Tulip bulbs should be planted in the fall. The soil needs to have cooled off from the summer growing season before you plant, which could mean September in cold climates (zones 3 to 5), October in transitional climates (zones 6 to 7), and November or December in warm climates (zones 8 to 9).
A good rule of thumb is to plant bulbs when the average nighttime temperatures in your area are in the 40- to 50-degree range. At that point the soil temperature should be just perfect for tucking bulbs in for their winter's rest underground. In colder northern climates, plant in September or October.
Planting bulbs too early can leave them susceptible to rot. If you put them in the ground in late August or early September, they might even be tricked into thinking its spring, and try to bloom! If you plant too early, they won't bloom when they're supposed to.
In most areas, plant tulips in mid- to late fall.
Gardeners in USDA zones 1 through 3 should aim for September or October, those in zones 4 and 5 for late September to early November, and those in zones 6 and 7 for October to mid-December.
While spring blooming bulbs should be planted in the fall, summer-blooming bulbs should be planted in mid-spring, after the frost's risk has passed.
You must wait to plant your bulbs until temperatures cool down, especially during the day. Temperatures might start to cool in September in some years and in October in other years. It's better to err on the later side. You can even plant bulbs into November and beyond if the ground has not yet frozen.
Probably. Even in their bags, the bulbs were trying to bloom and often show a growing tip or two even in autumn. The flowers are already present in dormant bulbs, but left in bags, bulb roots can't form properly. Without adequate nourishment, those eager shoots fail, and any blooms will be tiny and often distorted.
While you do not need to dig and divide your tulips every year; they should be dug up at least 3-4 years if planted in the ground. If you are not digging them up yearly, make sure they are not in an area of the yard where they will be watered all summer. Too much water over the summer will rot/kill your bulbs.
Yes! The seeds of tulips are naturally spread (asexual reproduction) with little human intervention. After spreading, they evolve as bulbs and eventually go on to become a part of the flower.
Some people figure they're better off waiting until the following fall to plant in the ground, but there's little to no chance they'll survive then. Go ahead and set the bulbs in pots at the same depth you'd plant in the ground (about 3 times as deep as the bulb's height).
Plant new tulip bulbs in the fall. While most modern tulip cultivars bloom well for three to five years, some tulip types (classes) bloom well over a longer period. Darwin hybrid tulips are generally the longest blooming hybrid tulip. Fosteriana tulips (also known as Emperor tulips) also bloom well for many years.
Most bulbs can be stored for up to a year, but tend to perform best when planted within six months of lifting. For tender bulbs, be sure to plant in the spring following the fall in which they were lifted-they will likely not have enough energy to survive past the warm season and into the following year.
And when we love something, we want to hold on to it for as long as possible. After the tulips have finished blooming, we want to see them bloom again the year after… and the year after that. In locations with cold winters, tulip bulbs can stay in the ground after the bloom.
Tulips are typically planted about 6 inches deep and about 3 to 6 inches apart. In areas with severe frost, plant tulips 8 inches deep. This also helps them from being eaten by animals. Always water bulbs after planting, and continue to water in hot, dry climates.
The tulip as duly noted in horticultural texts is a perennial flower. This means that a tulip should be expected to return and bloom year after year. But for all intents and purposes this isn't always the case. Most tulip-lovers content themselves with treating it as an annual, re-planting again each fall.
Tulip bulbs should be planted in the fall. The soil needs to have cooled off from the summer growing season before you plant, which could mean September in cold climates (zones 3 to 5), October in transitional climates (zones 6 to 7), and November or December in warm climates (zones 8 to 9).
Generally, with tulips the hole should be 12″ in diameter and 5 bulbs can be planted in it. They will be spaced closer than what the package says. Generally, with bouquet planting the bulbs will be 1-2″ apart.
Garden designers know that tulips look best when they are planted in groups of 50 or more bulbs. Plan on 9 to 12 bulbs per square foot. For a full look, put 2" to 3" of space between the bulbs.
Many gardeners grow tulips as annuals, but botanically they are perennials with the potential to rebloom in consecutive years under ideal growing conditions.
Bulbs planted in the Deep South, the desert Southwest, and most of California (more or less from the San Francisco Bay area south) do not get the cold they need. To perform well, they must be placed in a refrigerator (not a freezer) for 6 to 12 weeks before planting.
Dried-out bulbs won't sprout when replanted. Store them in a dark location in a shed or garage where temperatures remain above freezing.
The winters in zones 7 and lower usually provide enough chill hours when the tulips are left in the ground over winter.
Should you soak spring bulbs before planting? There's no need to soak them before planting. However, if you are late getting them into the ground, then soaking them for 12-24 hours can speed up the rooting process. Adding fish emulsion or liquid kelp to the water before soaking will help them root even faster.
The bulbs will continue to grow and bloom just as they would in the ground. The bulbs can then be dug out of the pot and moved to a flowerbed either during their growing cycle or after the foliage has browned and dried. OR… Place the bulbs in a paper bag in the refrigerator.
Plant Bulbs Deep Enough
Generally, dig a hole two to three times deeper than the bulb is tall. So if you have a 3-inch-tall bulb, dig a hole 6 to 9 inches deep. Of course, there are always exceptions, so check the planting directions that come with the bulbs for more information.