Anyone can create beauty by adding color and design with fall bulbsin your garden. Here are some simple tips for planting your tulips in the fall so they can acquire healthy root systems.
QUICK TIPS
WHEN TO PLANT
Plant when ground temperature is below 60 degrees (ask Google) and before the first heavy frost.
HOW TO PLANT
Prepare hole 6 in. deep | Put in fertilizer | Place bulbs 1 ½ in. apart, in groups of no less than 10 | Fill hole with soil | Water and wait for spring
PLANTING TIPS
Plant in an area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight. Plant in groups of 10 or more so they can protect each other as they grow. Keep soil moist (don’t let it dry out). Good drainage is also a must! DURING BLOOM keeping the soil moist, it will make your tulips last longer. Before the petals fall off, you must top the tulip head – this will allow the stem to feed the bulb. Discard the top of the petals (don’t let petals fall into the foliage as they can create disease). Over the next 3 weeks or so, the stem/foliage will dry out – continue to keep the soil moist. Once stems and leaves are dried out, discard stem/foliage and pull your bulbs out of the ground. Store them in a paper bag, in a cool, dry place over the summer Repeat planting process in the fall.
CLIMATES & TIMING
Western Washington:Plant in late Oct. when ground temperatures are cooler.
Eastern Washington and Colder Climates: Use 6″ of soil to cover bulbs. Plant early Oct. before 1st frost.With severe cold, add 1″ of peat moss or mulch over the top of the soil.
Southern Climates:(Areas where winter climates do not reach below 40 degrees for at least six weeks.) Bulbs will need to be pre-chilled in the crisper draw of your refrigerator with no fruits or vegetables, as they will damage the flower bulb. After chilling them for 6 weeks, you may then plant them by our directions, preferably when your ground temps are the coolest in your area, usually late November.
WhereNotto Plant:Tulips do not grow well in acidic soil, or planted under cedarorpine trees.
Be cautious not to plant bulbs under eaves of homes or protected areas where the ground does not get the natural winter rains. Ground surface needs moisture.
FALL BULB PLANTING TIPS
Plant three times the depth of the bulb
Temple of Beauty, and Blushing Beauty:8″ of soil over the top of bulbs. They will be 36″ tall. Plant 1 to 1½” apart, close for weather protection.
Tulips:Plant 1–1½” apart, with 5″ of soil over the top of bulbs.
Daffodils:Plant 2-4″ apart. Cover with 6-8″soil. Leave them in the ground as they will propagate.
Crocus:Plant 1″ apart 2½” deep. Crocus also will propagate.
Hyacinths:Same as tulips
Miscellaneous Bulbs:Plant 2½” deep. Same as crocus, leave in the ground to propagate.
CONTAINER PLANTING
- Drill holes in bottom of container. Add 2″ of stone or pea gravel for good drainage.
- Fill½the container with a new potting soil.
- Add a hand full of lime, and our fertilizer, or a good Bulb Booster. Add fertilizer according to the directions. Level the soil, and moisten that area.
- Plant bulbs 1″–1½” apart, and make sure the bulbs are 1″ from the outside perimeter for frost protection.
- Add the remainder of soil to the container. Gently water the soil. A water wand works great.
- When weather is cold, add plastic, (a garbage can liner works fine), around the outside of the container, not the top or the bottom of the container.
- Top the container with hardy pansies. This gives lots of winter color. The tulips will grow through the pansies and they make great accent for your tulips.
- For longer bloom time water your tulips when in the bloom cycle. Be sure to water close to the ground, not to disturb the flower petals.
PERENNIALS
Peonies
With minimal care they provide years of enjoyment
- Choose a sunny location
- Select well drained sight. Make sure the eye; ( new bud) is only 2″ below soil surface.
- Peonies will not bloom if planted too deep.
- Add lime or organic fertilizer,¼th cup to each root. Mix fertilizer in soil before planting. Water.
- Peonies do not like to be transplanted. They will live many years without being divided.
- Pinch off some of the buds if you wish to have larger blooms and longer stems.
- Stake tall peonies with frames before they reach 12″.
- Water peonies during dry spells, especially the first year.
Bleeding Hearts
- Plant in shady, well drained soil.
- Dig a hole 8″ x 12″ . Amend soil ifnecessary.
