Tulip Question

[thistlebloom]

I have some clients that are only in town at the property I maintain for 3 months, June through Labor Day.
The boss lady loves tulips, but of course June is an impossible month to see them bloom.
This year I decided to try an experiment and surprise her with some blooming tulip pots timed for their arrival.
My problem is the timing. I have had 100 bulbs tucked into the back of my fridge since last fall, I just pulled them out to check on them and they are still sound and firm.

How long do you suppose it would take from planting to bloom? I'm afraid of jumping the gun and having them bloom out in the warm days before they get here, but would also appreciate getting them out of my refrigerator.

June 10 is their ETA. That's 4 weeks from today. Once potted I planned on keeping them in my cool garage until closer to their arrival date.

Any ideas?

 

[ninnymary]

Can you stagger the plantings? Say 50 bulbs in each pot, planted a week apart? This way hopefully one of them will be blooming. With only 4 weeks to go that doesn't leave much time even if it is warm outside.

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

That's a good idea. It's okay if they bloom later than June 10, clients will be there all summer. I just don't want them to be blowing their petals before they arrive.

It would be perfect if they had buds and were just beginning to open.

 

[thistlebloom]

Update.

Boo hiss.

This didn't work at all.
A small amount of leaves came up looking exhausted and then just sat there. I finally dug around in the soil and a lot of the bulbs were mush. I don't know what went wrong. Maybe the bulbs just used up their vitality in a too-long storage.

 

[seedcorn]

Mush? Sounds like too much water and too high of temps. Our bulbs stay in ground 24/7/365 and come back. Lose some to varmits though.

 

[thistlebloom]

You are probably right Seed.
We hit some freakish hot weather in May. But I did keep them in the garage where it stayed a lot cooler. Not crazy about the potting soil I used either, it's too moisture retentive. I should have thrown perlite in there before I planted them.
I just wondered if keeping them in the fridge so long past when they would ordinarily sprout in the garden had anything to do with it.

I won't try it again, not worth it for a few kissy points with a client.

 

[Nyboy]

use silk tulips next time

 

[Smart Red]

I was planning to ask for an update on your tulip trial. That's too bad. It sounded like a good idea.

You are right that the task was way too much effort (and crossed fingers) to attempt again.