Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

Forcing Hardy Bulbs

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 50 Comments

Last updated on October 9th, 2015

Why do I bother to pot hardy “Dutch” bulbs in October? Well, because they introduce spring to my home when the outside world is covered in snow.  They provide terrific decoration, too.  A bowl of blue Muscari (above) makes a stunning centerpiece for a February dinner party. And finally, because bulb-forcing is fun, fun, fun!

Hardy bulbs are a little more challenging to grow than tropical types. Tropical bulbs, which include amaryllis and Narcissus paperwhites, need only water, warmth, and light to send up their flowers.  The hardy bunch –tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils to name just three — will only bloom after they’ve received a cold, dark rooting period.

Can you simply chill the bulbs, and then pot them later? Yes, you can. But speaking from experience, chilled-then-potted bulbs end up blooming at about the same time as their outdoor kin. If you want flowers in the depths of winter — I certainly do — then it pays to pot the bulbs right from the get-go.

If you live in Texas, that’s pronounced “git-go.”

 

To insure extra-early blooms, pot the bulbs in early-to-mid October. The bulbs will make their roots while in cold-storage, just as they do in nature. When introduced to sunlight and warmth in early January, they will bloom when you want them to — in late January or early February.

How to pot hardy bulbs. First, select a pot. You can use either plastic or clay containers, providing they are equipped with a drainage hole.  Since I can’t bear the sight of plastic in my window garden, I use only clay pots and pans. A “pan” (pictured above) is a shallow pot intended for bulbs.

Next, place a piece of broken pottery oven the drainage hole. Or, cover the hole with a coffee filter or a piece of window screen.

Add some well-draining potting mix. For large bulbs, such as daffodils, fill the pot only half-way with soil. For small bulbs, such as the crocuses I’m about to plant, fill the pot about three-quarters full.

Set the bulbs on the soil, with their pointed tips facing up. If you have flattish bulbs, such as Fritillaria, just look for tell-tale signs of old roots. Plant the rooted end down.

Then add just enough potting mix just to barely cover the bulbs. When properly potted, you’ll have a 1-inch basin between pot rim and soil to allow for water.

For the initial moistening, I always place the pot right up to its rim in a sink or dishpan of water, and I leave it there until the soil has absorbed all the moisture it can hold. Thereafter, and only when the top inch of the soil feels dry, I apply water from the top.

Oh. I should probably mention that certain hardy bulbs can be grown without any soil at all. As I described in a previous post, I like to grow hyacinths in little water-filled vases.

And I like to plant Muscari (“grape hyacinth”) in a small bowls of pebbles and water. You can plant Muscari this way, too:

Fill an attractive bowl half-way with pebbles. Polished pebbles, available at aquarium shops, are especially decorative, and you can re-use them year after year.

Set the bulbs, pointed-tip-up, and about 1-inch apart on the pebble-bed…

Then add enough water to barely tickle the base of the bulbs.

Finally, sprinkle more pebbles around and between the bulbs to hold them in place.

Cold storage.  Before they can bloom, all hardy bulbs require 10-12 weeks in a dark, cold (35-45°F) location. A spare refrigerator is ideal, but it must not contain ripening fruit.  Fruit gives off ethylene gas, which can sterilize the bulbs.

No spare refrigerator for you? Then proceed as our great-grandparents did, and place the pots in a dark, cold cellar, garage, or attic. Although I start my bulbs extra-early in a spare refrigerator, I always move them to the dark closet in my unheated mudroom by December. The mudroom is sufficiently cold by then.

In January, bring your pots (and vases and bowls, if you have them) to a sunny but cool (65°F maximum) window.

Three or four weeks later, the bulbs will provide you with your own, private preview of spring!

Wanna save your forced bulbs for future planting outdoors? Then be sure to give them the love and care described in this riveting post.

Think you’ll join this hardy bulb-forcing brigade? Then by all means leave a comment below. My tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths would love to hear from you.

Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s weekly email updates.

Other posts you might enjoy:
Easy Homemade Baguettes
Zoodles and Yoodles with Garlic
Cinnamon-Spiced Plum Cake

Comments

  3. 3

    Leslie U. says

    I have never tried forcing bulbs, I will be looking forward to fresh fragrant flowers in January
    Thanks for the great tips
    Love your food ideas too

  5. 5

    Susan M. says

    Would love to try this, but need to find a place to let them chill. Options are a basement, but it is hooked into the furnace system so is not exactly unheated, or our carport shed. I am thinking our shed may be best, but there are two windows in it. Do I try and cover the pots with a box? We are in Chattanooga area. . .

  6. 6

    Katrin says

    Thanks for the tip about fruit in the refrigerator! That explains a lot…..I will give this another chance as I love have Spring flowers during the winter. Thank you!

  7. 7

    Ardelle says

    Thanks for the nudge to get back to forcing spring bulbs. I had done that with my children when I was a young mom. It is a great project from toddler on – I haven’t done any recently – life sometimes gets in the way of fun things. I still have daffodils to plant so I will plant some in pots. I planted 200 daffodils yesterday and 50 alliums among my hosta bed. Spring will be beautiful!! I might just go searching for some Muscari at the nursery today – they look so beautiful in your window.

  8. 8

    Bett says

    As always, we can count on you for timely information. Alas, anything related to gardening is problematic in Texas, and what you can get away with in North Texas is impossible in East Texas or the Hill Country. Bulbs are no different, as our winters are unpredictable, especially for day-time temps. I have had crocus, anemones, Dutch iris and even tulips (which proves my nut-case status) in my fridge for a month – with plans to plant in January and a vision of lovely blooms all the heck over the place come spring. Your experience with refrigerating bulbs gives me pause, so thank you for saving me from probable disappointment. My options now are to 1) pot and buy a small refrigerator 2) pot and put them in my garage with the hope that fluctuating winter temps will be sufficient to chill. I will take advice to heart, consult the all-knowing ladies of the renowned Hunt Garden Club, and let you know in a few months how I fared. LOVE you and your website.

  9. 9

    Pat says

    Read all your postings and love both recipes and gardening tips. Just read your article on forcing hard bulbs. I, of course, do not have an extra fridge. How cold can these bulbs be if placed in a garage? I live in the Northwest Territories in Canada and we are already close to minus weather. My garage does stay warmer than outside but by December it could be in the minus range.

  10. 10

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Susan M – You are right — to keep the bulbs dark in your 2-windowed shed, just place a box over the pots.

    Hi Pat – Under ideal conditions, bulbs want temperatures cold but above freezing — 35-45°F, or 1-7°C. If your garage is attached to your house, put the pots near the house wall. And be sure to pot your hardy bulbs right away, so they have time to make roots. Rooted bulbs can survive freezing temps.

  11. 11

    Tami kanning says

    Could I just plant them in pots now and leave them outside covered with something dark (pile of leaves? and then bring them in in December? I live in zone 8 in eugene oregon.

  12. 12

    kribbons says

    Kevin, I would like to add some miscari to a miniature garden I am doing for my school. I won’t be planting it until the first of March. Can I plant the bulbs in a pot and then transplant them? I am tryng to get kids to see what is around them outside and we have some in the outside gardens so they might make that connection. Thanks for your help. Cathy Ribbons

  13. 13

    Denise says

    Hi Kevin – I love your blog and get your newsletter delivered via email. You always have such great ideas, lovely photos and I love your sense of humor. I just picked my amaryllis and paperwhites for the holidays. I was wanting to buy miscari as well as other gorgeous bulbs to cheer me through the Maine winter but like, you didn’t have great luck initially with refrigerated bulbs. I am excited to try this method which I hope my basement bulkhead will work as it is cold and dark. I just converted the window seat in my living room into a sofa table for the winter, which would be the perfect place to view blooms come January. I have one question… do you continue to water weekly or when dry until you bring them out of their cold storage? thanks!

