At least spring arrived on time at your house! It must feel good to hang out in that room.

Thanks. As far as extent or quantity goes, this is probably it's greatest. There's several unbloomed yet in the basement, and even a couple still in the refrigerator down there, but they'll just replace those up here that have finished and await disposition. There's still hyacinths, a starflower, and a few tulips and daffodils to go. Hopefully, by the time the forcers are done, the spring bulbs outside will be making their appearance.

Awwww, Thank you for giving a nice shot of spring this morning. Really enjoy this thread and all your home grown bulbs.

Latest bloomers and some combos -

National Velvet


Capree Elizabeth


2nd pot of Latvian Freedom
(some damage)

Mostly Dreamworld, also Chansonette and Royal Acres


Latvian Freedom and Elizabeth Capree


Ice Wings and Elizabeth Capree


Anemone blanda blue


Agapanthus


1st bloom outside (today) - Iris reticulata

Pipit

Only bloom that materialized.
Still waiting on a couple of pots, they're under lights in the basement.

It's a cutie

Pipit is one that doesn't come back for me. How does it do for you?

I'm not entirely sure as Hillstar (a sister seedling) has been transplanted in the garden as well and there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference twix the two. What I can say is that one or the other has been manifesting itself outside for many years.

These hyacinths paid the price for my mistake of leaving them in tote in basement stairwell too long after the temps plummeted well below zero for several days.


So did this pot of 5 Salome daffodils, only one made it to bloom...

Salome is a favorite of mine but it didn't return for me. Still I want to try it again. The hyacinth will take the abuse.

@jmorth Hi Jack. I picked up some bulbs for half price at Tractor Supply last week and want to pot them up to force. I have never done this so that is why I am here. I would like your thoughts. Here is what I have:

Tulip Holland's best mix 25 bulbs
Tulip Emperor Mix 15 bulbs
Tulip Royal Prince mix 15 bulbs
Daffodil Cheerfulness 8 bulbs
Allium Purple Sensation 2 pkgs. 7 bulbs each

Some of them are starting to grow in the bags. I was thinking about putting 5 or 6 bulbs per pot. Should I cover the bulb or leave the top of it out of the soil? My garage is kept at about 50 degrees. Is it okay to pot them and then leave them in the garage? Do I water them? Should I put them under lights which I have set up in the garage? Sorry for all the questions but I just want to do this the right way. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Tulips should fit 5 or 6 per 6" pot. I usually plant mine so that the tip, or even shoulder of bulb are out of soil. Remember to plant the flat side of the tulip bulb so said side faces the outside of the pot they're in.
Tulips will need 12 to 14 weeks of cold to force. They need a temperature of 35 to 45° during this time. You'd be best to lower garage temp 10°. Need to be in the dark for this to work. You'll need to periodically check for watering (maybe once a week); if dry, water. You could make the dark requirement by putting pots in a tote in the garage; if this method used, the pots will not dry out as much.
I think Emperor Mix may be Fosteriana tulips, if so, that's very good as Fosteriana are considered to be one of the best to force.
Hopefully the Holland's Best Tulip mix are Darwins, if so, they're usually good to force; if they're late singles, not so good.
Royal Prince mix - may be early single mix, if so, good; early single division are one of best to force.
When the tips are a couple of inches out of the soil and the roots fill the bottom (check the drain holes underneath) tulips are ready to exit cold period. At this point, introduce them to your garage plant lights and turn the temp back up to 50° in there.
You should be able to do the daffodils the same way though the daffodil bulb dimensions may preclude 5 to a 6" pot. I'd just use a bigger pot and fit them all in one pot.
The alliums, well, I'd wait till able to stick em in the ground somewhere. I've only been successful once forcing a big ball type allium (and that was an Allium karataviense).
Starting this late may have many, if not most, blooming at the same time as outside.
Best wishes on your endeavor.
Any thing else I can help with regarding your project, let me know?
@gardenglassgems

Thanks so much for the great explanation, Jack. I am going to pot them up tomorrow. I think I will put them on the steps from the garage to the basement against the outside wall. I will cover them so they stay dark, but the stairwell is dark anyway unless DH turns the light on when he goes down there. I will take a thermometer down and see what the temp is in the stairwell before I start.

I might have bit off more than I can chew (so to speak) cause I went back to TSC and got more bulbs. This time I got:

Daffodil Ice Follies---8 bulbs
Daffodil Pink Charm--8 bulbs
Crocus Pickwick--15 bulbs
Crocus Blue Moon Mix--20 bulbs
Tulip Pink Impression--8 bulbs
Tulip Apeldoorn--8 bulbs
Tulip Purple Flag--8 bulbs

If some of the bulbs are not sprouting, would they keep in the crisper tray of my refrigerator in the garage till spring (with no soil)? Just wondering??

Crocus - only need 8 to 10 weeks of cold period (38 to 45°).
Crocus can also be forced using water in a crocus glass like hyacinths in hyacinth glasses.

Thanks Jack. I did look up the Tulips and they are Darwin so should do okay.

Hi Jack, is there anything I can do to re-use paperwhites next year after forcing or it simply does not work? I planted one batch in soil today and planning to use another one on water only in a few weeks time.

It's possible but takes a few years. Check this out -
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/...

@jmorth Jack, I have that same question about the Tulips and Daffodils that I am forcing this year. If I plant them outside in the spring/summer, will they bloom again the next spring and for future springs?

@jmorth Thanks!