When to plant tulips
The optimal time for most regions is from the end of September to the end of October. So the bulbs will have time to take root before the onset of serious cold weather. In addition, when planted in autumn, tulips usually bloom two weeks earlier than those planted in spring.
You can also send the bulbs to the ground at the beginning of the summer season, around the end of March – beginning of April, when the soil warms up to 9 ° C to a depth of 10 cm. However, it is quite difficult to guess the right moment, because the arrival of heat in the spring may be delayed. So if you have time, plant tulips in the fall and they won’t give you much trouble.
How to choose tulip bulbs
When buying planting material, pay attention not only to the varieties and photographs of flowers on the label, but also to the condition of the bulbs themselves. It will not be difficult to inspect and feel them: usually tulips are sold in transparent bags.
High-quality bulbs are dry and strong, without spots and cracks. They should be covered with thin brown scales without any traces of mold. A thick and hard shell will prevent the tulip from germinating normally. Also make sure that the neck of the bulb (top) is tight and the bottom is firm and has dry roots.
You don’t have to choose sprouted tulips, especially if you’re planting them in the fall. Such flowers will not take root well and, most likely, will freeze in the soil.
The optimal bulb diameter for outdoor cultivation is 3-4 cm. These usually produce large and strong flowers.
How to prepare a flower bed for growing tulips
Find a flat area where, after the snow melts in the spring or rains, water does not stagnate. You need to grow tulips in a sunny or slightly shaded place, protected from strong winds.
For the good development of tulips, you need to saturate the soil with useful substances. For 1 m² of flower beds, add 20 liters of compost or rotted manure, 200 g of wood ash, 50 g of superphosphate, 25 g of ammonium nitrate and 30 g of potash. Dig the soil onto the bayonet of a shovel, carefully breaking up earthen clods, and level the surface with a rake.
How to prepare tulip bulbs for planting
Sort the bulbs. Feel free to throw away soft, dry or too light ones – those that weigh significantly less than others with the same size. It is also better to get rid of bulbs with traces of damage or disease right away – they either do not germinate at all, or become a breeding ground for infections for other plants.
At the same time, even outwardly healthy bulbs can be infected with fungal diseases that have not yet shown themselves. Therefore, it is recommended to pre-soak the tulips in a disinfectant solution. You can take the usual potassium permanganate at the rate of 0.5 g per 2.5 liters of water. Or special products – for example, “Fitosporin” or “Maxim”, which are bred according to the instructions on the package.
It is not necessary to remove the scales from the bulbs, just place them in any of the solutions for 30 minutes. Then take it out, spread it on a napkin or newspaper, dry it for an hour and proceed to planting.
How to plant tulips
Planting depth should be three times the height of the bulb. You can dig both separate holes for each tulip, and trenches – straight or forming a certain pattern in the flower bed. In any case, the distance between the bulbs should be at least 5 cm.
Place the bulb in the bottom of the hole or trench with the roots down and lightly press it into the soil. Then fill with soil and compact its surface with the palm of your hand. In one place, tulips can grow for at least 3-4 years.
How to care for tulips after planting
In order for flowers to feel good and please with buds, you need to follow simple rules.
water the tulips
If you planted them in the fall, this is not required, otherwise the bulbs may rot. Tulips should be watered regularly starting in spring. Don’t let the soil dry out and keep it moist at all times. Stop watering two weeks after the end of flowering, so the bulbs will gradually go into a dormant state.
Feed Your Plants
If you have prepared the bed well before planting, you can do without additional fertilizers. If not, take special ones for bulbous flowers. The consumption rate and the number of dressings depend on the manufacturer and are indicated on the package. Usually, fertilizers are applied three times: when sprouts appear, buds form, and after flowering ends.
Trim the flowers
It is better to cut wilted flowers at the root immediately so that the plant does not waste energy on the formation of seeds and directs them to feed the bulb.
Take care of the flower bed
When stable frosts are established and the soil begins to freeze, you can mulch the flower bed with sawdust, cones, dry foliage or peat with a layer of 3–5 cm.
This advice is relevant for regions where there is little or no snow in winter. In other cases, cover is optional.