Q.time to plant bulbs and tubers
I bought a large bulb/corm called colocasia (elephants ear) and 4 mirabilis jalapa (japanese wonder flower) tubers. They all look as though they are starting to shoot. When should I put them in the garden and where (ideal position)? I bought them from a stall at the sandringham flower show specilising in large bulbs. I think they were from dutch growers).
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
It is hard to say when you should plant them because those bulbs are treated differently depending on where you live.
If you live in zone 8 or greater, these bulbs can be planted now and left in the ground year round. If you live in a zone lower, they need to be brought in for the winter as they will not survive year round outside. If you are in zone 8 or lower, as these are sprouting, I would recommend putting them in a container for now so they can store some energy before winter. In the fall, dig up the bulbs, remove the foliage and wrap them in newspaper and store them in a cool, dry place. In the spring, they can be planted out in your garden (and dug up again in fall).
