Expert: Long Island Gardener - 10/23/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello Long Island Gardener,
How was your summer?  Earlier this year, I inquired about the best procedure and time to plant tulip bulbs in pots.  If my memory serves me, you said to contact you again about this time for more details.  Could you please offer some guidelines?
Thanks very much.
Best regards,
Anthony Cipriano

ANSWER: 'tis the season to plant Tu-lips, fala lala la, lala la la.

Anthony, I do not recall your location -- if you gave me that information.  Assuming you are not growing these pots in the balmy tropical Florida or California zones, it's CURTAIN TIME for Tulips.  Get them in the ground NOW!

6 inches to 1 foot deep should give you best results.

It is CRITICAL that you correct any Clay Soil problem  before putting these in the ground.  But it is CRITICAL that you finish this all before the hard freeze of Fall descends.

A foot deep will boost your odds of longevity and repeat bulbs, in case you love them.  They also hide better from the Squirrels if they're deep.

To the bottom of each hole toss a handful of Bone Meal.

Don't water if your soil is moist.  You don't want these bulbs to rot.

rsvp as to your location - I'll elaborate.  Good to hear from you again, Anthony.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks very much for getting back to me so quickly, but I may have miscommunicated.  First of all, I live in Freehold, New Jersey - sorry about neglecting to include that in my inquiry.  I don't want to plant the bulbs in the ground, though.  I want to plant them in pots.  It was my understanding that they could be forced by doing so.
Thanks again.
Anthony Cipriano

Answer
Yes, I see your subject line now, 'Bulbs in Pots' DUUUUUHHHH.

Sorry.

Pots is different.  A tedious exercise that goes on for months.  And totally worth it.  Clay pots are best, because they breathe.  But they're also about as heavy as it all gets.

You plant Bulbs in Pots somewhat crowded, and the Bulbs themselves should be short-stemmed versions.  No 20-in Bulbs in these pots.  Tulips should be the short stemmed hybrids; ditto, Daffodils.  Think about what you want them to look like when they open and bloom, not what the textbooks say about gardening with them.

Re depth, you don't have a lot of choice for this, but you need the soil to be firm and deep enough to support the stems.  Shoot for 4 to 6 inches deep.  You don't need a lot of room for roots; most of these bulbs won't last more than one season.  It is equally important not to expose Bulbs to FREEZING temps.  Ice and moisture will turn them to mush before the New Year.  If you are keeping these in an unheated garage, make sure they are protected from the colder Winter days.  They must stay below 45 degrees, but above 32 degrees, to put on their best Spring show.

Just as you don't want them to rot, you also don't want them to dry out.  Check the pots weekly to make sure they are still moist.  When you finally see they have dried out, it is time to water them.  Water until it drains through the other end.  You can use cold water.  But WAIT until the Soil is DRY.  

As Winter days wane, you'll one day notice a tip of Green breaking through the Soil surface.  That's your clue to take the pots outside whenever weather permits.  This is my least favorite part of forcing.  Without a greenhouse to hold all these pots -- maybe you're luckier than I am -- haul these up from the basement out to the yard, to the Sun they need to glow.  Strong Sun will also keep stems from elongating -- no one wants to stake potted Bulbs.

After they bloom, the usual maintenance is optional -- many people toss and start fresh with new Bulbs every year.  I being a thrifty Yankee can't bring myself to throw money out the window, and Bulbs with them.  Fertilize once or twice (no N please), let the leaves grow until the Summer and they are brown and shriveled, then remove the Bulbs and have them air out until they are dry as paper.  Place in a paper bag, and store cool and dark until the following Autumn, when they can be set out in the Garden and may bloom again a year or two or three, planted as directed in my first confused reply to you.

To force (and bloom in January or February), you'll need a cool room with tons of Sun.  The length and time you chill Bulbs depends on the Bulb.  Most typicall need 14 to 20 weeks of cold treatment 40 to 50 degrees F.  Figure out when a Bulb normally blooms in the garden, then count back 4 or 5 months.  Early Single Tulips planted now and chilled will probably bloom in March.