If you have bulbs that should have been planted in the fall, but never got around to it you can still enjoy tulips, daffodils, crocus, muscari and many other spring bulbs. The best part is you can enjoy them before they would have bloomed in your garden!Tricking spring blooming bulbs is fairly simple. Store them in a cool, dark place. The temperature should average about 35 - 40 degrees, which should be the temperature of your refrigerator. You certainly can 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.
- 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 eachother 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. Enjoy your early spring!
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