Step 3.
Greenhouse Production
After November 5th, pots are ready to be brought in to the greenhouse as necessary to fulfill your orders. Below, find Greenhouse Production guidance for Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils and Tete-a-Tete.
Tulips
Tulip forcing time in the greenhouse depends on the temperature in the greenhouse. Some varieties like Nico Vos and Palestrina take 6 weeks at 60 degrees to force in the greenhouse. Therefore, take them out first to be forced in the greenhouse. All other varieties force around the same time. If a variety comes in too early, you can always move them to a cool area or back in the cooler at 32-34 degrees. Use the following rule of thumb for most tulip varieties:
Greenhouse Tips for Tulips
Hyacinths
At an average temperature both day and night of 50 to 60 degree, hyacinths require about 10 to 14 days in the greenhouse, except varieties like Marconi, Amethyst and City of Harlem; they need an additional 7 days.
Avoid a big temperature change in the beginning of the forcing period. Otherwise your hyacinths will split. To avoid hyacinths splitting we suggest you proceed as follows: (especially on early Easters)
Why do hyacinths spit?
Detachment of the flower stem is caused by not enough cold weeks or vernalization, as well as, trying to force them in a warm greenhouse with roots drinking applied water.
What are enough cold weeks?
It is the number of weeks your planted bulbs in pots are in the cooler running between 36 and 48 degrees.
Note: The weeks that the potted bulbs are below 36 degrees is not considered to be part of a cold week.
How do I know if my hyacinths have enough cold weeks?
Daffodils and Tete-a-Tete:
Like hyacinths, daffodils will force quickly in about a two week period. When growing daffodils, keep them in the greenhouse and watered. Also, just like tulip and hyacinths, once the flower is starting to show color, do not water as heavily because the roots of the plant will only drink and absorb the water, therefore the stem will only grow taller.
Storing forced bulb crop in the cooler: