Forcing Bulbs

Forcing Tulip Bulbs

In the fall most garden nurseries  clear out their fall tulip bulbs when winter arrives. One is supposed to plant the bulbs in the fall where the bulbs hibernate in the frozen ground and in the  early spring when the ground warms up, the bulbs awaken from their hibernation and begin to sprout and by late spring the tulips are in bloom. When the tulips finish blooming , their green leaves remain throughout the summer and when winter comes the tulip bulbs go into hibernation.  If one buys bulbs in the fall instead of planting the bulbs, one can store them in a cool dark place so they do not dry out and then about January bring the bulbs out and leave them in your unheated garage for three weeks and the bulbs will start to sprout. Plant the bulbs in flower pots in potting soil and place them on your window sill in full sunlight and in two to three weeks you will have flowering tulips inside your house in the month of February.  When the tulips are finished you can save the bulbs and plant them in your flower bed for next year.