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The Big Chill: Out of the Crisper and into the Soil

Three's a Charm

Three’s a Charm

When you live in a warm climate like California, it helps to employ a bit of trickery with the tulips.  So when I bought three bags of tulip bulbs back in October, the first step was a cool dark rest in the crisper drawer of our fridge.  Keeping bulbs in the frigid dark, prompts their DNA into thinking they’ve been through an early chill.

Today I planted about a dozen bulbs along the rock wall near the garden fence, convinced that the racing squirrels overhead were just waiting to dig them up for lunch. I tamped the soil firmly and with determination, hoping they’ll stay planted through early spring.  I buried the rest of the bulbs in a variety of pots, and in a few random locations around the garden.

Ready to Plant Tulip Bulbs

Ready to Plant Tulip Bulbs

Squirrel in the Pittosporum

Squirrel in the Pittosporum

Squirrel in the Pine

Squirrel in the Pine

Figuring I could hedge my bets (or chance of survival) by interspersing the bulbs in heavily planted pots, I tucked them deep into the corners and under the canopy of existing plants. I hope they survive the onslaught of the squirrels. They’ll be a magnificent if they do.

Tulip Bulbs

Tulip Bulbs

8 thoughts on “The Big Chill: Out of the Crisper and into the Soil”

    • I hope they all make it. They look so beautiful on the package. It was so funny to be planting them with squirrels running through the trees and along the fence. I haven’t had the courage to go out and look yet.

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  2. Hopefully those cute squirrels will get the cold shoulder and not find your yummy bulbs. I laughed that you planted firmly and with ‘determination’, great prose Alys. When do you consider it to be spring in California? Our spring might begin mid May (if we’re lucky)…lot’s of times we even get snow in June. Fingers crossed I’ll be enjoying your spring long before. PS, cute dragonfly on you basket there. 🙂

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  4. Pingback: Tulips: Waving Farewell | gardeningnirvana

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