Gardening Q&A: can I plant forgotten tulip bulbs bought last summer?

Question: I have just discovered two packs of tulips I bought from the garden centre last autumn! They are the beautiful Orange Princess and Couleur Cardinal. They seem OK and have long green shoots. Is it too late to plant them or should I just put them on the compost heap?

Answer: This is not an unusual happening - bulbs bought in an inspired moment can easily get put aside in a cupboard and forgotten about. I would get these in the ground as soon as possible and you should be able to enjoy them at the normal flowering time. They will put out roots quickly once they are in the soil. Try not to plant in waterlogged soil. If your soil tends towards extreme wet, plant your tulips in containers of any good potting compost.