You could try to replant the non-mushy ones in good soiless container soil in a pot and watch what they do (water sparingly). They may just sit for some time as they grow roots and may even put up some foliage before frost (at which point you may want to store in a cool location). At that point, you might be able to id them a little better and give them a little root system if you decide to plant them out.

Thank you....Should I pull them up and out of the container to store before they have completed their cycle...You mean just plant long enough to ID them? Soiless container soil?....sorry I seem so dumb.....bulbs have never been my thing....think they are wonderful.....just never really got too involved in the them.....Thank you again......I am very curious though.....kinda like openning a package....SURPRISE!

Gretchen, potting soil usually doesn't contain "dirt" as such, because it tends to compact too much in a pot, where it lacks the activity of earthworms and such to keep it fluffy. Buy potting soil just about anywhere.

Do you know what kind of bulbs they are? If they're tulips, you'd be better off storing them dry for the summer.

Janet's Garden

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If the bulbs still have white roots growing from the bottom - clean off the mush and stuff, get a pot deep enough to take the roots, buy a baggie of potting mix that DOESN'T have 'rain crystals' in it and plant them up.

If you have pots at your place - it really pays to label them with a note: 'Unknown bulbs', the number in the pot and the date you did it.

If the bulbs have brown and withered roots and yellowing leaves - clean off the goo and lay them in a place where they'll get dry enough to lose their leaves.

They need time over the summer to form their flower buds for next spring and that requires warmth, so keep them out of the fridge. If you have a mild and shady place in the garage, put the dry bulbs into a net onion bag and hang them up. Put a note on your calendar to check them over when planting time comes around.

Any bulbs with a blue-ish or greeny mold on is suspect. Any with corky brown patches or seriously withered are doubtful starters.

Daffodil bulbs are sort of round with a yellow-brown papery skin. They are shiny when dry. Hyacinths may have a purplish outer colour. Tulips look like big pips covered with a thicker brown skin than daffodils and they're not shiny. Freesias are little bulbs with spear-like leaves and the bulbs have a fine pale brown netting over them.

Those you plant up in containers shouldn't need to be taken out. Nor should they need any fridging. They take a rest over the summer but will start into growing roots long before they're ever seen above ground. The paperwhites (narcissus, like daffodils) are putting out roots again in your July-August. Keep them protected from hard frosts over the winter so they don't freeze and die of drought in the pots.

Lightly feed with tomato food maybe once while the leaves are actively growing.