now if I were you (which I'm not because you have a greener thumb which I envy). Clematis I have no experience with, except the native one which is taking over a front flower bed!
Just didn`t read the first line well. Here where I am first part of February is when most plants go in the garden. Then 6 or 8 weeks later they should really start off good. By that time weather is more stable but still you could have some milk jugs with bottoms removed for those late freezes we get.
Jane, there are Blueberry varieties that thrive in northeast Texas. Check out http://www.blueberryhillfarms.com/ if you like blueberries you should make a day trip there in June/July for the most delicious ones around. It's usually best to not look at the calendar when it comes to blooming times of plants. April for us is a lot warmer than April from Oklahoma northward and even though on the calender April is early to mid Spring...temperature wise here it can be late Spring to early summer. Good luck with the Astilbe and Bleeding Hearts, they really do not like our heat and will require lots of water to survive. And if they do survive this year don't expect them to return next spring. Clematis 'Jackmanii' it is a mid summer bloomer, pot it up now. You are at the edge of it's hardiness zones 4-8, so let it get started before the heat sets in. When/if you transplant later be very careful of the vines, they break easily. Bleeding Heart, it is a late Spring/early Summer bloomer and it's zones range from 2-9 so potting it up now should be just fine. Give it a chance to grow and bloom before summer temperatures hit. Astilbe 'Red Sentinel' an early summer bloomer and it's comfort zones are 4-9. I would go ahead and pot it up in part shade for now but as it warms up keep it in full shade...you know our heat! Peony in Texas...pot it up and put it outside. It needs the cold to assure good growth and blooms in Texas so keep it in the shade to stay cooler. It may not bloom this year unless it gets a good amount of cold temperatures. After the last freeze keep it in morning sun but afternoon shade. Tritoma loves our heat. It starts blooming in spring and continues right on through fall and you are right in the middle of their hardiness zones. Pot it up, put in full sun on nice days.
