Last updated on December 25th, 2011
IF YOU CAN’T BEAR ANOTHER DAY OF WINTER — and who can blame you — then I suggest you run out and clip an armful of dormant crabapple branches. I did just that three weeks ago. As you can see from the photos I took this morning, the twigs have flowered without a hitch.
It’s great fun to watch the blossoms emerge. They start out as little rose-colored bumps along a branch, and then open pink, before finally fading to white. And the blooms last for weeks in a cool (65F max) room. What a dazzling May picture they make against a background of snow.
Not sure how to treat the branches once you cut them? Have a look at my easy forcing program for forsythia and other spring-flowering shrubs and trees.
If you don’t have any spring-flowering trees or shrubs on your property, try forcing the well-budded branches of maple, beech, and other deciduous trees. These, if placed in water and set before a bright window, will unfurl their red, copper or green foliage in no time at all.
Got branches? You’ve got a fabulous bouquet. I promise.
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Forcing Forsythia & Other Spring-Flowering Branches
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Blooming Bulbs for February
Brigid OB says
Kevin, I am going to put on my boots and cut some crab apple branches tomorrow. I hope I'm not too late. I just read your easy forcing program and I have one question. When you say to soak the branches in a bucket of warm water, do you mean the entire branch or like just 10 inches or what? Thanks!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Brigid OB – Nice to “see” you here again! I'm so glad you're going to cut yourself a “May” bouquet in February.
For the hour-long soak, cover as much of the branch as you can. You can even lay branches in a bathtub if you don't have a deep pail.
Sheila says
Lovely, Kevin! I'm going to cut both crabapple and forsythia branches TODAY.
Yolanda says
What if the branches are frozen when you cut them? Will they still bloom indoors?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Sheila – good for you!
Yolanda – My crabapple branches were most definitely frozen when I cut them.
Katreader says
I've been putting it off-but this week I shall cut my apple branches and try to force them. I need to prune the tree anyway, why not try and get a bonus!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Katreader – I know what you mean about “putting it off.” I refuse to set up a ladder in my little orchard just now. The orchard is covered with one foot of snow, and there is solid ice underneath!