Expert: Gary Bachman - 4/3/2005

Question
I live in zone 8 (Houston, Texas). I just lifted my tulip bulbs and am unsure how to store them.  They are sitting on the counter drying right now.  It says to place in refridgerator for 8 to 10 weeks and replant in autumn. Well autumn isn't for another 8 months so do I only keep them in the fridge for 10 weeks.  What do I do with my bulbs? I know I plant them in November.  Help!  Thanks!

Answer
Susan,

Don't take this the wrong way, but why do you want to do this?  Tulips are hard to program for the professionals due to the precise temperature requirements.  You need to store warm so the bulb will "ripen" and allow the flower to develop properly.  Then you need to store at cold temperature at various changing temp.

I have always recommended that folks in Zone 6 and above treat tulips as annuals because the summers are just too hot for proper development.  It is much easier to purchase new bulbs each year, just like you would do with any other annuals.  

Good luck