How to Grow Tulips Any Time

Short tulip varieties perform particularly well in containers.

Tulips are a delight to watch. Plant them outside any time during the gardening season for blooms the following spring and summer. Enjoy tulips in winter by forcing the bulbs to bloom in containers. Tulips require an extended period of chilling after they have been potted before they bloom. Finding the best place to keep them during their necessary cold period is the hardest part of forcing tulips. You can grow tulips any time, but you have to plan months ahead.

Things You'll Need

• Potting soil
• Compost
• Bulbs

Instructions

1. Choose clay flowerpots with drainage holes in the bottom. Use tall pots for tall tulip varieties and shorter pots for short tulip varieties. Fill to within a two inches of the container rim with a planting medium made with two-thirds potting soil and one-third compost.

2. Position the bulbs side by side in the container. They should be pointed side up and not touching. Fit as many tulips in the pot as you can for a showy display.

3. Cover the bulbs with potting medium leaving only the tips of the bulbs barely showing. Water the container.

4. Place the pots in a cool, dark place for 12 to 16 weeks. The ideal temperature range is 32 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. An old refrigerator works well, as does an unheated attic or basement.

5. Remove the tulip pots from the chilling area after the suggested chilling time and water them. Place the containers in an area with bright indirect light. Expect blooms in three to four weeks.

References

• National Gardening Association: Forcing Tulips Indoors
• Dutch Growers Garden Centre: Forcing Bulbs