Tulip Bulbs

Tulip bulbs do best if given full sun although they will tolerate a bit of shade (some afternoon shade will prolong flower life, especially in the South).

They also like well-drained soil.

Planting depth: of 5" for large bulbs, and 4 " for small bulbs.

Spacing: 4" apart for large bulbs, and 3" apart for small bulbs.

Here in the South, we treat them as annuals. This is the best for perfect displays.

Once your bulbs have flowered, lift and discard them and replant fresh ones in the fall. If you do decide to leave them, the next season flowers will be uneven in size and height.

There will also be fewer of them the next fall.

If you live in a cooler climate and want to encourage them to bloom again Colorblends recommend the following.

Tip This won't help here in the Mid-South. We're just too hot!

• Plant bulbs deeply 8 inches instead of the usual 5. Deep planting may help to prevent the bulbs from splitting into small, non-flowering bulbs.
• Fertilize the bulbs when the foliage pushes through the soil in early spring. Don't overdo it here. A light scattering of a low-nitrogen fertilize, preferably organic, is enough.
• Remove the spent flowers as soon as the bulbs finish blooming. Snapping off the top 3 inches of the flower stem prevents seed formation and focuses energy instead on bulb growth.
• Allow the foliage to wither completely before you remove it.

Avoid summer irrigation. Tulips prefer to be dry during their dormancy.

Here in the Mid-South, we treat tulips as annuals since it doesn't get cold enough for an extended period of time for them to come back as nice the next year.

You will get a second bloom the next year, but it won't be nearly as big and nice.

We do plant our tulips in our garden in large drifts, and I love having them in my potager herb garden for spring interest as seen below, but we treat them as annuals here.

Click on the picture to learn more about potager herb gardens.




Another great way of enjoying tulip bulbs is to plant them in planters on your deck in the fall, underneath your pansies.




This is easy to do. Simply fill in all the spaces with bulbs and put about 3 inches of soil on top. Plant pansies as usual in your planter.

In the spring, you'll be rewarded with lovely tulips coming up among your pansies. You're family and friends will love it!

Below, you can see how we planted a layer in our planter on the back deck.

Tip: Don't use clay pots or they will crack and break during the winter. The ones in this picture are actually plastic.









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For more information:

Bulbs

Buy Tulips Here

Storing Your Tulips

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