Planting tulips? Is now a good time, for Alberta, canada?

[Green Mantis]

I bought 5 tulip bulbs and now don't know whether to plant them or not? It is starting to freeze at night, but not real hard yet. Can I plant them now? Or should I plant them in the spring??? I'm not sure what to do????

[rainbowgardener]

Can't plant them in the spring. They have to go through cold dormancy. (Just putting the bulbs in your frig dry doesn't count, though you could plant the bulbs in moist potting soil, put the whole thing in a plastic bag and keep it in your freezer). But basically it's now or never. It is a good time for me to be planting tulips, probably a bit late for you, but since the bulbs will likely be wasted if you don't plant them, I'd go for it. Give them a bit of bulb food and water them in well, then keep them watered (but not waterlogged!) until ground freezes.

[Green Mantis]

Thanks, After hearing that, the bulbs will go in today. Is there anything I should put in with them, like bone meal or something? Luckily they will be up againgst the building, where it hasn't had any frost yet.---Just wondered if they needed anything to help them along? Really appreciatte the info. Thanks again.

[Green Mantis]

Sorry, When I re-read your post it said bulb food, What kind? Thank You Again.

[rainbowgardener]

I'd go for it. Give them a bit of bulb food and water them in well, then keep them watered (but not waterlogged!) until ground freezes.

I guess bone meal would do instead of bulb food, but no nitrogen. Compost would be perfect if you have it. Otherwise if you don't mind synthetics, they sell bulb food in boxes.

[Green Mantis]

Well they are planted! Don't know if they will live, but I guess I will find out in the spring, so really hoping they do live. I will keep watering them, until before a hard frost, and hope for the best. Not much else I could do. At least this way they have a chance anyway. Not so much in the box they came in. LOL! I will have to let you know in the spring if they were successful. Thanks for all the information. Next time I think about planting bulbs, I will plant them much sooner! Live and learn!