Incredibly popular in springtime landscapes, tulips are gorgeous and simple to grow! Find out how to care for tulips to set yourself up for springtime success.
Tulips add a cheerful, bright spot of color to the garden in the springtime. Tulips originally came from the middle east. Once they made it Europe in the sixteenth century from the Ottoman Empire, the popularity and demand for tulips in the west exploded. (I mean, can we blame them?!)
There are currently over 3,000 registered varieties … divided into 15 groups … based on the flower type, size, and blooming period of the tulip.”
Gardenia
3,000!
From blazing, bold blooms to delicate, feathery pastels, there is truly a tulip for everyone. Now let’s learn how to care for tulips so you, your neighbors, and your local pollinators can enjoy a beautiful bounty of blooms in the spring.
Choosing A Variety of Tulips
Whatever you can dream up, I’m positive you’ll be able to find a variety that will suit your taste! American Meadows put together a list of their top tulip picks in this post: Tulip Types Explained. It’s worth checking out to learn more about top varieties and what you can expect from each of them.
Where to Plant Tulip Bulbs
First you’ll need to find the proper lighting. In northern climates, tulips grow best in full sun. In southern climates, provide partial shade for your tulips. If you’re not sure about where the ideal placement for a tulip garden would be on your property, check out this post to learn how to find it.
Once you’ve found the best spot for your tulip garden, make sure the area has well-drained soil. If your soil is sandy or clay, add compost to improve the texture and ensure proper drainage.
The Best Time to Plant Tulips
The best time to plant tulips is in the fall for growing zones 7 and below, or in December or January for growing zones 8 and higher. Here is some good news: if planting doesn’t happen during the ideal time, put your bulbs in the refrigerator for at least 10 weeks before planting time. That will give them the chill time they need to start properly in the spring.
How to Plant Tulip Bulbs
- Prepare your site. Tulips look best planted in groups, and each bulb needs 3-5 inches of space around it for proper growth. Measure the site according to how many bulbs you have, and then loosen & pull the soil back to a depth of 6-8 inches. If the soil is sandy or full of clay, mix compost into it to improve the texture and drainage.
- Ensure proper drainage by adding a bit of pea gravel or grit to the bottom of your hole.
- Place the bulbs 3-5 inches apart with the pointy end facing up.
- Cover the bulbs with soil. Add a layer of mulch to help maintain even moisture and to lessen the chance of soil splash on the flowers and leaves.
- Water the bulbs. Voila- all done!
How to Care for Tulips When Blooming is Complete
To prevent the tulips from forming a seed, deadhead the spent blooms by cutting the stalk just above the leaves. This ensures that rather than putting energy toward making a seed, the energy goes back into the bulb in preparation for the next season.
After deadheading, allow the leftover stem and foliage to die back naturally. You can clean up the foliage when it’s yellow-brown (and usually without needing to cut it.)
FAQ
How do you make tulips last longer in a vase?
Remove the leaves from below the intended water line so the water can stay clean. You will want to keep the level of cold water high in the vase, and completely replace the water every day or two to ensure that the tulips stay as fresh as possible for as long as possible. Keep the tulips out of direct sunlight. Tulips will “turn” or lean toward the closest source of light, so rotate the vase daily to keep them tall and straight.
Can I plant bulbs in the spring?
Yes! BUT, bulbs need at least 10 weeks of chill time before planting.
It is ideal to plant them in the fall (growing zone 7 and below) or December or January (growing zone 8 and higher), but if that is not possible, put them in the refrigerator for the required chill time before planting.
Can you leave tulip bulbs in the ground all year?
When annual tulips finish blooming, dig them up and toss the bulbs into your compost pile. Perennial tulip varieties will be likely to rebloom next year and you can leave them in the ground. Important: the bulbs could rot if they get too much water while they’re dormant, so you might be better off digging them up and storing them.
What is the best way to store tulip bulbs?
Store your tulip bulbs in a cool, dry place such as a garage, storage shed, or closed-in porch. Here is a short video you can watch to learn how to store them optimally.
Are there pests that eat tulips?
You can bet on it! Rabbits and squirrels are the main culprits who love to go after my tulips. After many trials and errors, I’ve found that chicken wire laid on top of the soil, but under the mulch is enough of a deterrent for the squirrels- and a plastic or metal border fence helps to deter the rabbits. Cayenne pepper sprinkled around the base of the plants helps, too.
If you have critters who dig, consider lining your bed with chicken wire or planting your bulbs in a cage. If taller pests are around (like deer,) try surrounding your growing flowers with an ornamental cage above the ground.
Related Posts
- Growing Zones and Average Frost Dates
- How to Create a Bee Garden
- Get to Know the Soil in Your Garden
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