Tulip Bulbs

I noticed yesterday that many of my tulip bulbs are lying on the surface - no holes so can't blame Dougal. They are 4 years old and give me a lovely show every year. I ran into a friend this morning who was buying potting mix. He said ' all my bulbs have come to the surface and I'm just going to cover them with potting mix'. I'd be more inclined to replant them. I wondered if anyone else has this problem and if the bulbs are OK after being in the sun for a few weeks. Should I bring the tulips inside and chill them before replanting?

If they are up out of the ground... it wouldn't hurt to pop them into the fridge... IMHO

Have you had rain after a long dry spell??? If yes, it may be a soil shift that popped them up out of the soil.

Yes, we had quite heavy rain after 6 weeks of nothing. I have collected them up - might chill them and replant in pots for a change. Thanks Lucky.

Maybe when they flower, you can treat us to a showing of flowers.

Will do - we have an annual Tulip Festival here in Wynyard as Van Diemens Bulbs are up on Table Cape above where we live. They plant them in the town and most people have them in their gardens. Mind you, we don't get a discount!

That's curious about the bulbs coming to the surface. I have had the same here with daffodil bulbs. I wonder if it has to do with the soil shrinking with the drought? I am lost for an answer but would love to hear any theories.

The only ones that come to the surface at my place are the ones that my dog keeps digging up in his favorite bone hidyhole

Can't remember where I read it, but in their native habitat, tulip bulbs often blow around on the surface in the dry season, before water-washed soil buries them and they grow again.