Ensure the bulbs to be planted are firm and plump, with no bruised areas. Bulbs with small nicks and loose skins are a good buy, but avoid those that are bare with no covering. Lightweight, pithy bulbs should be avoided, as should those with mould or mildew, which could indicate the bulb is rotten. Small, shrivelled bulbs may be rotten or dead.
Tulip bulbs are graded according to their circumference, with the largest bulbs producing the biggest flowers. It is recommended to buy the larger bulbs, which not only flower for up to six weeks in spring, but also produce excellent flowers for three to four years after purchase.
As soon as possible after purchasing the bulbs should be unpacked and stored in a cool, dry place at temperatures of between ten and 15 degrees Celsius (50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit). In warmer areas the bulbs can be stored inside the refrigerator in a paper bag.
Preparation for Planting Tulip Bulbs
Tulips will grow in most types of soil, and in a sunny or slightly shaded position. Make sure the selected area is well drained, because water can rot bulbs. Soil temperatures for tulip bulb planting should be between 13 and 15 degrees Celsius (55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit). The soil should be loosened prior to planting so it can aerate, and all weeds and stones removed.
If the soil is dry, plant the bulbs the day after watering the designated area or following a rainy day. Poor quality soil can be prepared by adding rock phosphate to the bottom of the bed several days before planting. Avoid fertilisers containing bone meal or fish bone meal, because this will attract squirrel and other animals.
Dig a hole large enough to accommodate all the bulbs to be planted. The depth of the hole should be twice the length of the bulbs. The loosened soil allows the roots to develop and grow easily. Place the bulb inside the hole with the tip pointing straight up. Bulbs should be positioned with a space measuring two to three times their width between them.
Carefully cover the bulbs with the half the soil removed to create the hole. After lightly watering, gently press the soil around the bulbs to remove any air pockets. Be careful not to disturb the bulbs when moving the soil over and around them. Cover the bulbs with the remaining soil. If used, plant food should never touch the bulbs; it can be applied on top of the bed and thoroughly watered into the soil. Take care not to stand on the new tulip bulb beds, because this will damage their growing points.
Bulbs should not be watered for between two to four weeks after planting. This gives them a chance to develop their roots. Too much moisture before the roots have started growing will not only rot the bulbs before they have started to develop, but also make them more susceptible to bulb infections. When watering, use a watering can which is far gentler and less disruptive to the tulip bed than a hose pipe.
Protecting Bulbs From Animals
It is advisable to take precautions to stop pets from wandering into the new beds. To prevent squirrels, rodents, cats and other creatures from digging up the bulbs, consider planting a few bulbs like narcissus and daffodils among the tulips. These will repel unwanted animals. Chicken wire laid flat over the bulbs before the soil is returned allows the plants to grow through the mesh and is invisible above ground. If these creatures are a persistent problem bulbs can be placed inside small cages made from chicken wire. The cages should be larger than the bulbs, which are placed in the cage’s middle and surrounded with soil.
Tulip Bulbs in Pots
Tulip bulbs can also be planted in pots. Use a large pot made from a natural product like clay or terracotta. Up to four bulbs can be planted in a pot with a diameter of four inches (ten centimetres). A 25 inch (63 centimetre) pot will hold up to 15 bulbs. Place the pot in a cool shaded area outdoors, watering gently for the first few weeks after planting to avoid shrivelled or stunted flowers. Bulbs planted in pots need more watering than those planted in the ground, because pots do not hold water as well as ground soil. Plants should be fertilised and fed when they begin flowering to maintain the bloom for the same period as that of a tulip in ground soil.
Spring Months
In the northern hemisphere tulips should flower in the spring months of March and April; in the southern hemisphere sring falls in September and October. There should be enough rain through the autumn and winter months to provide bulbs with sufficient moisture. Gardeners in regions where winter temperatures do not drop to freezing and where there’s little or no chance of frost should chill bulbs prior to planting.
Tulip bulbs are very easy to grow, and very satisfying, with relatively little effort on the part of any gardener. They’re available in a range of heights; from the early blooming species tulips, which reach between four and ten inches (ten to 25 centimetres), to the late blooming doubles tulips, growing to between 20 and 24 inches (50 to 60 centimetres). The choice of blooms is extensive, ranging from single to variegated colours.
Visit Tulip World for information on different types of tulips.
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