A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum too soon for bleeding heart to flower?

I bought a bag of bleeding heart.... rhizomes? from WallyWorld - five in the bag so I figured it was a good deal - at least one will live, right?

Well, all five have shot up to big plants a couple of feet high! One is even starting to flower! Here is a picture I took today when I took them for walkies outside to get them hardened:



My question is, is it too soon? In my area nothing should go outside (except spinach and peas) for another three weeks! Should I pinch these flowers off ASAP? Just leave them? I don't want the plant to be "done" before it even gets to the garden!

Many thanks from a newbie!

Thistle

I'd leave them and see what happens. I've never had good experience with 'their' plants nor bulbs etc. I find that the garden centers that the supermarkets open on their parking lots usually have better quality, local plants which thrive more easily. Usually, 'they' start selling bulbs and roots as soon as they can, and often times it's too early to plant (like in your case). You want to keep them as cool as you can without freezing them. These go dormant as soon as it gets hot/humid. If you have anymore roots (this or another) you should open them up and see if they've sprouted, and then keep them cool. If they've got long sprouts, you can cut the sprouts off, but leave about a centimeter stump.

Mine starts flowerng in late winter/early spring usually while we can still have frosts/freezes. I learned that even if it goes through a freeze that kills off the flowers and top growth up to that point, it will regrow more and flower again when conditions are right.

I'd generally agree with the comments above. As far as blossoms, Bleeding Heart seems simiolar to many other "bulbs," rhyzomes, etc. that tend to flower once and the start to store energy for next season. I'd say, enjoy them while you can, then try to get them planted after the blossoms start to drop.

I am sorry that I can't really help with your question, but I am in love with your plant!!! They are just darling! I don't think I have ever seen them... They really made my day!

Thanks so much for the responses!

I've been hardening them as much as possible and will plant them Victoria Day. It snowed on the nearby mountain pass again the other day, but I'm keepin' the faith!

I wish I could avoid the big W, but there is very little alternative here. There are a couple of privately owned growers/greenhouses, but I can only afford to look! The two grocery stores put out a few racks of very sad looking baskets of johnny-jump-ups, herbs, and marigolds and never water them... ~sigh~

A lot of people here mail order plants, but most grow from seed and then trade plants! I've already hit up family and friends for ferns, astilbe, coral bells, and more hostas!

Thanks again for the support!
I'll post pics of my garden when I get it in!
:)
Thistle