Forcing bulbs

Every day that I'm home that's not rainy, we head out to the yard for an hour or two. The kids tie their bikes together with skipping ropes and I putter in the garden. There are few things that I enjoy more than moving dirt and rocks around while the kids play, squirrels chatter and boats drone up and down the Arm. But it's almost December, and I know our days are numbered.

When I picked up a few hundred bulbs last week, I decided to get some hyacinths and paperwhites (white daffodils) to force indoors this year. The idea of tricking bulbs into thinking it was time to bloom captivated the kids.

For the paperwhites, we put some pebbles in the bottom of a glass (with much analysis of the merits of each stone as it was carefully placed by little fingers), set the bulb on the rocks and added water until it was just touching the bottom of the bulb.

That was Thursday night. On Saturday morning Saskia and Leif literally screamed with excitement when they noticed the hundreds of little roots budding from each bulb. I have to admit, I was pretty impressed myself. And at a dollar a pop, this is the most affordable fun we've had in a while.

For the hyacinths, we set the bulbs in hyacinth glasses, added water, and set them in a dark cupboard in the cellar. They need an eight to ten week chilling period before they can come upstairs to bloom. I'm limiting check-ins on those ones to once a week. 

I do find the term 'forcing' bulbs a little off-putting. It sounds so unnatural. And when I read that a forced bulb will not usually bloom again because of the tremendous amount of energy required, I felt a little pang of guilt.

Hopefully that will abate when I have a windowsill full of narcissi blooming in December.

For more information, HGTV has a good article on forcing bulbs.

Comments

[Beach Bum]

I've always loved the bit of spring in the depth of winter that comes from forcing bulbs. Enjoy them!

[Annapolitan]

Forcing bulbs is one of my fondest memories from childhood, and I'm someone who doesn't have a lot of happy Christmas memories. :-( So it's become a tradition with my adult Christmases just for that reason.

Forced paperwhite bulbs almost always get "leggy" and they will often tip over no matter how well they're anchored. However, Cornell Univ. School of Horticulture published an article about giving them an alcohol solution to keep them from getting too tall. Once they've sprouted an inch or so, water them with a 5 percent mixture of alcohol (any booze will do, except wine or beer.)

Here's a link that explains the process:

http://gardening.about.com/od/forcingandprechilling/qt/PaperWhites_Alc.htm

This link has another link to the original Cornell Univ. article on the subject.

I tried the booze thing this year and indeed, it kept my paperwhites at a good height without compromising the blooms.

P.S. I also wince at the term "forcing" because it sounds so darn... ILLEGAL. Or something. But forced bulbs aren't always depleted, and I've read you can hang them up in a darkcellar and they may come back in a year.

[Liana]

See... this is one of the reasons why I read your blog. Because you do medicine, and have fun with your kids, and putter in your garden... and do cool things like forcing bulbs. Nice photos, too!

[FreshMD]

@Annapolitan - Thanks for the alcohol tip.

Another tip that I found here:

http://www.canadiangardening.com/how-to/gardening-with-kids/forcing-paperwhites-is-child-s-play/a/1338

" . . . when roots have grown to about 2.5 cm, keep water 6 mm below base of bulbs. Place bulbs in a cool (5° to 10°C) dark place for about two weeks. Warmer temperatures stimulate stem growth at the expense of root growth, and heavy flowers will topple the plant over. Strong roots appear within a matter of days. When shoots appear, move to a cool, sunny spot, 15 to 20°C."

[Jac]

You never cease to amaze me with all your crafty, homesy (not really a word but whatever) and fun ideas. You are such a great mom.

[Irene hoogland]

Thanks Martina! You just "forced" me to make a trip to Garden Works. Had to get some paperwhites, and I'm also going to try some tulips!!

[Mary Smith]

What a cool experiment to do with your kids. I hope you show us how they turn out!!!

[marcella Veenman-Mulder]

thank you !!!!
you do inspire!!!

janice's sister-in-law
marcella