Tulips are like spring jewels that pop up from the ground in a wide array of sparkling colors. Gardeners look forward to seeing the first glimpse of the bluish-green leaves emerge from the soil in early spring. It signals the end of winter and the beginning of the growing season.
Use these tips for planting and growing tulips. You can enjoy a dazzling array of colorful floral jewels in your landscape each spring.
Sunny Location
Tulips grow best in a sunny location and need a planting site that is in full sun. Tropical climates should plant tulips in a location that will only receive the morning sun and provide shade from the afternoon sun.
A location that offers protection from wind will also be needed for tall-growing varieties.
Well-Draining Soil
All varieties of tulips need to be planted in well-draining soil. Soil that is constantly soggy will cause the bulb to rot.
Tulips also grow best in soil that is slightly acidic. Add a 2-inch (5 cm) layer of pine straw around the tulips to increase soil acidity and keep soil cool.
Planting Bulbs
Tulips are perennials and bulbs can be planted in the autumn (fall) or spring.
For autumn/fall planting, plant bulbs 6 to 8 weeks before a ground-freezing frost. The bulbs need time to establish themselves. Planting too early leads to disease problems, and planting too late will cause bulbs to freeze.
Bulbs can be planted in the spring as soon as the ground has thawed.
Loosen the soil to a depth of 12-inches (30 cm), then mix in 2-inches (5 cm) of compost. Plant tulip bulbs 8-inches (20 cm) deep with pointy side facing upwards. Space bulbs 4-inches (10 cm) apart. Cover with soil and press soil firmly. Water bulbs right after planting.
After Care
Tulips bulbs are a complete food storage system and contain all of the nutrients needed for one year. Add a 2-inch (5 cm) layer of compost on top of soil each spring or use a balanced time-release bulb food in spring to keep tulip bulbs fed.
It’s important to prevent bulbs from being removed from the soil by small animals by covering the top of soil with a length of chicken wire. You need to add a layer of mulch to hide the wire.
Tulips Varieties
Single early, single late, double early, double late, fringed, parrot, or lily flowered, there are many different tulip varieties and bloom colors to select from.
Darwin hybrids are tall-growing perennial tulips and are great for mid-spring blooms.
Emperor tulips are early spring bloomers with large, colorful blooms. Triumph tulips have short, strong stems that are ideal for planting in locations that have windy spring weather.
You may be interested in reading other article, What Are 5 Flowers For Spring Color.
Plant facts
| Genus | Tulipa |
| Light | full sun, part shade |
| Soil type | chalk, loam, sand |
| Soil drainage | well drained |
| Height x Width | 0.5~3 x 0.3 feet (15 ~90 x 10 cm) |
| Flowering seasons | Spring |
| Life span | perennial |
| Plant hardiness zones | 3 – 8 |
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