Return to the California Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
What is the minimun chill time for tulips
| | |
Posted by bagarden Sunset z15 (My Page) on Fri, Nov 20, 09 at 19:10
| All right. I could not resist the tulip sale at the local nursery and today bought some more late blooming varieties (menton, blushing beauty, etc.). They are in the fridge right now. My question is how early can I plant them? What is the very minimum amount of time I can put them in the fridge and still end up with beautiful tall and stunning blossoms this spring??
Thanks,
Hui |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What is the minimun chill time for tulips
| | |
| You probably know 6 weeks chill is recommended. I have had 2 experiences due to one thing or another:
1. Chilled from late Oct.thru late December = sparse + poor bloom
2. No chill, planted early Dec. = bloom smaller than normal My tentative conclusion is that tulip bulbs need to be in soil the 1st week of Dec. - HERE. I'm also Sunset zone 15. |
RE: What is the minimun chill time for tulips
| | |
| I buy my new tulip bulbs when they appear in the nurseries about the first of September. Throw the bags into my garden refrigerator until I plant them the first week of December. I have never tried the minimum 6 weeks suggested. Every year my tulips average between 24 and 30 inches in height. Bulbs that I have saved from last year, and chilled the same, will bloom about two weeks earlier and be about 6 inches shorter. Al |
RE: What is the minimun chill time for tulips
| | |
| Thanks Al and Iris girl for your inputs. It looks like I have an experiment to run. I have the same kinds of tulips in the fridge since September. These I will plant them early Dec. The ones I bought yesterday, I will probably plant around Christmas time. I will post my results on this thread in spring. Of course, I am hoping for the best outcome, he, he :) Hui |
|
|
|
|
