Can I trick tulip bulbs? The ground is frozen!

13 years ago

I started to get the ground prepared for planting tulip bulbs in mid november. Then the first of many snow storms came in. The ground froze and ever since I couldn't plant the bulbs. There has been snow on the ground. I am in zone 6b.

I had this idea to trick the bulbs into thinking they were in the ground by planting them into containers. Then I wanted to plant them in the spring once they have just started to grow.

Does anyone have any ideas on this or how to do it? I would appreciate the advice.

Thanks,

Gardener Guy

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Comments (6)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
I have not tried it but see no reason it would not work. Al
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
13 years ago
I had this idea to trick the bulbs into thinking they were in the ground by planting them into containers. Then I wanted to plant them in the spring once they have just started to grow.
Where did you have in mind to store these containers? If storing them outside in freezing temps, I'd be afraid the bulbs would freeze before having a chance to root themselves in. I'm thinking that if they did not root in, that they would freeze and rot, just as if they had been left laying on top of the ground.
If they are planted and the containers stored in an area that is too warm, they may root in and start to grow and emerge long before the soil is workable outside, though it does help that you have the planting area all prepped.

Sue
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I'm amazed, doesn't anybody who has thoughts about putting bulbs into pots and placing them out of doors think about their pots....let alone the bulb inside it. How can a bulb that needs to be watered when planted, go into a pot and have the pot not freeze its *** off and burst the pot? Into a pot yes,....but not left outside. Into the cool place, the 40....45...50 degree place and left there for the required ...minimum 12 weeks....14 for a hybrid tulip which takes us into March at which time they come out into the sunshine of a window to flower. Keep the soil moist. You can plant 5 in a 6" pot and if tulips is what you are planting, put the flat side of the bulb outwards to the rim. This will cause the first leaf forming to point out. Oh, and also, don't push the bulb into the soil....make a hole and put the bulb into the hole, minimum 1" of soil under it. Then cover the bulb. Leave about 1" below the rim to accommodate watering. And it should drain. When the bloom has faded, the bulb in the pot can then go outside to finish its yellowing and planted in the garden just like all the rest are. I don't know whether I can believe the weather report from WBBM.....or WGN.....but those Chicago radio stations say it got down into the single digits last night and they don't expect any improvement until the weekend. Steve and Johnny make for good listening.WGN...why not call them up and ask them if they think you can still plant bulbs in the ground....OR....how about the Professor... Milt Rosenberg...WBBM....great listening. Gotta think the ground in Chicago is as frozen as it is in Ontario....at least enough to prevent digging in to put a bulb. But if you can access a pick-axe, and can dig down the rquired...6"....8"...then that'd the place to put the bulbs. Cant imagine any bulb being left outside to fend for itself through a northern winter if not in the ground.
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The funny thing is, that Walmart has tulips out with their spring bulbs here. These were left over from last fall, I remember seeing these bulbs in Dec still sitting there. If you can, I would take these bulbs back to where you bought them. Chances are they won't be of good quality at this time of year, and won't bloom. In high zone areas, the gardeners there refidgerate the tulip bulbs for 12 weeks before planting out for spring blooms. But they buy fresh tulip bulbs in the fall, Sept or Oct....and they don't get the frozen ground like we do....so they can plant out in Jan. Good luck with your tulip bulbs. Sierra
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Let me add my voice to those who have successfully grown containerized bulbs through winter without problems. If the bulbs have been planted early enough to develop a root system, freezing weather/soil is not going to be a concern. They withstand cold temperatures more severe than that in the ground in many areas and containerized bulbs are pretty popular in areas that experience much colder winter temps than we do here in the PNW. If rotting occurs it is far more likely that saturated container soil or improper drainage was the culprit rather than the cold. For that reason, I have always stored my containerized bulbs out of the weather, either on a covered porch or in my carport. No cold protection or mulch.....just out of the rain. They've always been fine, even through last season's extended deep freeze. However, planting in a container now does pose some concerns. Until planted, the bulbs don't develop roots and I'd be cautious about exposing freshly planted bulbs (rootless) to the type of cold weather we are experiencing now. OTOH, it won't hurt to just hold the bulbs in a cool dark area until the soil thaws sufficiently to plant, in the next few days. Once they are safely tucked into the ground, they'll be fine.
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As long as you can get a spade into the ground, you can plant tulips. Narcissi are a bit more picky,preferring a warm autumn as their roots start growing as soon as they are in the ground and they need a fairly lengthy period to grow enough root to guarantee a good bloom. There are various groups within the narcissus genus and it is my experience that the pickier triandrus, tazetta and jonquilla groups prefer a longer growing season but even so, the worst that might happen is coming up blind next spring or unseasonally late with weaker blooms...but this will correct itself the following year. Tulips have been successfully planted as late as January...at least in a more temperate zone 8 area but given their freezy provenance in chilly bulb fields, I wouldn't worry too much at all. My alkaline soil results from calcareous bedrock and is probably slightly higher than ph8 but seems to trouble narcissi and tulips not one bit. I would be more circumspect with things like trilliums but you should have no problem with your choices...and also, I have found amendments to affect ph have always been more successful at increasing alkalinity rather than the other way round. Go ahead and plant now - they will certainly be more successful than being kept in bags awaiting...what? You have nothing to lose.
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vetivert8
13 years ago
If you use a pail or container that takes about 2 gallons (10L) of potting mix with NO water crystals AND some added grit - and has useful drain holes in the bottom (at least as round as your thumb and 4-5 of them) - then you plant your bulbs about four inches deep and cover them as usual.

As far as I can tell, the bulbs don't mind the ground/mix freezing overnight and into the next morning. They will still rise and shine. I've done this with species tulips, early doubles, darwins, and parrots over two or more years.

If you have a site that is mostly unfrozen but still chilly - between -5C and about 10C they'll probably prosper. Just, not prolonged freezing over several days or weeks (eek!). (They might. Wouldn't say they couldn't. But I don't actually know that. :-)) )
Donna
13 years ago
Here in my zone, where the ground never freezes, we buy tulips in late fall and then put them into a refrigerator for 8 to 10 weeks (NOT with fruit. Ethylene gas will kill the blooms.). Then plant them in the ground in early to mid January, or even later. It seems to me you could do the same. Put them into the fridge now, and mark your calendar for eight to 12 weeks out. THEN, either pot them up, or, if your ground is not frozen then, put them in the ground. They won't be returning next year anyway, so make some spectacular pots, at least.
joshy46013
13 years ago
Donna,

My tulips return every year? I think there is more trouble for them in places like your area where there isn't enough cold for them to live happily so they diminish, here Tulips do very well and some abandoned sites have tons of them and it's so beautiful to see in spring ;)
HU-525222949
5 years ago
I waited too long and ground froze before I planted my tulip bulbs. I had three large buckets of dirt outsuce with nothing growing in them. I bought the buckets inside to defrost the dirt. Put them in basemen. Meanwhile put bulbs in refrigerator for 8-12 weeks. Then plant the bulbs in these 3 containers 4” deep. Place them back outside when ground is no longer frozen. I tried this and tulips emerged in spring in about late April or May.

Can I trick tulip bulbs? The ground is frozen!

Comments (6)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

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