Do you know if they've been kept in a warm or a cool place? I suppose if the bulbs are still firm and healthy looking, then potting them up and sticking them in the fridge for some chilling time for a couple of months may work. I guess if they're just giving them away, it wouldn't hurt to try. You know how us gardeners love a challenge!

Gillian,

I agree with Laurie. If the bulbs are still firm even if they are sprouting, plant them up, put in the fridge or a cold storage and leave them there up to a few months. If they are dried and mushy then they are 'toast'.

I have hyacinth and tulips in my crisper now. The tulips were forgotten on the floor in the recycling corner at room temperature until just a few weeks ago. They were starting to sprout but were still firm and looked good. So, in the fridge they went. I will bring them out in Feb and see how they do. Once they have flowered I will plant them in the garden this spring and leave them there to grow.

Brenda

Thanks, they might as well donate them to the Hort. Society then, perhaps they can grow them for a fundraiser or something. I'm not suggesting that I will be asking for any, it wouldn't look good.

Most of my tulip collection is made up of bulbs that I got on clearance in November and planted outside at the last minute.

One year I bought tulips bulbs in late November. The ground was already very frozen, so I just potted them up, watered very lightly, and kept them in the fridge for a couple of months. I think by late Feb/early March they were showing signs of sprouting.

But, just curious, do they have to be potted up in order to force them? If you just throw them in the fridge while they are dry in a bag will that have the same effect?

I know stratifying seeds while dry does nothing, but this might be a different concept.

Glen

Glen, throwing them in the fridge will have the same effect but...

If they are planted up then there is moisture and soil around the bulb that will keep the bulb from drying out. Loose bulbs will dry out over time and lose their firmness. The fridge tends to pull the moisture out of food, just thinking of mushrooms. If the mushroom is in a paper bag it takes a long time to dry out compared to a mushroom sitting on the shelf.

Brenda