  14. 14

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Tami – Although the method you describe would not work here in New York’s Hudson Valley (the pots would be frozen to the ground at forcing-time), it might just work for you. Keep in mind that larger bulbs (daffodils, tulips, hyacinths) need 12 weeks of cold. Smaller bulbs (snowdrops, muscari, crocus) can be forced after 10 weeks of chilling.

    kribbons – Bulbs hate to have their roots meddled with, so transplanting is not a good idea. But you could certainly dig a hole, and then plant the whole pot of muscari. After the bulbs go dormant (the foliage will wither), you can safely remove the pot, and re-plant the individual bulbs.

    Hi Denise – After the chilled bulbs are brought to sunlight and warmth, they will grow like mad. At this time, you should water the pots freely. You should fertilize freely, too, but only if you intend to save the bulbs for future planting outdoors. Have fun with your project!

  15. 15

    Katherine Werner says

    Wonderful! I used to do this and it’s such a treat to have the color and fragrance of spring come early here in Minnesota. I remember one day a friend visiting for lunch looked in my fridge and. carefully, asked me two questions, “Why doe you have these pots of dirt in here?” and “Um, what’s for lunch?”

  16. 16

    agatha says

    Hi! What beautiful window garden you have there! I’m a newbie to planting bulbs, as I finally moved from NYC to the suburbs where I have 3x the room to garden. I am forcing 1/3 of the bulbs I bought this year and your posts are so informative. Can’t wait to see the results…

  17. 17

    Chris says

    Hey Kevin…
    Have you ever tried forcing Pink Buttercups (oxalis adenophylla)? I bought a package for my mom, but took out a few to try and wondered what your thoughts might be. Great site by the way… I’m so glad I stumbled across it looking for information on winter sowing. Thanks!

  18. 18

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Chris – I haven’t tried it yet, but I should think oxalis adenophylla would force perfectly well. I’d give it the same care as the other hardy bulbs listed above. Have fun!

  19. 19

    Kathy says

    Once the forced hyancihs blooms have dried up what DO I DO WITH THE BULBS.. THEY ARE STILL SITTING IN THE Forcing vases with water covering their roots.

  21. 21

    Kathrina Osborn says

    Hi Kevin–I love your site! I stumbled across it when I was given 40 lbs of beets (a couple of weeks ago), and didn’t know the best way to freeze them! Love your gardening tips…Now am going to have to force some bulbs—used to do it years ago, then life got busy..

  22. 22

    Denyce Ellis says

    Hi Kevin. I love all your tips, but this one is the best! Forcing bulbs is going to be fun as I just bought a new home with the perfect sunroom! I will definitely make winter much more fun! Thanks for all your helpful hints and recipes. You’re the best!!

  24. 24

    Trudi says

    Forcing bulbs sounds like SO much more fun than being a nurse for an ailing hubby. I will get
    some bulbs and see if he will participate. They will make his heart sing when they bloom

  25. 25

    Mary V says

    I have tried forcing hyacinths twice, hunted down some special glass vases too. I purchased pre chilled bulbs and what happened -nothing. I might try again , I have all those vases ( 6).

  26. 26

    Brian says

    Any advice for Camarillo,just south of Santa Barbara? Could I bury tulips outside in pots for 12 weeks and bring them in to force them?

  27. 27

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Mary V – Un-potted, “pre-chilled” bulbs don’t always perform. Use my pot-and-chill method — it really works!

    Hi Brian – If Santa Barbara (miraculously) receives 12 consecutive weeks of 35-40°F temperatures, then yes — your outdoor idea will absolutely work!

  28. 28

    Cindy says

    Okay so I just got back from the garden store and I got tulip and Delft blue mixture hyacinths. You put your hyacinths in a vase right from the ‘git go’? Do you put them in water and keep them watered in the fridge? How should I do the tulips? Because of your blog I have gained weight and lost $$$! All good things right?!

