Forcing Tulip Bulbs
The alternative is to purchase “pre-prepared” or “pre-chilled” bulbs that have been chilled. These will flower in only a few weeks for you after planting if you keep them in full sunlight and 70F temperatures.
If you live in southern areas, using pre-chilled bulbs is the only way youÂ’ll be able to force bulbs unless you use your refrigerator for chilling. I used to use a back porch that isnÂ’t freezing but isnÂ’t heated and it does an excellent job. Now, I have a cold room that I use for storing plants (it doesnÂ’t freeze but it doesnÂ’t stay warm either).
If you want tulips for Christmas...
If you want tulips for Christmas, then you really have to watch your timing. Purchase the normal bulbs as soon as you can, pot them up and get them into the cooler. It will take approximately 3 weeks of 70F temperatures and full sunlight to bring them into bloom after that. For Christmas tulips use the following varieties:
Tulips that require only 10 weeks of chilling
'Brilliant Star', scarlet, Single Early
'Christmas Dream', rosy red, Single Early
'Joffre', yellow, Single Early
'Merry Christmas', carmine red, Single Early
These are the only varieties that will bloom in this short period of time.
For forcing tulip bulbs normally, youÂ’re going to require the following bulb varieties.
Tulips that require 14 weeks of chilling
'Abra', dark red with yellow edge, Triumph
'Coquette', creamy white, Triumph
'Flair', red, Single Early
'Leda', rose with yellow edge, Triumph
'Leen van der Mark', red edged white, Triumph
'Libretto', blue rose rose, Triumph
'Lustella', bright china rose, Triumph
'Orange Cassini', red flamed delft rose, Triumph
'Orange Monarch', orange, Triumph
'Pax', pure white, Triumph
'Preludium', carmine red, white base, Triumph
'Prominence', dark red, Triumph
'Snowstar', pure white, Triumph
While you can succeed with forcing tulip bulbs and using other varieties, these will give you the most consistent results under difficult
conditions (for a bulb). :-)
Click here to ask about forcing tulip bulbs.
