Experimenting with forcing tulips
Together with Carrot Top Organics, we have been experimenting with forcing tulips this year. Tulip bulbs need a cold treatment before they will flower. This is typically provided by mother nature: we plant the bulbs in the fall, they stay in the ground for the winter, and then bloom in the spring. Forcing tulips means we have to provide the cold treatment ourselves and then bring the bulbs someplace warm and bright to bring on the flowers. Last fall, we started out first forcing experiment: we planted some of each tulip variety in crates and placed these in the basement of the farm house. In late February and mid-March, we moved the crates into the greenhouse and the bulbs have been slowly sprouting and growing ever since. Since different varieties flower at different times in the spring, we expect the forced tulips to have staggered bloom times. Part of the experiment is to see which varieties force well and how long they each take to bloom after arriving in the greenhouse. We have been keeping a close eye and it looks like we will have a limited number of stems in time for Easter!
Do you want to join our experiment?!? We are offering an Easter tulips pre-order only to our newsletter subscribers - join now to get in on the exclusive scoop! Here's how it works:
Email andrea@emergenceflowers.ca to pre-order your bouquet(s) for Easter.
The number of tulips per bouquet will depend on how many are ready to pick and how many pre-orders we receive (we want to share the blooms with as many of you as possible). We are hoping for 8-10 stems per bouquet, with pricing at $2/stem. No payment is required until the tulips are ready.
Cross your fingers and hope for sunny weather - this keeps the greenhouse warmer!
Early next week, I will email to confirm your tulip bouquet and price.
Your fresh, local tulip bouquet will be available for pickup on Thursday or Friday of the Easter weekend (April 6 or 7) and payment will be due at that time.