  29. 29

    Dorothy Loose says

    Thanks for the tour of your beautiful home. I love older homes as they have so much character. Absolutely love the antique kerosene lamp and the ceiling light fixture is gorgeous. I am going try my hand at forcing some bulbs. I love the early spring bulbs especially in the dead of winter. There is just something so uplifting to see those beautiful colours when the ground is covered in snow and ice.

  30. 30

    phyllis howe says

    I haven’t had luck doing this because I forget to water them in the cold garage. Give me an idea of How long to go after the initial watering before I rewater and I’ll mark it on the calendar.

  31. 31

    Cynthia Polischeck says

    I love your Newsletter and your You Tube Channel! I tried this last year and failed. After reading the newsletter i understand what i did wrong! Thanks! wait….did i mention that i love you too!

  32. 32

    Julie Woos says

    Kevin, I was just wishing aloud that I could find a quick definitive tutorial on forcing bulbs – mine always bloomed about the time the others outside showed up. Yes, we really need them a lot earlier. Thank you for answering my silent call!!

  33. 33

    Margaret VanHull says

    This is just the inspiration needed for gift-giving to family & friends during the Holidays. Everyone here in Michigan will love the sensory respite from our winter wonderland. Thanks!

  34. 34

    Debbie Boone says

    Hi Kevin
    I live in Florida can I force bulbs as well? I have a spare fridge but we don’t get that cool of temperatures here. Ant thoughts?

  36. 36

    Karen Gallas says

    Hi Kevin,
    Last year I tried to force bulbs as you showed(tulips, muscari, hyacinths), planting inOctober, watering once, keeping them in a small refridgerator until February. When I brought them out to reap the rewards, none emerged. I finally checked to see what had happened and all had molded in the pot. Any idea how to prevent that? I admit I may be too discouraged to try again.

  37. 37

    Noreen Wenger says

    Kevin ….. Just another inspiration you give all of us! Makes you look forward to those flowers in Winter. You need to get on a regular TV spot so people can see you all the time. Thank you! Mr. Fox is lucky! I bet you’re both lucky!

    Noreen

  39. 39

    Julia Owings says

    Am going to try this with some of the bulbs we dug up (just yesterday) from our old place . I think the upstairs loft (been here only a month) should only get around 65 during the winter.

  40. 40

    Carol says

    Oh my goodness. I walked by some bulbs yesterday in the store and never thought of this. I can’t wait to try it, and, I already have the clays.
    Thanks Kevin

  42. 42

    Kris says

    Hi Kevin-
    I followed your advice and tried this last winter with grape hyacinth. They bloomed, but they grew leggy and weedy first. Do I need to put them under a grow light? Or leave them in cold longer to get them to stay compact? Thanks for your inspiration!

  43. 43

    Karen Mary says

    This is the best excuse yet for needing a second refrigerator! Will be so lovely to have blooming pots in the midst of winter. Thanks for another informative post, Kevin!

  48. 48

    Susan Rubinsky says

    Love this post! I am going to try this!

    One year, in a fit of unbridled exuberance, I excitedly took advantage of a White Flower Farms “buy one, get one half off” offer. I ordered the bulk daffodils so had 200 to plant late in the season. Then I got busy and never finished so one exceptionally warm December day, I potted them all in my outside planters. And WOW! The next Spring, I had an instant and early garden and patio display — they bloomed about six weeks earlier than my planted bulbs. Once they were done blooming, I replanted them in my garden. I now skip in-ground planting each Fall and plant directly in my patio planters, then replant in the garden in Spring. This also helps me insure they get planted in a way that is visually interesting with other early Spring plants.

  49. 49

    Irene Blenkinsopp says

    Is all fruit in a refrigerator considered to be ‘ripening’ fruit? In other words, does any refrigerated emit ethylene gas?

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