Spring Bulbs May Need Cold Treatment

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Spring flowering bulbs grow best when planted in cold soil. Some climates don't get could enough, so gardeners need to give bulbs a cold start in the kitchen. New Mexico State University's Anna María Pérez-Wright has the story.

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Late fall and early winter are good times to plant spring flowering bulbs. Doña Ana County horticultural agent John White with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service says cold-weather bulbs like tulips and hyacinths grow better when planted in cold soil. But, in warmer parts of New Mexico, the soil doesn't always reach temperatures low enough to ensure good spring blooms, and bulbs might need cold treatment prior to planting.

"What we do is take the bulbs and place them in the refrigerator, don't want them to freeze, but we keep them about 35-40 degrees for 30 to 40 days if you can, and that'll give them a cold treatment so that when you do plant them in the ground they'll have a little bit taller stalk, and a little bit more flower."

White says mixing a small amount of bulb fertilizer into the soil before planting bulbs will help strengthen roots for more blooms in the spring. For N-M-S-U's College of Agriculture and Home Economics, I'm Anna María Pérez-Wright.