Tulips

The 10 day forecast shows some hope...temperatures above freezing for next weekend!

I think it might be time to try forcing the tulips I planted in pots and left in the garage over the winter.  I can never get them to last long in the garden beds due to the squirrels, etc. that seem to just love them, so we're trying them in pots this year.  I bought new bulbs in the fall and crammed them into pots with potting soil before it got too cold.  I varied from some of the directions and left the dirt dry as I didn't want my pots to crack in our cold Minnesota winters, so I'm not sure what will happen.

Here is what the National Gardeners' Association site says in regards to forcing:

Forcing bulbs to flower. Bring the chilled pots into a 50 degree F to 65 degree F room with bright, indirect light for about two weeks. The warmer the temperature, the shorter the flowering stems and faster the bulbs will flower. When the bulb shoots are 2 inches tall, move the pots to a sunny 68 degree F location. They'll flower within a week or so. The cooler the temperatures (60 degrees F is ideal at night), the longer the flowers will last.

http://www.garden.org/howtos/index.php?q=show&id=1326

I'm not sure we have a 50-65 degree room with indirect light...but I guess we'll try it and see how it goes!