Growing Zone 8 Bulbs - When To Plant Bulbs In Zone 8

Spring blooming bulbs are normally planted in fall to early winter in zone 8 – between October and December. Zone 8 bulb planting for spring blooming bulbs should be done when soil temperatures are steadily below 60 F.

What month should you plant bulbs?

A good rule of thumb is to plant bulbs when the average nighttime temperatures in your area are in the 40- to 50-degree range. At that point the soil temperature should be just perfect for tucking bulbs in for their winter's rest underground. In colder northern climates, plant in September or October.

When should I plant my garden in Zone 8?

For spring and summer crops, zone 8 vegetable gardening can start as early as the first days of February. That's the time to start seeds indoors for cool weather vegetables. Be sure to get your seeds early so that you can follow the vegetable planting guide for zone 8.

What happens if you plant bulbs in the spring?

Waiting until spring to plant the bulbs will not satisfy these requirements, so spring-planted bulbs will likely not bloom this year. ... The bulbs likely won't bloom this spring, but they may bloom later in the summer, out of their normal sequence, or they may just wait until next year to bloom at the normal time.

What bulbs can I plant now?

When to plant bulbs

Plant spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, preferably by the end of September.
Plant tulips in November.
Plant hardy summer-flowering bulbs, such as lilies, alliums and crocosmia, in September and October.

Should I soak bulbs before planting?

The following tips will help you grow healthy, beautiful flowers. Soak fall-planted bulbs for 12 hours in warm water before planting. ... Soaking allows suitable bulbs to absorb enough water to begin growth immediately, saving two or three weeks of time.

What time of year should I plant bulbs?

Tulips, Daffodils, Fritillaria and all other spring flowering bulbs can be planted throughout September, October and November. Many types will perform perfectly well, even if planted well in to December but the trick is to get them in before the risk of frost, so that they can start producing roots.

What plants grow well in Zone 8?

Asters, astilbe, bee balm, cannas, coneflowers, crocus, daffodils, dahlias, glads, hibiscus, hostas, hyacinths, irises, jasmine, lilies, peonies, phlox, salvia, sedum, succulents, tulips and yarrow are among the Zone 8 plants we recommend.

How cold does Zone 8 get?

Definitions

Zone		To
8	a	15 °F (−9.4 °C)
8	b	20 °F (−6.7 °C)
9	a	25 °F (−3.9 °C)
9	b	30 °F (−1.1 °C)

What grows well in zone 8a?

But vegetables are only part of a garden's summer bounty in Zone 8. Plants can include a vast variety of perennials, herbs, trees and vines that thrive in your backyard.
...
Zone 8 Plants

Artichokes.
Asparagus.
Cardoon.
Prickly pear cactus.
Rhubarb.
Strawberries.

What are the best bulbs to plant in spring?

Spring-Planted Bulb Varieties

Anemone.
Begonias.
Caladium.
Calla Lilies.
Canna Lilies.
Crocosmia.
Dahlias.
Freesia.

Can you plant peony bulbs in the spring?

Peonies should be settled into place about six weeks before the ground freezes. Although it's certainly possible to plant peonies in the spring, spring-planted peonies just don't do as well. Experts agree: they generally lag about a year behind those planted in the fall.

How long do bulbs last unplanted?

Most bulbs, if stored correctly, can be kept for about 12 months before needing to be planted. The longevity of flowering bulbs is largely determined by the adequacy of the storage provided.

What bulbs can I plant now for summer?

Top 10 Summer-Flowering Bulbs

Allium.
Oriental Lily.
Begonia.
Freesia.
Gladiolus.
Polianthes tuberosa.
Crocosmia.
Bearded Iris.

What happens if you plant bulbs late?

Planted later in the year daffodil bulbs will almost certainly bloom later, and some may come up 'blind', flowering the following season. Small, weakened bulbs will clump-up more slowly, although they should eventually recover.

Can you leave bulbs in the ground all year?

Bulb After-Care

Most bulbs can be left underground all year or stored inside after they've bloomed. After your bulbs have flowered, don't remove their leaves while they're still green; always let the foliage die back on its own.

What happens if bulbs are planted too shallow?

To plant flower bulbs too shallow can expose them to damaging temperature spiking. Planting flower bulbs too close together can cause root systems to strangle each other or cause them to dehydrate or starve due to limited water and nutrition.

How many bulbs can you plant together?

Grouping Bulbs - With spring flowering bulbs such as Tulips or Daffodils, plant at least twelve bulbs of one variety in a grouping. The more bulbs planted of one variety and colour, the greater the impact. The smaller Spring Bulbs, such as snow Crocus, should be planted in groups of 50 bulbs or more to have impact.

Will dried up bulbs grow?

So, can old bulbs be planted? Yes, if the bulb is still firm and plump it will most likely be able to be successfully planted. However, if the bulb smells bad due to rotting, is squishy or mushy, or is dry and shriveled up then the bulb should not be planted and can be thrown out.

Can you plant on top of bulbs?

Planting spring flowering bulbs in layers one on top of the other really does extend the flowering season! ... You could do layered bulb planting in the border but where this is most effective is when you plant layers of different varieties of flower bulbs in pots.

How far apart do you plant bulbs?

How far apart should they be spaced? Smaller bulbs should be planted fairly close together at roughly four inches apart while larger bulbs should have approximately five inches separating them. To create a bolder splash of color, you can plant them even closer, to the point where your bulbs are almost touching.

Is it too late to plant spring bulbs?

The truth is that it is not too late to plant spring bulbs - but get on with it. Tulips are very comfortable with a January planting, but crocus and narcissi are likely to do better in their second season than first if planted later than November. ... If you plant them as dry bulbs the failure rate can be horrendous.