- Spread the root systems, plant new growth or buds facing up. Cover with½” soil and water.
- After a few years you could divide the clumps and re-plant in other locations.
FAQs
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).
What is the best month to plant tulip bulbs? ›
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).
How many tulip bulbs should I plant together? ›
Plant Like a Pro
Plan on 9 to 12 bulbs per square foot. For a full look, put 2" to 3" of space between the bulbs. Using a 4" spacing will stretch the bulbs, but not look quite as full. To plant a lot of bulbs fast, dig out the entire planting area to a depth of 6 to 8” and pile the soil on a tarp nearby.
What is the best pattern to plant tulips? ›
Always plant bulbs in groups of 12, if you have the space, in a sunny well-drained location. These groups should be of the same type of bulb, that is, 12 daffodils, then 12 tulips, then 12 daffodils, etc. Plant the bulbs in a somewhat circular pattern, but don't be too stringent about this.
Can you leave tulip bulbs in the ground all year? ›
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.
Do tulips grow better in sun or shade? ›
Light: Tulips grow best in full sun in the North and partial shade in the South. Soil: Plant tulip bulbs, pointed end up, in well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 7. Add compost to improve sandy soils and poorly draining clay soils. Spacing: Plant bulbs 4-6” apart.
What happens if you plant tulips too close together? ›
Planting flower bulbs too close together can cause root systems to strangle each other or cause them to dehydrate or starve due to limited water and nutrition. The general rule of thumb is to cover the top of each bulb with 3" to 4" of soil, taking care to not break off any sprout growth.
How deep should tulips be planted? ›
How Deep to Plant Daffodils, Tulips, & Other Bulbs. The general rule of thumb for planting spring bulbs is to plant two to three times as deep as the bulbs is tall. This means most large bulbs like tulips or daffodils will be planted about 6 inches deep while smaller bulbs will be planted 3-4 inches deep.
Do tulips spread or multiply? ›
Tulips will need a full year's growth in order to start multiplying and spreading. This means that the initial process will begin after their first bloom in spring. When this process begins baby bulbs will sprout from the main tulip root. This usually creates 2 to 5 more bulbs each cycle.
Where is the best place to plant tulips? ›
Tulips prefer a site with full or afternoon sun. In Zones 7 and 8, choose a shady site or one with morning sun only, as tulips don't like a lot of heat. The soil must be well-draining, neutral to slightly acidic, fertile, and dry or sandy. All tulips dislike areas with excessive moisture.
To trick bulbs such as tulips into blooming, they must be potted, chilled and then brought out into warmth and light, Wolf says. This sequence simulates the bulbs' natural environment - a cold, wet winter followed by longer, warmer days of spring.
Can I plant tulips in May? ›
If the bulbs have lasted through the winter, have some weight to them, aren't dry and crumbly, or soft and mushy, the good news is yes, tulip bulbs can still be planted in early spring just as soon as the ground is workable.
Can you plant tulips that have already bloomed? ›
Allow the foliage to die back naturally then dig up the bulbs about 6 weeks after blooming. Discard any damaged or diseased ones and let them dry. Store in trays or nets in a dark, dry place over the summer and replant in them in the fall.
Do tulips do better in pots or in the ground? ›
Absolutely! Tulip bulbs will thrive just as well in pots and containers as they do in the ground. This is especially useful for gardeners who lack outdoor space or waited to plant their bulbs until after their ground froze for the season.
How long does it take for tulip bulbs to grow after planting? ›
How long does it take for a tulip to grow from bulb? Generally tulips need 8 to 16 weeks of artificial winter. After bringing the plants into temperatures resembling spring, the tulip will sprout along with leaves quickly emerging. A flowering plant will then appear within 15 to 30 days.
How late is too late to plant bulbs? ›
After the first frost or snow storm, you might assume that your bulb-planting days are over. But as long as the ground is workable, you can plant bulbs! This means that you can plant bulbs as late as January – if you can dig a hole deep enough to plant.
How long should you soak tulip bulbs before planting? ›
We had excellent results with 10-minute soaks on tulips, narcissus, dahlias, 'Star Gazer' lilies and Easter lilies.
Do tulips come back every year? ›
If you are new to planting tulips, you might have heard that they dependably come back every year, but that isn't always the case. You need to plant perennial tulip varieties, which pop back up season after season for beautiful spring blooms.
