Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 4/11/2005

Question
I am located in Western Maryland. A friend gave me a bunch of bulbs because she will be leveling her yard and doesn't want them. We dug the bulbs up and they still have earth around them. They have the greenery sticking up from the dirt and some of the flowers have bloomed. I'm not sure what the flowers are but they are white and shaped like tiny,inverted bells. I planted some of them and they seem to be doing alright but I would like to know how I can save the rest to plant in the fall. I'm not sure that I'll be able to get the rest of them into the ground within the time frame before the flowers die and I don't want to lose the bulbs completely. Can you help me?
Thanks!
Wendy  

Answer
The best result you get by planting the bulbs (even in pots or temporarily "hilling in", e.g. creating a temporary place by digging in the bulbs until the foliage die back). Fertilize and give full sun. water regularily. After foliage die back, dig the bulbs and store dry and cool until early fall when you can plant in their final places.

Bulbs do better planted than out of the ground, but above will do.