Botanical Name:TulipaLife Cycle:perennial
Planting Time:fall
Height:4" to 30"
Exposure:full sun to light shade
Soil:rich, well-drained soil
Hardiness:zones 3 to 8
Bloom Time:Spring
Flower:A variety of brilliant solid and mixed color patterns (except blue); saucer-shaped with 6 petals (except doubles); 400+ cultivars.
Foliage:Blue-green, smooth, thick, upright leaves with a blade-like shape; 6 to 10 inches long
Propagation:Bulbs
Suggested Use:Beds, borders, cut flowers, walkways and mass plantings
This page contains the following solutions.
I live in South Carolina where seasons are short, with a lot of warmth throughout the year. In January all the local stores marked down all of there tulips 90% off.
Tulips in the warm winter areas of California are difficult for the average gardener. However if you plant Darwin tulips (following directions), you don't have to dig them up until they get crowded. This takes about 4 or 5 years depending on the spacing.
I love tulips but do not have the patience to wait for them to "brown out" so I buy some in the spring, and set the roots into my mulch so only the flower and leaves show.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have been given several dozen tulip bulbs that were just pulled out to make way for summer flowers. Can I plant them now? I do not have a garage to store them in. Will the mice get them if I store in the basement? Do I put the whole plastic bag in an extra refrigerator as you advised someone else?
Hardiness Zone: 7b
By Micki from Alexandria, VA
I don't know if it would work to plan tulips now or not. When I had a yard I planted things like that in the fall, and as the tulips were almost done blooming I planted annuals in between the tulips and cut the tulip greenery down as they were done blooming.
The bag in the fridge provides the cold cycle they need to bloom, but I believe you can plant them now, they just won't bloom until next spring. The leaves nourish the bulbs for the blooming cycle.
I wondered the same thing. I got a potted plant from someone and wondered if I could plant them outside and if they would grow if I planted them now. I guess I won't know till I try but if someone definitely knew they would not bloom next year, I would not bother.
I live in NW Ohio. I have some tulip bulbs that I just did not have time to plant last fall. I have them in my basement in a bag. They have "sprouts" coming out of them. Is it too late to plant them this Fall? What would happen if I planted them now? Dumb question, I know, but I know little about gardening. In fact, my husband used to tell me that I could kill plastic flowers. Ha, ha.
Hardiness Zone: 6a
By Kathy from Sylvania, OH
I'd plant them now as the 'sprouts' show that they are still alive. If they grow it will give the leaves a chance to feed the bulbs and then the cycle should get back to normal.
Plant them now, this happened to my mom several years back and she had the preetiest red tulips ever. P.S. tell your husband like I tell mine. Zip your lips. LOL
I was given a pot of tulips and they are done blooming. What do I do to be able to plant them this spring?
By Linda
I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that in order for tulips to bloom at the right time in the spring, when they are outside, they have to be planted in the fall.
I live in Long Barn California. Currently the ground is covered by 1 foot or so of snow. The ground has defrosted a little now where the dirt is workable. Can I plant my tulip bulbs now, Feb 2013?
By Cori A.
Here's a guide that may be helpful: www.thriftyfun.com/
I am wanting tulips in flower in pots for table decorations for May 19th! I have bought 'Donald Duck' (Greigii) variety which states that there will be flowers in May (12 ins) and 'Double Red Riding Hood' (Greigii), with flowers Apr/May (12 ins). I realise it is impossible to be sure about the timing, but could you advise when to plant them. I shall be very grateful and certainly wouldn't blame you if it doesn't work! Thanks.
By Nesta R from Manchester UK
Last year I planted a lot of tulip bulbs in a partly shady spot. They bloomed beautifully. This year the foliage is huge and falling over. About one fourth of the flowers bloomed, but they're small. Any suggestions?
Hardiness Zone: 7a
By julie galbraith from Lexington, KY
What is something I can use to fertilize my tulips that I have at home already?
Hardiness Zone: 11
By Joshua from Rock Creek, OH
This page contains tulip photos. These lovely spring flowering bulbs are available in so many colors and varieties that it is easy to create a beautiful tulip planting in your garden.
