Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
Are you forcing hardy bulbs this winter? I wonder…did you find yourself leaping through hoops to find a 35-45 degree location for their cold, dark, contentment?
My own bulbs, as you might recall, were planted in October. They occupied 21 clay pots and 12 assorted vases. I initially hauled the lot down to the root cellar. But when the furnace kicked on, the cellar grew much too warm. Thus the pots and vases were brought back upstairs and then outside, to the unheated shed. But when daytime temperatures dipped into the 20s, and nights the teens, the shed became much too cold. Frozen bulbs will not force properly. But I finally found quarters that seemed just right: the spare refrigerator, pictured up top. And there they have busied themselves, making roots in a thermostat-controlled, 40-degree environment.
Some of these bulbs have made ample roots, and can now be brought to the window garden:
Snowdrops (Galanthus). Mine have exceeded their required 8 weeks of cold storage. I shall move these next to a sunny but cool window (55-65 degrees), where they will bloom in 2-3 week’s time. If your window is outfitted with glass shelves, it’s wise to set galanthus on the highest shelf. Then you can look up to see the fanciful green stripes inside the nodding, snow-white bells.
Iris Reticulata. Have you tried forcing these little gems? They are easy to force, and early to bloom, just like snowdrops. The flowers, unfortunately, do not last long, even in a cold window. But if you have several pots in cold storage, as I do, you can bring them out at weekly intervals for a lengthy parade of violet-blue, gold-touched flowers.
Dutch Hyacinth. Not potted but vased are my ‘Blue Jacket’ hyacinths. They require 12 weeks in cold, dark storage, and then another month in a cold, sunny window to perfect their flowers. I’ve already placed two vases in the music room window. By January’s end, they will fill the air with their legendary scent.
The other hardy bulbs in my fridge include tulips (species and Dutch-types); daffodils (including the fabulous ‘Erlicheer’); aconites, anemones, frittilarias, crocuses, and muscari. I’ll write about these colorful creatures when they bloom in February.
Are you forcing any hardy bulbs this year? Where are you keeping them?
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Hardy Bulbs for Winter Windows
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Justin says
I have white hyacinths “on vase” in the refrigerator. Their twelve weeks of cold will be completed on January 7. The vases are filled with roots, and I can see little green tips emerging from their tops.
James says
OMG – so many bulbs! I didn't know that frits and galanthus could be forced. Your house is going to look SO spring-y this winter!!!
Randy J says
Kevin, I just removed my chilling bulbs from the frige this week. I also still have bulbs chilling in the garage to be potted up after New Years. Tulips both species and hybrid, Fritillaria, Narcissus, Galanthus and Winter Aconite. But it is also fun to try some of the tropical bulbs which require no chilling. My Babiana and Ixia are sending up nice growth now, and of course I have had Paperwhites blomming for many weeks now as I potted them up at intervals of about a week.
I am most anxious to see the Babiana and Ixia bloom. This is the first year that I have tried forcing these bulbs. So far the foliage is nice and strong and promising.
It ism also fun finding interesting containers for forcing the bulbs. I have a few mini baking pans that I filled with Muscari. They are very cute and take up so little room that it is easy to find places to set them on the desk and side tables.
Also, I put a few bunch flowering Hyacinths in a blue and white vegetable tureen.
Of course vases and baskets are always nice also.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Randy – Love your idea of forcing muscari in mini baking pans. For years I've wanted to plant bulbs in my old green and gold soup tureen, but I'm afraid I'll need it for soup! (I never do!)
Have your frittilarias sent up any green points yet? Mine have not. Frit is a new experiment for me; so too babiana. But the babiana is flourishing in the music room window. Like freesia, it taunts with gobs of healthy, green growth. But alas we must wait a little while for the flowers!
Yolanda says
Have you ever tried to force Queen of the Night tulips? I potted the bulbs in October, and they are starting to sprout. I have them in the garage, where it's cold but not freezing.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Yolanda – I did force 'Queen of the Night' tulips several years ago. I kept the potted bulbs cold and dark for 12 weeks, and then placed them in a sunny window. They opened their beautiful, blackish-purple blossoms about a month later.