Growing Tulips

Tulips are a very popular flower the world over. Learn how to grow these lovely flowers in your own yard. This is a guide to growing tulips.

Solutions: Growing Tulips

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Darwin Tulips

Tulips in the warm winter areas of California are difficult for the average gardener. However if you plant Darwin tulips (following directions), you don't have to dig them up until they get crowded. This takes about 4 or 5 years depending on the spacing.

When we have a very warm winter, I buy large bags of ice and pour the ice over the tulips. 2 applications of ice in mid February should do the trick. This has worked for me in central CA for over 20 years, and I have not lost a tulip!

By Elizabeth K. from Salinas, CA

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Replanting After Flowering

I love tulips but do not have the patience to wait for them to "brown out" so I buy some in the Spring, and set the roots into my mulch so only the flower and leaves show. They bloom for the normal time and then when they die, I take them out and put in another type of flower of that season. I give the ones I have used to neighbors and friends who have large gardens. I only have a small walkway to my house and they're perfect for me.

By Angellface

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Growing: Tulips

Botanical Name: Tulipa

Life Cycle: perennial

Planting Time: fall

Height: 4" to 30"

Exposure: full sun to light shade

Soil: rich, well-drained soil

Hardiness: zones 3 to 8

Bloom Time: Spring

Flower: A variety of brilliant solid and mixed color patterns (except blue); saucer-shaped with 6 petals (except doubles); 400+ cultivars.

Foliage: Blue-green, smooth, thick, upright leaves with a blade-like shape; 6 to 10 inches long

Propagation: Bulbs

Suggested Use: Beds, borders, cut flowers, walkways and mass plantings

Growing Hints:

Plant bulbs from 4 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 8 inches apart in the fall. Bulbs should be free of mold or black spots and the outer tunic (brown layer) should be intact. If bulbs fail to bloom, they may have been handled or stored improperly before purchasing. For example, bulbs stored above 70F may not bloom well-or at all the first year, but may emerge the second year. If you want bulbs to bloom south of zone 8, you'll need to cold treat the bulbs (in the refrigerator) for 4-6 weeks before planting or buy bulbs pre-chilled. Bulbs can be moved or discarded when leaves die back and should thrive in dry soil conditions after flowering.

Interesting Facts:

The absence of emerging growth may be an indicator that rodents have made a buffet out of your bulbs. Placing chicken wire over the tops of holes after planting or mixing blood meal in with the dirt used to refill the planting holes will discourage most rodents from snacking on your hard work.

By Ellen Brown

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Questions

Here are questions related to Growing Tulips.

Planting Tulips for May Blooming

I am wanting tulips in flower in pots for table decorations for May 19th! I have bought 'Donald Duck' (Greigii) variety which states that there will be flowers in May (12 ins) and 'Double Red Riding Hood' (Greigii), with flowers Apr/May (12 ins). I realise it is impossible to be sure about the timing, but could you advise when to plant them. I shall be very grateful and certainly wouldn't blame you if it doesn't work! Thanks.

By Nesta R from Manchester UK

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When To Plant Tulips

I live in Long Barn California. Currently the ground is covered by 1 foot or so of snow. The ground has defrosted a little now where the dirt is workable. Can I plant my tulip bulbs now, Feb 2013?

By Cori A.

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Most Recent Answer

By Lewissan02/22/2013

Here's a guide that may be helpful: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40007726.tip.html

Fertilizing Tulips

What is something I can use to fertilize my tulips that I have at home already?

Hardiness Zone: 11

By Joshua from Rock Creek, OH

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Tulip Blooms are Small

Last year I planted a lot of tulip bulbs in a partly shady spot. They bloomed beautifully. This year the foliage is huge and falling over. About one fourth of the flowers bloomed, but they're small. Any suggestions?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By Julie from Lexington, KY

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Photos

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Garden: Tulips

These tulips were an obvious subject for my daughter's photography class. She asked the grower for permission to enter her yard and take several shots of these beauties. READ MORE