Every autumn I either write a column urging readers to plant as many spring flowering bulbs as they can, or I at least mention doing so in the calendar that accompanies each column. Many of you do so in a timely manner. Lots of you do not, however.
Anyhow, when I start mentioning the need to bring bulbs out into the light, many of you remember the bag of tulips or daffodils you left in the garage. They may even be sprouting and some flowering, though the blossoms are probably stunted and otherwise deformed.
Uh, oh! What to do now?
Well, don’t panic. If the bulbs are still firm they are probably viable. You may be able to get them to bloom. The question is what temp were they stored at? This is important because tulips and daffodils originally came from cold climates. Thus, they will need a chill period. Cold temps trigger root growth and hormonal changes that will eventually result in blossoms.
If you don’t provide a chill period, you will not get flowers. So, if you lived somewhere that allowed you to work the soil, you could plant bulbs now and hope they get a long enough chill period to trigger blooming. You don’t live in such a spot, so what else can you do?
Well, either toss them, or pot them up in a well-draining soil mix. Put these pots in a location where the temperatures stay below 45 degrees like a crawl space or a garage. Every Alaskan needs such a place. This will be the bulbs’ winter.
It may be a bit late to start this chill period as these bulbs need 12 to 14 weeks of cold exposure. Worst comes to worst, you may end up with potted bulbs in bloom at the same time your outdoor ones are performing. This is not a big problem, I am sure you will agree.
Now, you may find your not-planted, bagged bulbs already sprouting. Don’t panic. Pot these up in your compost-filled, well-draining soil mix, making sure to put them deep enough to cover over the white portion of the stem. It is really important to make sure to use well draining soil with compost in the mix.
Once these bulbs bloom, keep them cool and watered. You can gently tie tulip flowers with yarn or string to keep them from opening. (Remove the yarn when you have company!) You can also return them to darkness when not on display to keep them in flower for a longer period.
If you happened to keep packaging, you can label your bulbs so you and those curious will know what they are.
So, get to it. Take care of bulbs you find, but remember not to repeat the mistake of not planting in the fall next year.
Jeff’s Alaska Garden Calendar:
Alaska Botanical Garden: Check out all the many events and offerings. Also: JOIN. This is a facility that makes for a great town. You need it as much as it needs you!
Water plants: My greenhouse fan now goes on when the sun is out. This is a sure sign that indoor plants are up and running and you need to water them a bit more often. Check them daily until you can establish a routine that has adjusted to having light again.
Seeds: Celery. Sweet peas (pinch back).
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