If it is the middle of September, there is still time to order tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths for forcing on the window sill, or in your greenhouse. Potted from mid to late October and left outdoors in a cold frame for a rooting period of eight to ten weeks, they may then be brought indoors at two-week intervals to provide a long season of bloom—from late January until outdoor bulbs begin to flower in April.
This means to force one pot of six tulips, daffodils, or hyacinths into bloom every ten days to two weeks from January 28 to April 1. You would have to plant approximately 48 bulbs of each. For example, if you planted the bulbs Saturday, October 15, you could begin forcing for blooms approximately:
- Saturday, Dec. 17 January 28
- Saturday, Dec. 31 February 7
- Saturday, Jan. 14 February 18
- Saturday, Jan. 28 February 28
- Saturday, Feb. 11 March 11
- Saturday, Feb. 25 March 21
- Saturday, March 11 April 1
The time required from the beginning of forcing (when you bring bulbs into a warm, sunny atmosphere) to blooms varies according to temperatures, amount of light, variety, and time of year. For certain, the more you force, the better!
Study fall bulb catalogs to find varieties that are recommended specifically as being superior for forcing. If you have plenty of bench space in your greenhouse, then plan your schedule so that there will be room for a few flats of daffodils and single and double early tulips. Forced in this manner, they will provide a bold splash of color on location or plenty of cut flowers.
Plants To Begin Force Flowering
Calceolarias started now and will finish in four-inch pots next May. Spray every ten days to protect from green flies. Grow at a 50° nighttime temperature and shade from February on.
This month you can order hybrid gloxinia seedlings, already potted in 1/2-inch pots. When they come, plant in five or six-inch containers of rich, humus soil. These should give bright flowers in January.
If you didn’t start schizanthus last month, there’s still time. Feed every two weeks to keep them growing actively. Pinch at least twice to induce branching.
Order camellias now. If you can obtain them as potted, rather than bare-root, plants, they’ll get off to a quicker start.
For May bloom, there’s still time to sow cineraria. Grow cool, 45-50° at night, and use three- or four-inch pots for finishing. (Cinerarias bloom when they become pot bound.)
To grow your cyclamen from seeds, sow now for flowering plants a year from this coming Christmas.
Bring in plenty of potting soil, sand, and leaf mold before bad weather. Galvanized garbage pails make handy, practical storage containers.
Wax begonia seeds sown now will be small blooming plants by mid-January, Try some of the new double-flowered ones from seeds. They were formerly available only in plant form.
For window sill or greenhouse, try the sweet-scented Exacurn acne. Sown now and grown warm. The brilliant blue flowers will appear next spring and summer on small compact bushes.
Grow some of the giant double, fringed, and ruffled hybrid petunias if you have a sunny, cool window sill or greenhouse. They are as showy as almost anything you can grow. Indoors where wind and rain cannot damage the flowers, they have an opportunity to grow to perfection.
Plant some lettuce if your greenhouse is sunny and cool (45.50° at night). Lettuce prospers in cool, fresh, moist air, and in soil that is moist at all times (but never water-logged).
If your flowering maple (abutilon) has grown gangly, take cuttings now. Young plants are more compact and attractive.
Three new African amaryllises for the window and greenhouse gardener are available this fall for the first time. These differ from the giant Dutch amaryllis in that they will flower in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas rather than in late winter or spring.
They range in color from orange to orange-red to wine red. The bulbs will arrive by mail already planted in six-inch pots. All that needs to be done on the receipt is to open the carton, and place the pot in a warm. shaded place and water lightly. Blooms will appear within six weeks.
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