Marde's Blog

10 Tips for Planting and Growing Tulips

by | Aug 22, 2011 | Gardening Tips for Daffodils, Tulips, Peonies & Naturalizing Bulbs, Tulips | 0 comments

Before any preparation begins when growing tulips, the bulbs most be refrigerated for 6-8 weeks in warm climates. The temperature should be around 45 degrees. Take care not to place any apples near them in the cooler. Do not freeze them!

Here Are 10 Steps To Follow When Growing Tulips

1. Dig the soil about 9 inches deep, making each hole large enough to hold 5-7 tulips or more, based on your design. Avoid straight rows unless you prefer a uniform look; otherwise, plant them solidly for a border or in clumps with space for other plants in between. Keep about 2 inches between bulbs.

2. Add a tablespoon of bone meal or bulb fertilizer at the bottom of each hole. Cover it with enough soil to prevent direct contact with the bulbs. I skip fertilizing my own bulbs since I remove them after they bloom.

3. Plant tulips around 6 inches deep, or slightly shallower if you’ll remove them post-bloom. As a general rule, bury bulbs at a depth three times their height, measured from the base to where they narrow at the top.

4. Water the bulbs thoroughly after planting.

5. Add violas, forget-me-nots, or other annuals on top of the tulips if you like the look.

6. Once the tulips bloom, feel free to cut some of the flowers.

7. After blooming, remove the old bulbs if you don’t plan to keep them. If you want to encourage future blooms, leave the stalks and leaves to die back naturally.

8. For field-grown tulips, cut off the flower heads just as they start to bloom to encourage larger bulb growth. When repeated a second year, these become “French Tulips,” known for their large flowers and long stems. Once tulips bloom, the bulbs divide into smaller ones; in warmer climates, only the largest may re-bloom.

9. For cut flowers, pull the tulip gently near the stalk’s base to remove the bulb. This way, you can trim the bulb for a longer stem.

10. In containers, place bulbs closer together, almost touching, for a fuller display.

This approach creates a beautiful, varied tulip display that’s easy to customize.

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