Tulips and Daffodils in late summer???

[cheops]

An idea [a crazy idea probably] came into my head how wonderful it would be to have tulips and other spring bulbs flowering throughout the summer. No I'm not mad - please read on. Is it possible to put spring bulbs in the fridge and hold them back a bit or even freeze them till late spring and after. I suspect this will NOT work but has anyone ever tried it or read about such an idea? If no one can say with authority or certainty that it can't or won't work I might sacrifice a few bulbs next winter and experiment. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it worked but I do feel I already know the answer. [Am I the only mad soul on here?]

[Nicos]

I've planted out bulbs very late ( ie February!) and what they tend to do is just throw up leaves and then die back...then bloom well the following Spring.

Problem is that of the few which have flowered, the heat of the sun seems to wilt the flowers within a couple of days. It's as if they only cope in cold weather.

No harm in giving it a bash though and seeing if you get the same results???

[veggiechicken]

The daffs and tulips that are exhibited at the shows are, I assume, manipulated through coldstorage and out of season heating. I'm just waffling but there must be a way of altering their timeclocks.....
One thing I know for certain - you're not the only mad soul here

[cheops]

Well it seems so far I'm not mad or maybe I am as we all are. It seems the idea is plausible. Unless otherwise told by an expert I'm gonna keep some bulbs in the fridge next autumn and unless they start to shoot and grow will keep them there till June, July and August [unless they slowly rot in the fridge]. And I'll deep freeze some and bring out of storage in the same months. They will either grow and flourish at a most unseasonal time or they will defrost and then quickly rot and turn to mush.

[Nicos]

I'd have thought they'd go mushy in the deep freezer- like onions do.

[alldigging]

The crocuses I found skulking in a bag a couple of months ago have put up green leaves and are dying off...
I knew I'd bought another bag in the autumn but had misplaced them...

[bend1pa]

Tulips and daffs hate growing in heat. They would naturally be dormant in midsummer. You won't do the bulbs any good by trying to force them into flower for later. on. The chances are they will either come up blind the year you try to force them or be blind in future years. There's a reason why the bulbs flower in spring.

[binley100]

Not quite late summer but these started to flower t'other day , 11th June , same day as my first marigold.......