Planting Tulips; Tips & Tricks
Planting tulips can be time-consuming, but with these tips & tricks, you are sure to have a beautiful tulip show come spring. I planted 150 tulip bulbs a few falls ago, and l am so glad I did. They are a lot of work the first year, but after that, they are very easy to maintain.
When to Plant Tulips
Tulips are planted in the fall, and they bloom in the spring. I planted my tulips on October 28th, which was a bit late, but it still worked. Planting tulips after the ground gets some moisture is ideal. I tried to wait until after a rainy day when I planted my tulips, but that never happened. Tulips are rather hardy flowers. They are easy to grow and if you don’t get it just right, you usually still end up with some tulips to show for your effort.
In colder climates, it is recommended to plant your tulip bulbs in September or October. In warmer climates, you should plant your bulbs in November or December. I live in Wyoming, a much colder climate, and I planted my bulbs at the end of October. If you order your tulips from a trusted source, they should send you your tulip bulbs within the opportune time to plant them. Once you receive your bulbs, the earlier you plant them, the better. I ordered my tulip bulbs from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. They have a gorgeous variety of tulips. I would highly recommend them. However, their tulip bulbs sell out fast. You’ll want to order tulips from them around February or March. They will then ship the tulips to you in the fall when you need to plant tulips for your area.
How to Plant Your Tulips
As I mentioned earlier, it is ideal to plant your tulips after the ground has had some moisture. This is good for the tulip bulbs, but the ground also tends to be softer and easier to till up after it has rained (or snowed). Either way, I would highly recommend purchasing a tulip auger to plant your tulips. I used one that attaches to my cordless drill. Here is a similar one on Amazon. When I planted my bulbs, I planted 150 at once and the auger was a godsend. You’ll want your cordless drill battery to be fully charged and a spare charged battery if you can.
When you are ready to plant your tulip bulbs, you’ll want to pick the location and drill a hole that is 3 times deeper than the tulip bulb is tall. You’ll want to plant your bulbs 4-6 inches apart and plant the pointy side of the tulip bulb up. Once your bulb is settled in the hole, backfill the hole with soil. I planted so many bulbs that I drilled numerous holes before I planted my bulbs and worked in sections. After the bulbs are planted, it’s important to give them a good drink of water.
When do tulips start to pop up?
This may depend on where you live, when you planted your tulips, and what the weather in your area has been like. The first year, my tulips started popping up around the first week of April and started blooming the first week of May. This year, they are popping up the first week of March. It can vary, but seeing a tulip pop is such a fun surprise! I added a picture of what they look like when they start to pop up below.
Once your tulips bloom, they are a short-lived show, which has its benefits and negatives. Usually (in Wyoming) by the time you need to mow your grass, your tulips are done and ready to be mowed over. The negative is that they are gorgeous, and you wish they would last longer. Regardless, tulips are a beautiful perennial flower that bring so much joy every year.
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Happy Planting!
Yours Truly,
The Barn Soured Ranch Wife
