How to store autumn planting bulbs?

Nollie

I am itching to get my order in for autumn planting bulbs, in case the ones I want sell out before I am ready to plant them. I’m concerned about the species tulips especially as it probably won’t be cool enough to plant them out before November/December. 

How is it best to store them? I am not sure I can do ‘cool, dark and dry’ just now - at least not cool enough. Could I keep them in the fridge in a sealed tupperware box?

I wonder what temperature/conditions the suppliers store them in to keep them fresh until sale. Anyone know?

Obelixx

Other than tulips, I would plant all bulbs as soon as they arrive or are bought in shops.  Tulips hail from Turkey so I think it would be enough to keep them dry in a dark place till November.  After all, the ones in shop displays do alright. 

Fairygirl

I don't think you need to worry so much about species tulips @Nollie.
We're fortunate here that we can plant any tulips in September, usually when we get them, as it's cold enough, but to the best of my knowledge, the species ones don't get the tulip virus. Not 100% sure though. 
Perhaps you could contact the supplier you're looking at and ask them to confirm, based on your climate, just for reassurance. 

Fairygirl

@Nollie - quick update. I had a look on Peter Nyssen's site and they have the online chat facility, so I asked the question. The answer is - it's airborne, so any tulip can be at risk.
Hope that'sof some help. Sorry if I misled you. 

AnniD

@Nollie, l have placed an order this morning with Peter Nyssen,  and at the checkout I was given the option to choose the delivery week.
I don't know if your supplier does the same ?

Iamweedy

I have been leaving my spring  bulbs in the compost and bring them out  next year. I have found they stay healthier than anything else. You need the space though. 

Nollie

Hi, thanks for your thoughts. I have had allium bulbs turned to dust stored in my in my coolest place before @Obelixx (the bed I was making wasn't yet prepared) but it is now so I will just go ahead and plant those and anything else apart from the tulips out.

I am trying the species tulips in the hope they will be better, as all other tulips I have planted in the past got the dreaded virus. Turkey can be bitterly cold in winter, but some say the species type need a winter chill, some say they don't...

Thanks for posing the question for me @Fairygirl, very kind of you. They will get a winter chill, but just later than the UK so there is a critical storage stage between initial ordering while still in stock and planting!

@AnniD - brilliant thanks, a delayed delivery sounds like the perfect solution! it was Peter Nyssen I was looking at but hadn’t got as far as checkout, so didn’t know they did that...

Fairygirl

I didn't think of that delayed delivery either @Nollie - and I've just ordered some from them too! I don't need to worry too much, as I said earlier, although its mainly daffs/narcissus I've ordered - no tulips this time. 

I think they'd be very happy to advise you on the storage too, if you contact them. They're always really helpful  

AnniD

I got in touch with them a couple of years ago, as a new variety of narcissus l'd ordered showed no signs of flowering.  The lady l spoke to told me that they were very late flowering,  and she was right. What impressed me was that she rang me a few weeks later just to check that everything was okay. 

Nollie

Brilliant, thanks all, Peter Nyssen it is!

Fairygirl

Let us know what you get too 
I love the species tulips - have quite a few - but I'm avoiding looking at them on Nyssens because I'd be adding another 60+ quid onto the 65 I've just spent