Festival of Tulips

Planting:

Plant tulips about 6” to 8” deep measuring from the base of the bulb. If you add mulch after planting, include this as part of your overall planting depth. Deeper planting (8"-12") will prolong the life of many of the later varieties, especially the Darwin Hybrids, for several years. Space bulbs 4"-6" (9 bulbs/squ.ft.-5 bulbs/squ.ft.) apart. If tulip bulbs send up leaves with no flowers, it’s time to replace them.

Growing:

Plant in full sun. At least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Though too much water is not good, sufficient water at the time of planting is necessary to get them growing and to ensure the start of a strong root system. Always grow tulips in well-drained and airy soil. Wet and/or compacted soil promotes fungus and disease, or can cause bulbs to drown out due to suffocation. Adding compost or other organic matter to soil will make it more airy. We recommend raised beds in wetter areas and suggest that you have at least a 10” depth of loose airy soil. Proper soil drainage is very important when planting bulbs. After the tulips have passed their peak, remove the flower stalk to prevent seed formation and let the leaves die down normally. Leaves should be allowed to ripen for at least six weeks after blooming. This will help the new bulblets grow bigger. Fertilize in early spring or fall with a low nitrogen fertilizer such as Bulb Fertilizer or top-dress with rotted manure or compost.

Note on Perennializing Tulips:

How well tulips grow in future years (perennialize) depends a lot on the cultural conditions in your garden. Tulips are indeed true perennials, but they need the cold winters and hot, DRY summers of their native foothills of the Himalayas, or the steppes of eastern Turkey. Most tulips are grown as annuals, but will grow back each year if left. By choosing carefully among the wide selection of tulip varieties, you can enjoy successive bloom for at least six weeks. Do NOT water or fertilize during the summer.