The big day is here. Your bulbs have arrived. Now what?

If the driver left the delivery in an exposed location, move the packages out of the weather—into a garage or carport, into the basement, into the house.

Next, open all of the boxes or crates and remove the bags of bulbs. Bulbs need access to fresh air. As you unpack, check the bulbs against the packing list.

Plant as soon as possible. Bulbs tolerate being out of the ground for an extended period, but they belong in the ground. The sooner they are back in the ground, the sooner they can make roots and prepare for winter.

If you can’t plant right away, you can keep the bulbs for a week or two in a dry, cool place with good air circulation. Temperatures between 50° and 60° are ideal, but your bulbs should be fine within a range of 35°–75°F.

Note: The bulbs must be planted this fall, mid-January at the latest. If you must delay planting, mark your calendar or set a reminder in your phone to plant the bulbs.