Forcing bulbs is easy with a fridge

Q: Recently I started reading an article at a checkout stand about forcing bulbs. I was fascinated, but then it was my turn, so I put the magazine back and went on my way. I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since and want to know if you’d guide me on what I need to do in order to do bulb forcing. — S.I., Albuquerque

A: Forcing bulbs is such an easy process that it’s my pleasure to help you along.

Right now in garden centers and most nurseries you’ll be able to find bulbs that have been “triggered” that are ready to force. The usual ones are paperwhite narcissus bulbs and amaryllis bulbs. You’ll find prepackaged, ready to plant sets, and at most nurseries bulbs are also sold loose. But don’t think those are your only choices. Any bulbs you find this time of year, if treated properly, could be forced.

With that said, I want you to really think about the mature size the bulb will grow to. A mature King Alfred daffodil can easily get two feet tall and, without some sort of support system, very ungainly. In other words, read the packaging and choose bulbs that tend to have a mature size of maybe 10-to-12 inches. You can have tulips, smaller daffodils, Dutch iris, crocus and hyacinths growing indoors.

Now, the secret — you have to chill the bulbs you choose for thirty days in the vegetable crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Sounds odd, I know, but your aim is to keep them cool (not in the freezer) so they get tricked into preparing to grow. This chilling process has a few caveats too. Once you’ve gotten your treasures home, you’ll want to be sure to repackage them into paper bags. Do not store them in the fridge in plastic. They do still need to breath.

If you’ve chosen several different types, staple part of the label to the paper bag so you’ll be able to keep track. Then, weekly, take them out of the drawer and rearrange them. That way, no one should get squished or develop soft spots. Just be sure to get them right back into the drawer to continue chilling. They really need a full thirty days of chill in order to do their magic later.

Also, don’t store any apples in the same drawer as the bulbs. Apples emit a gas that can stunt the growth of your bulbs, so keep them separate.

So for the time being, it’s bulb shopping and chilling time. Since it’s already nearly the end of October, thirty days of chilling will put you well into November so you can create lots of displays for decorating or gift giving. In the next couple of weeks I will explain the different ways you can grow them, so stay tuned. For now, get those treasures chilling.

Q: My neighbor, she’s new here, is still watering every day. I tried to explain the 1-2-3 water suggestions that the city has, but she didn’t get it. I didn’t make as much sense as I wanted to. Could you redefine it for us, since it’s time to slow the watering? — H.T., Albuquerque

A: I believe you’re referring to the city’s 1-2-3-2-1 watering suggestions, and you’re correct, it is time to wean the watering offered to the landscaping, unless the plant life has been newly planted.

In March, it’s suggested that you water one time a week. In April and May, you bump up the watering to two times a week. For June, July and August, water three times a week. In September and October, bump back the watering to two times a week. In November, dial back to one time a week. That’s the 1-2-3-2-1 watering schedule.

For December through February, 505 Outside recommends watering once to twice a month, depending on the plant life.

Now remember that there needs to be some wiggle room, especially if it stays really hot and dry for extended periods of time, or we don’t get much winter precipitation, or something is newly planted. All that suggested planning goes right out the window.

I won’t suggest your neighbor go from daily watering now to once a week watering in the blink of an eye. There needs to be some weaning back to be taken into consideration.

As the daylight hours shorten and the temperatures drop, the plants aren’t going to use or need daily drinks. Hope this helps you better explain the suggestions that the city created to guide us about the use of our precious water.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.