If you have bulbs that should have been planted in the fall, but you never got around to it, you can still enjoy tulips, daffodils, crocus, muscari and many other spring bulbs. Many retailers also sell spring bulbs at rediculously low prices once the normal fall planting season has passed. The best part is you can enjoy them before they would have bloomed in your garden!
Forced spring bulbs make excellent gifts for Easter, spring birthdays, get well gifts and just as a simple "pick me up" for just about any one.
Tricking spring blooming bulbs is fairly simple. Store them in a cool, dark place. The temperature should average about 35 - 40 degrees. Since this should be the temperature of your refrigerator, it makes a great place to chill your bulbs if you don't have an unheated attic, shed or garage for you to chill them in. If you chill them in your refrigerator, just make sure that you do not place the bulbs near your fruits and vegetables. A seperate drawer is best.
Your spring bulbs should be chilled from 8-15 weeks depending on type. Better Homes and Gardens suggests the following chilling periods:
- Daffodils: 12-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.
- Tulips: 10-16 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.
- Crocus:8-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.
- Grape hyacinth (Muscari): 8-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.
- Iris reticulata: 13-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.
- Snowdrop (Galanthus): 15 weeks of chilling; 2 weeks to bloom after chilling.
- Hyacinth: 12-15 weeks of chilling; 2-3 weeks to bloom after chilling.
Make sure the pot or container you choose has adequate drainage so that the roots and bulbs don't rot before you get to enjoy your blooms. Fill your container about three-quarters full with potting soil and moisten. If you have bone meal or bulb fertilizer to add, the transition of your bulbs to the garden may go better than without.
Place bulbs "tip" up into potting soil and press firmly. Make sure that the bulbs are not touching each other or the edge of the pot. Add enough potting soil on top of the bulbs so that the tip just barely pokes out.
Once your bulbs start to sprout you can move them into a sunnier and warmer location. The ideal temperature should be about 65 degrees at this point. Once your flowers start to bud, you can put them in more indirect sunlight to make them last longer.
After you have had the opportunity to enjoy your bulbs, you can either dry and restore them to force again next year or simply plant in your garden for next year's outdoor enjoyment!
Enjoy your early spring blooms!
