GROWING THINGS: Coaxing tulip blooms

Plus, how to manage heat under domes when sprouting tomato seeds

Published Mar 15, 2024 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 2 minute read

Tulip bulbs forced to bloom in pots often don’t bloom again Jerry Filipski has some tips that may help. Photo by File /Postmedia

Q I have three pots of tulip bulbs and I’ve planted 16 bulbs in total. They were very beautiful flowers and I would like to save and plant the bulbs in my garden in the fall. What is the procedure from here? The blooms have faded and are finished. Since then I have kept the plants in a sunny location, watered them, and fertilized them once. (I used Miracle Gro — is that the right fertilizer for bulbs?) The stalks and leaves are gradually dying and falling over. The bulbs seem very firm and healthy. Would you please tell me what to do with them between now and planting time in the fall?

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A Firstly, while Miracle Gro (15-30-15) is adequate for tulips, it’s not ideal. A fertilizer that is balanced such as 10-10-10 is best.

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As for the bulbs, I have to warn you that since these bulbs were forced to bloom earlier than normal they may not bloom again for you. Having said that, you can give it a shoot with these recommendations. First, let the foliage died back and remove it. Remove the bulbs and dry them on paper towels for a few days. Then place the bulbs in a paper bag and store them in a cool spot in the house. Some experts recommend storing the bulbs in a fridge but if your fridge has fruits and vegetables in it, the ethylene gas produced by the produce can deform or harm the bulbs. A cool corner of a basement will work. Plant the bulbs in the spring after all danger of frost has passed.

Sprouting seeds

Q I’ve started some vegetable seeds in covered trays and they have sprouted through. Now, do I keep the dome on them? They are tomato and okra. Your column is a wonderful resource!

A So glad you find the columns useful, thank you. Heat can build up very quickly in an enclosed container that’s in the sun. If you have the sprouts in full sun it’s best to open the dome to allow it to cool inside. You can simply prop it open with a stick. Once you are certain no further seeds are going to sprout, you should remove the cover.

Every week, Growing Things Outdoors runs online at edmontonjournal.com or, if you prefer an epaper format, epaper.edmontonjournal.com. Learn more by emailing your questions to [email protected], reading past columns in the Life section at edmontonjournal.com or my book, Just Ask Jerry. You can also follow me on X(Twitter) @justaskjerry01.

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