Bulb Planting Time With Daffodils

Though bulbs aren't things that grow readily here in San Antonio.  I still enjoy chilling some and then forcing them for the holidays or those grayer days of winter. We  have some gray days here in San Antonio, not as many as when  I lived in Maine though.

If you live in zones 3-8 now's the time to plant those bulbs for their long winter's nap.  If you don't have cold and  want to experience Springtime with some flowering bulbs inside in early spring,  then October's the time to start .

Blooming Bulb is running a 50% special on those short little daffodils called Tete a Tete Daffodils at Blooming Bulb. 50% off Tete a Tete Daffodils at Blooming Bulb They're only 6" tall so you can easily force them and put them in a planter ready to bloom come February.  And a pot full of cheery daffodils is a great welcome whether you're in San Antonio or Bangor.

Here are the steps to forcing bulbs in a warm climate like San Antonio.  In a cold climate you can chill the plants outside.

Supplies Needed: 6" pot  5 daffodil bulbs- potting soil-

1. Plant the bulbs in the pot. They're going to be snugged against each other. Leave the tips peeking out of the soil.

2. Water the bulbs as soon as you plant them.

3. Place the pot in a freezer bag with some breathing holes in it.

4. Clear out one vegetable bin in your refrigerator. The bulbs are going to live in your refrigerator for about 12 weeks. (Note: Negotiate this with wife first.  Otherwise you'll have some interesting discussions when the vegetable bin is opened. )

5. Now check the pot or pots every other day. Depending on your refrigerator you may need to water as frequently as every other day. You don't want the soil to dry out, but you don't want the bulbs to rot with wet feet either.

6. Around Christmas time you can start taking the pots out of the refrigerator. If you have more than one you can take out pot at a time.  ( The plants will bloom in about 3 weeks give or take a day.)

7. When you take the plant pots out place them in the coolest room in your house where they can catch some sunlight.  (Do not put them in direct sunlight as this is a shock to their systems.)This allows the plants to gradually adjust to the difference in temperature.  After a week or so you can move the plants to any room in your home.

8. In about 3 weeks you should have some gorgeous daffodils greeting you.  If your house is kept very warm, the plants will grow faster.

9. To prolong the blossoms, you may want to keep the pots in the refrigerator at night. ( Remember these are spring flowers and they like chilly weather.)

10. Enjoy your flowers. When they are finished blooming place the soil and bulbs in your mulch pile or just throw them away. Forcing uses up the bulbs' reserves and they rarely bloom well again.  Sometimes I've had them bloom when I just threw them in the ground later, but they never bloomed as vibrantly as they did the first time.

This is a project you can do with your children. If you have colder weather, mulch the plants well so the bulbs don't freeze. Then bring them in around Christmas. I've used the forced bulbs as New Year's gifts in years past and am going to this year as well.

What I love about this project is it makes gardening doable for everyone. It's accessible gardening, enabled gardening,  and adaptive gardening.  It brings the best of spring into our lives.

All in a gardener's day,