Tulip Growing Basics:
Light: Tulips grow best in full sun in the North and full sun to partial shade in the South.
Soil: Plant tulip bulbs, pointed end up, in well-drained soil. Add compost to improve sandy soils and poorly draining clay soils.
Spacing: Plant bulbs 2-4” apart.
Planting: The general rule of thumb is to plant bulbs three times as deep as the bulb’s length. Traditionally, tulips are planted 6-8” deep. Those who favor deep planting at 12”, claim there is less chance of sprouting in fall, damage by cold air and soil, being heaved up by freezing and thawing, or being eaten by animals. If planting in the South, you may want to keep bulbs closer to the surface (6”) to take advantage of cooler soil.
Growing Tulips:
Tulips grow upright and erect with each bulb producing a single flower per stem.
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Watering: To trigger root system growth before winter dormancy, always water bulbs after planting. Since bulbs are susceptible to rot diseases from excess water, normal rainfall should suffice through spring.
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Mulching: Cover the bulb bed with a couple inches of mulch after planting to insulate the soil, maintain even soil moisture, and stop soil from splashing on the flowers.
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Fertilizing: Avoid fertilizing in spring; tulips grow from stored nutrients in the bulb.
Diseases: Avoid planting tulips in the same spot year after year to prevent fungal diseases. Rotate planting areas up to every 7 years.
Trimming Leaves: Allow stems and leaves to die back naturally to yellow or brown before removing them. If leaves are removed while still green, the bulb won’t store enough food to bloom next year.
Do not cut back foliage until it is completely yellow. The leaves take energy from the sun and transfer the energy to the bulb to provide next years flower.
In the South, many varieties do not come back every year and should be replanted annually.
When to Plant:
In Colder Climates (Growing Zones 7 and below)
- Plant tulip bulbs in the fall, 6-8 weeks before the ground freezes. This gives them time to establish roots.
In Warmer Climates (Growing Zones 8 and higher)
- Plant bulbs in late December or January for spring bloom providing bulbs have been chilled at 40-45°F (a refrigerator works well) for 10 weeks prior to planting.