Tulips are synonymous
with springtime, and along with Daffodils, are among the most popular springtime
bulbs. They come in such a huge array of colors, bloom times, and sizes that you
could conceivably plant nothing but tulips and have a traffic-stopping garden
for over three months.
Tulips are easy plants to grow, but plant them as soon as possible after
buying the bulbs, because improper storage can damage or kill the bud and bulb.
They are not picky about soil, but don't like wet feet, so build the soil up for
drainage so they won't rot. They will do well in sun or part shade, and
appreciate an application of bonemeal or superphosphate at planting time. Plant
them in the fall, if possible, or buy the bulbs in early spring and chill in the
crisper of the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. Tulips require this chilling off
process in order to bloom. Keep ripening fruit away from the bulbs if you are
chilling them in the refrigerator, or the buds may be damaged. Planting depth
for tulips is dependent on the size of the bulb. The larger bulbs should be
planted 4-5 inches down, and obviously, the smaller bulbs should be planted
closer to the surface. If you plan on leaving tulips in the ground permanently,
do not cut the foliage back until it has turned brown, but don't count on a
spectacular spring show every year from this planting, as these plants only
bloom reliably for a few years, and then require replanting.
There are many different types of tulips, from the small wild tulips that
make nice additions to rock gardens, to the large Darwins and Parrot Tulips.
Darwins are probably the most sought after of the tulip species, because they
come in every color of the rainbow, including black. They are long-stemmed and
make good cut flowers and make very attractive mass plantings in the garden,
explaining their ever-growing popularity with home gardeners.
If you haven't tried tulips in your garden, now is the time to experiment.
Tulips can be planted at any point in the fall or early winter as long as the
ground is not frozen. Beware, however, that if you have a deer problem or if you
have rodents or burrowing animals on or around your property, your tulips
plantings will not survive until bloom time, no matter what you try to do.
Animals love these plants.
