[Rachel Brophy]

Hi all, my name is Rachel as you can all see. I have always thought I might be interested in growing things and finally I have decided to plant my dreams and see what happens. i got a present of a bag of crocus bulbs. Some of them have begun to sprout already. Is it too late? Inside /outside?

[Ado 2]

Welcome , you can put them into a pot of compost and leave them outside,or in a window box .Dont put a saucer under them in this weather or they will drown but put them in a porch or somewhere where you will see them grow. You will be pleasantly surprised.

[tagwex]

Welcome along Rachel. Hope you have more than crocus bulbs!

[tippben]

You're very welcome! As a rule of thumb, plant bulbs about as deep as they are long, especially in containers. It doesn't matter if some of the green shoot gets buried. They will grow. They will flower. As the others have said, Crocuses, and for that matter tulips and snowdrops, are native to the Middle East, so don't appreciate soggy conditions.

When they have finished each flower, dead head them. That will extend the flowering period. When they have finished flowering, feed them with tomato feed, to encourage next year's flowers, then leave them alone until all the leaves have disappeared. They need to suck all the energy they can get into that bulb. Then you can divide them, plant them out etc. The ideal time is September/October for a full show the following year.

[Good guy]

Welcome, Rachel. I can't possibly add anything of significance to the advice you have already been given! Please accept my congratulations on joining this august group of plantaholics; may your fingers grow greener by the day!

[Rachel Brophy]

Thanks for the kind welcome. I was not sure if it was too late if the bulbs had already sprouted. I did look in some books but conflicting theories.
I am totally new to gardening. My oldest started school this year and her teacher planted bulbs so my daughter caught the bug. That's why I looked for some bulbs from my friend.

I am sorry about how obviously beginner-like my question was. I thought it was alright to just ask something like that . I don't only have crocus bulbs but I don't have acres of a garden to fill either. I hope that this is not the type of forum where garden experts look down their noses at clueless people like me.

Thank you everyone else for your warm welcome.

[tagwex]

The way it is on here Rachel is that we actually look up to beginners because, put simply too much knowledge is a dangerous thing in this game. It is so much better starting out as is it all before you and experimenting is most of the fun.

[Good guy]

Well said, Wigtax!
You might also notice, Rachel, that there is sometimes a bit of good-natured slagging on here. It's all part of the fun!
Never be afraid to ask a question - questions are what it's all about. In any case, we were all clueless once and some of us (no names, now) still are!

[tagwex]

You shouldn't be running yourself down like that GG, especially in a public place.

[Good guy]

See what I mean?

[tagwex]

You shall reap what you sow!

[Sue Deacon]

Hi Rachel, and welcome.

Don't be afraid to ask questions - that's how we all learn and we all had to start somewhere.

I've been a gardener since Adam was a lad, but my sister couldn't tell a cabbage from a camellia - until she got a garden of her own. Now she puts me to shame, she's so flippin' organised.

[OscarKane]

Welcome, you're in a great place here.