How and Why to Pre-Chill Bulbs Before Planting in Fall

October 20, 2022 by

brecks-allium-bulbs

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After summer’s scorching heat, autumn’s cooler temps have arrived, signaling the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. Fall-planted bulbs may not offer instant gratification but will provide post-winter blooms worth the wait. 

Depending on where you garden, you may need to pre-chill your bulbs before planting them in the fall. Because most spring-blooming bulbs, including tulips, crocus, muscari, hyacinths, and alliums, originate from climates with cold winters, they require several months of cold temperatures to bloom properly. Gardeners in zones 8-11 with mild winters need to give bulbs a “substitute winter” to mimic the bulb’s native environment by pre-chilling them so they’ll bloom correctly. Without chilling, the bulb may grow, but it may not flower. 

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In Northern regions with cooler fall temperatures, gardeners can plant bulbs directly in the ground without pre-chilling them. The ground will become cold over the winter to offer the bulbs plenty of the chill time they’ll need to ready themselves for a burst of spring blooms. 

In zones 8-10, bulbs such as Dutch iris, freesia, and some daffodils, native to similar warmer climates, don’t need pre-chilling. Most other bulbs, however, need exposure to six to eight weeks of consistently cold temperatures (below 45°F) to flower nicely.

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Chilling fall bulbs in the refrigerator is an easy option. Place them in a ventilated bag to keep them from drying out. Avoid storing them near ripening fruit, which off-gasses ethylene that will damage the bulbs.

Plan to begin chilling your bulbs mid to late October, ideally at 35 to 45°F for 10 to 15 weeks. Bulbs chilled in the fall should be ready to plant in January or February. After the pre-chilling stage, plant them immediately. Most bulbs will begin blooming four to six weeks after planting.

2 Comments

  1. How and Why to Pre-Chill Bulbs Earlier than Planting in Fall - Garden Sweet Spot Pingback said:

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    — November 25, 2022 @ 15:32

  2. How and Why to Pre-Chill Bulbs Earlier than Planting in Fall - Smart Home And Best Smart Home Devices Pingback said:

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