Contents
The Basics of Bulbs
How to Choose the Right Bulbs for Your Garden
How to Buy Bulbs
How to Store Bulbs
When to Plant Bulbs
How to Plant Bulbs
How to Grow Bulbs from Offsets
How to Care for Bulbs
How to Store Tender Bulbs
During the Winter
How to Pre-Chill Bulbs
How to Force Bulbs
Other “Bulbs”
Corms
Rhizomes
Tubers
Tuberous Roots
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How to Pre-Chill Bulbs
Hardy, spring-blooming bulbs such as tulips require an
extended period of cold during the winter in order to grow and bloom. If your region lacks such cold winters, you can still grow these bulbs by using a process called pre-chilling, in which you subject the bulbs to an artificial “winter.”
The Pre-Chilling Process
You can buy pre-chilled bulbs directly from bulb vendors, but it’s not much work just to pre-chill the bulbs yourself. To pre-chill bulbs, follow these guidelines:
- Find a cool, dry place: Bulbs must be pre-chilled for an extended period of time at a temperature that stays within a 35–45°F range, without much fluctuation. Good locations include the refrigerator (as long as it doesn’t contain apples) or an unheated basement or attic.
- Put the bulbs into storage: Store the bulbs in a breathable mesh bag, or for even better results, “plant” the bulbs in a potting mix of peat moss. Plant the bulbs so that they’re below 1" of potting mix and the bulbs’ basal plates are facing down. Make sure the container you use has good drainage. After planting the bulbs, water the container just until you see water drip from the bottom.
- Chill for the necessary duration: Most bulbs need about 16–18 weeks of pre-chilling, though this time span can vary—so check to find out the necessary time for the bulbs that you want to pre-chill and force.
- Plant the bulbs: After the chilling period ends, you can move the bulbs to containers or plant them outdoors.
Many gardeners treat pre-chilled and forced bulbs as
annuals, throwing them away after they’ve bloomed and repeating the process year after year. But if you’ve forced bulbs for indoor winter growth, and you live in a region with cold enough winters, you can transplant the bulbs into an outdoor garden after their blooms have faded and their foliage has yellowed. Keep in mind, though, that forced bulbs may take a few years to start to bloom again once they’re transplanted outside.
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