How to Grow Beautiful Tulips

 As with all bulbs the tulip bulb already contains within itself all the essential ingredients to provide next years flower. The grower has already done all the hard work. That  is why it is vital to buy the best bulbs available, the better the bulb the better the flower.

Tulips originate from the mountain slopes of Turkey. The growing conditions change from very cold in the winter months to plenty of water during the Spring to being baked in the summer months. The closer you can replicate these conditions the greater success you will have.

Planting

Tulips will thrive in almost any type of soil where there is reasonable drainage. During the growing season they like plenty of moisture but the roots must not stand in water. Be careful not to feed tulips during the  growing season as this will produce 'leggy' plants. Plant from October until late December 4 inches deep and approximately 5 to 6 inches apart.

Tulip failures are mostly due to damage by slugs and snails. Apply a slug repellant immediately after planting and repeat at monthly intervals  until the plants stand well above the ground.

Note: If you are using one of the many available bulb planters be  sure that the soil in the whole planting area is well worked to prevent any  sitting water at the bottom of the hole made by the planter.

After Flowering

Remove flower heads (deadheading) and let the plant die back before  removing. This allows the food supply in the plant to swell and feed the main  bulblet that will produce next years flower.

It is important with tulips that all the dead foliage and petals are removed and not composted. Tulip plants can leave a disease, 'tulip fire' as  they die off in late Spring.

Can Tulips be left to Naturalise?

The small flowering tulip species and Darwin Hybrids naturalise  easily and can be left undisturbed from one year to another, some seeding themselves freely. With some of the other types of tulip you may find that the second and subsequent years are not as good as the first depending on where the  tulips are planted in your garden. This can be influenced by shade, drainage, planting depth so it is best to experiment. If this is the case we would recommend that you lift the tulips after the foliage has died back and store them until replanting the following Autumn.

Tulips in Containers and Pots

Tulips are well suited for growing in containers and provide a superb display provided a few basic principles are followed. Protect from severe  frosts particularly when combined with penetrating winds. During these periods  store in the garage, or wrap with sacking or straw and cover with polythene rubbish liners. It is essential during dry periods in the growing season that  tulips are sufficiently watered. If not the results will be stunted and shriveled flower heads.