Tulips are exotic, brightly colored, interwoven beauties of the bulb world that are worth growing.
With the right treatment, temperature, and proper care, growing these bulbs in your own garden is not difficult.
But its flowering season must (unfortunately) be coming to an end. Fortunately, there are a few simple tasks you can do towards the end of the season to ensure your tulips bloom even better next season.
on the tulips
Tulips are of the genus tulipsa member of the lily family native to the mountainous regions around Turkey.
Today, over a million tulip bulbs can be seen in full bloom during the annual Tulip Festival in the Netherlands, when field after field of beautiful flowers bloom in spring.
Today, tulip production takes place in 15 countries around the world, including the Netherlands, Japan, France and Poland, primarily for the cut flower industry. The Netherlands produces around 4.5 billion tulip bulbs a year, half of which are used in the cut flower industry.
Throughout history, tulips have been considered a symbol of wealth and power. by the 17th century tulips had reached Dutch markets, where a bidding war between 1634 and 1637 resulted in a ‘Tulipania’. Early on, the tulip craze collapsed and the tulip industry became what we have today.
tulip blooming season
Tulip bulbs are planted in the fall 6-8 weeks before the ground freezes. Timing is crucial: plant too early and you risk rotting the bulbs; plant too late and the ground will freeze.
In general, the ideal time to plant tulip bulbs is when temperatures are between 30F and 55F, or generally below 60F.
Ideal planting zones for tulips are between 3 and 7. In warmer regions (zones 8 and 9), fall temperatures are too warm, so planting later in November or early December is best. In zone 10, wait for January.
You can refrigerate the bulbs before planting them in these areas to give them the cold treatment they need to bloom in the spring. Stay away from fruits that contain ethylene, such as apples, bananas, pears, peaches, and melons to avoid damage.
Early-flowering and mid-season bulbs planted together will extend the blooming period into early to late spring and beyond, depending on the climate in your area.
What to do at the end of the season
If your tulips have finished blooming, don’t completely forget about them. If you want them to bloom again year after year, there are two ways to save them for the next season.
Your choice depends on soil conditions, weather and climate.
put them down
In their natural habitat, tulips thrive in cool, dry climates. If this matches your area, it’s a good idea to leave them in the ground for the next three years.
However, as the seasons progress, they will begin to lose their vigor and each year you will find fewer flowers. At this point, you can buy new bulbs or just upgrade them every year. It’s also a good idea to move the bulbs every three years to increase the extra nutrition in the soil of a new part of the garden.
To prepare them for the new season, tulips need special care. If the flowers start to wilt, prune regularly, but keep the leaves on the plants. Tulip leaves help nourish bulbs for food storage. Nutrients will also be drawn from the surrounding soil, so stick to the fertilizing schedule until the end of the season.
Allow the leaves to turn yellow then brown before pruning. They may look a bit messy, but it’s essential for the bulbs to store food for the upcoming season.
lift and store
For areas with high rainfall or high temperatures, it is best to collect and store tulip bulbs for replanting in the fall.
After the bulbs have finished flowering, leave the plants for about 6 weeks until the leaves die back completely. When the leaves are yellow to brown in color, the plant should have stored all possible nutrients, ready for harvest.
Using a garden fork, gently lift with the leaves intact. Brush away all soil and discard damaged or diseased bulbs.
Spread them out on a sheet of newspaper or hang them up and let them dry completely in a cool, dry, dark place for a few days.
Cut the leaves, label them and store them in paper bags until the next planting season.
get ready to plant
In early fall, make sure your bulbs have been chilled, or even refrigerated, for a few weeks before planting. They like rich soil with lots of added compost and a slightly acidic pH between 6 and 7. The soil should be loose and never compacted, which leads to rot.
Bulbs need water immediately after planting to start growth. Feed with bulb food when the shoots emerge in the spring. When fertilizing, always dissolve in water and pour into the soil on top. Avoid adding the hole when planting, as this can damage emerging roots.
After planting, give the bulbs some time to establish themselves, waiting for their beautiful bloom the following spring.