We love seeing tulips come spring time, but did you know bulbs need to be planted in the fall? Plants like tulips and daffodils require a long period of cool temperatures to initiate the biochemical process that causes them to flower. Get ready for next year’s gardens by planting cheerful bulbs!
How to plant tulips:
- Plant 6-8″ deep, or 2-3x as deep as the bulb itself.
- Plant your bulb point up!
- For mass plantings, plant 3-4″ apart
- Make sure the soil is well drained
- Plant in full sun/partial shade
Forcing a tulip:
- Bulbs can be grown indoors, via a process called “forcing”.
- Pot the bulbs in any well-draining potting mix.
- Make sure the pot you are using has 3-4″ of space below the bulb for the roots to grow.
- Make sure the point of the bulb is up and the roots of the bulb are down.
- Water them.
- Check the potting mix in the pots every few weeks and water thoroughly when the surface is dry to the touch.
- Set them aside in a cool but not freezing dark spot for the 14-16 weeks
- The easiest way to chill bulbs is to put them outdoors and let nature do the rest.
- If you choose to chill bulbs in the refrigerator, be certain there is no fresh fruit stored inside.
- Bring them into warmth and light in the house.