Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 4/28/2006

Question
Hi,
I planted a bag of tulip bulbs that I purchased from a home improvement center, fifty bulbs
for about $6.00.I placed them in the refrigerator
in September for December planting. I live in
Eastern North Carolina on the border of zones 7&8.
I did plant them the first of December,in late February 42 of the fifty broke through and grew,
all had a bud and on some I could even see the yellow of the petal. Weather was warm in Feb. and early March then we had a couple of frosts. None
of the buds opened rather they all dried up.The foilage is just about all gone as of today.
Any ideas? They were planted on the north side
of my house,which gets some late afternoon sun.
Thanks Carol  

Answer
I am sorry to hear about your tulips.

This was explained to me by a tulip expert once, and the problem is that if flower buds freeze, they will not bloom.

In areas with mild winters this can be a problem especially on forced tulips (like you did in the fridge) because the tulips grow too fast due to warm temperatures only to be affected by cold snaps.

Normally tulips grow green foliage for a while and do not start to extend the flower bud until the temperature is safe to do.

If you plant tulips in "warm soil" the buds will start to elongate sooner and you risk a late froze snapping them.

To get around this, try to plant during the coldest period of the year, mulch the soil with a 2-3" layer of shredded leaves, wood shavings, or hay in winter after planting, but only AFTER THE SOIL FREEZE DEEPLY, so to keep the soil consistently COLD (not warm).

E.g. if you plant in mid January then cover the soil after a few days of deep freeze (whether that is end January of february).

Also plant the tulips deep (8-10" deep). Too shallow planting can lead to premature growth.

Again I am sorry to hear about your tulips. After all the hard work of prechilling, digging them down in winter, etc it is disappointing when it does not work.

-- Kenneth