When to plant tulip bulbs.
Tulip bulbs for planting.
For those of you who live in new york that s where we re headquartered use the following zone guide to help you figure out when you should start to plant.
It is easy to plant tulips in the garden.
And plant them in random order and spacing for a more natural appearance.
How to plant tulips.
To minimize problems remove the old bulbs after they finish blooming and plant fresh bulbs each fall.
Plant tulips later than most other fall bulbs.
The double late tulips extend the growing season with longer lasting bloom power.
Space bulbs 5 inches apart.
Specifically aim for planting about 6 weeks before the ground begins to harden and frost over.
If possible rotate planting areas giving the soil a 3 year rest in between.
Tulip bulbs are susceptible to fungal diseases especially when they are grown in a cool moist climate.
Keep in mind that the more tulips you plant the more impressive your garden will be when they bloom in the spring.
Drainage holes are important so that water doesn t pool on the bottom of the pot and rot the bulbs.
The national gardening association recommends that you don t water the tulip bulbs again until the leaves begin to appear.
After planting apply fertilizer low in nitrogen such as a 9 6 6 formulation.
Tulips won t grow well in shade and will rot in wet soil.
Plant bulbs generously in case some do not sprout.
A 8 5 inch 22 cm pot can hold anywhere from 2 9 tulip bulbs.
You can purchase plastic ceramic or terracotta pots to plant tulips.
And that means digging even deeper to loosen the soil and allow for drainage or creating raised beds.
A pot that is 22 inches 56 cm in diameter will be able to hold approximately 25 medium sized tulip bulbs.
Sprinkle the soil back into the holes and pack it down with your hands taking care not to tilt the bulbs in another direction.
Tap the soil down over the bulb and water until the ground is damp but not saturated.
Tulips require planting holes dug several inches deep and it s easiest to dig into the soil before it has frozen.
Planting times vary according to the gardening zone but the general rule of thumb is to plant tulip bulbs in the fall before the or soon after the first frost.
Place them in the holes pointy side up otherwise they ll try to sprout downward.
Midnight magic a double late type offers fragrance from its deeply saturated red to burgundy petals.
It works well with yellow white or orange tulips in the garden or a vase.
Plant bulbs deep at least 8 inches measuring from the base of the bulb.
If you want to see your tulip bulbs start to peek through your soil right when the weather starts to warm up the key is to plant them during the fall months.
Double tulips both early and late often resemble peonies.
Why we love it.
Soil preparation is important when taking care of tulips.
Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches then mix in a 2 to 4 inch layer of compost.
If you love groves of daffodils and blanketed landscapes of tulips be prepared to buy and plant a large quantity of bulbs.
Instead keep the tulip bulbs dry and in a cool well ventilated area like an unheated garage.
Backfill the hole with the soil removed.