I have two great big terra cotta pots on the front porch, I was wondering if I can plant tulips for spring in them. I know you are supoosed to plant the bulbs in the fall, but can I trick them by putting them in the freezer and if yes then how long, etc...??? Thank you!!!
Kitty, I think you may be too late...tulip bulbs need 12 - 15 weeks in a cold dark place before you can even plant them. After that, it will still take several weeks before they are ready to actually bloom.
You may be better off to purchase some tulip plants that are in pots that are in the early stage of growth...
If you want to try forcing (maybe purchase some later-blooming tulips), place the bulbs in a brown paper bag and place them in the back of the refrigerator (not the freezer as that would be a little too cold). They need to be in a dark cool place, somewhere around 35 to 40 degrees. In 12 - 15 weeks, they will have green shoots and then you can bring them out of the fridge and plant them in your pots...keep the soil moist and place in warm sunny spot.
One issue with forcing though...the bulbs won't do all that well for next year - they don't do as well as bulbs grown naturally...you can try though...make sure you let the foliage die naturally before cutting back and then plant the bulbs into the ground.
