Expert: Long Island Gardener - 1/14/2007

Question
I am in Harrisburg Pa, South central Pennsylvania
I think that is zone 6.
The sprouts are already three to four inches
What should I do. It has been so warm and sunny
or warm and wet that I have rose bushes with new
leaves. IS there a chance that these bulbs will bloom
in the spring????
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
because of the warm weather my iris and tulip bulbs have sprouted. Should I
do something? Is there any chance that they will bloom in the spring?
thanks
-----Answer-----
You don't mention your location, Daniel, so it is hard to be sure.

Generally speaking, spikes of warm weather and swings in winter temperature
have been a problem since gardeners began growing bulbs.  If you plant your
bulbs deep enough, they will not sprout when the weather warms prematurely
- which it will, you can count on it surely as the sun sets.

Now that you are seeing signs of sprouts, get yourself some leaves and soil,
and mulch deeply to keep them underground and shielded as much as
possible from the warm weather - and the cold plunge that follows.  What
follows depends on where you are writing from - which right now is only a
mystery.

Occasional freeze-thaw is not life threatening for bulbs.  Moisture however
will cause all kinds of trouble.  We always insist on excellent drainage when
we plant these.

Plant deep and take the drainage matter seriously.  Mulch if you haven't
planted deep enough - it's Plan B.  Remove the Mulch in spring (carefully!).  
And watch the blooms.

Answer
Just a small note to point out that Dutch Iris is SUPPOSED to sprout "early".  Don't worry about them at all - and mulching won't hurt but it is unnecessary.

Thanks for writing.

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There is a chance, Daniel, that they will survive and there is a chance that they won't.  I hate to put it that way.  But it is hard to say.  Even when things are grown perfectly, by the greenest of thumbs, Acts of God take over and fate takes its course.  I think you should do what you can to protet them and tilt the odds in your favor.  Mulch, mulch, mulch.  That's all you can do.  But it might be just what you need.

Let me know.

And remember: It's all about MISTAKES.  No gardener grows everything right the first time.  Sometimes we NEVER get it right.  The best gardeners make a LOT of mistakes and plenty of things don't make it.  Sometimes it's our fault.  In fact, it's ALWAYS our fault.  But you learn.

Relax and accept the things you cannot change.  But first, go out and Mulch.  And see what the future holds.  It's a very important part of gardening.  Learn to make mistakes.  Because that's how you learned to walk.  And that's how you learn to garden.

Very simple.  And very good.  Please try to remember to let me know what happens.  I can learn too.