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Planting bulbs can be very perplexing though it actually very easy to do. The key to start planting bulbs successfully is they need to go through a “winterized” period before planting. The optimal time for planting bulbs is when the ground temperatures are still below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The tricky part is when temperatures have already risen, or you expect the spring ground temperatures to rise above the 60 degrees soon.

Place the bulbs in the refrigerator crisper for between six to twelve weeks. Keep them in well-ventilated bags, and keep them away from other vegetables. Those vegetables give off gases that can abort the germination of the bulbs. Consider getting an old refrigerator specifically for this task if you have a lot of bulbs to plant.

After the six to twelve week period, make the holes large enough so that the developing roots will have enough soft soil around them to spread and not be crowded. Thoroughly soak the soil that surrounds the hole and scrape ridges in the sides of the hole that will give the roots some form of purchase to penetrate the harder soil. Position the bulb so that it is the same depth down the hole as it was from the top edge of the container. Place loose soil underneath the bulb to raise it if the hole is too deep. Fill the hole and make sure it is well watered either through your efforts or nature’s efforts. Your spring planted bulbs might bloom that same spring, if you planted them early enough.