Tulips are beautiful spring flowers that add a touch of colour and class to any garden. Available in many different varieties, you will be able to find a tulip variety that you like regardless of your own personal tastes. Tulip flower bulbs need to be carefully selected in order to give them the best chance of thriving, so it is important you choose the right kind to plant and grow. There are many different variables with tulips, such as the height, flower shape and flowering time. You may want to plant them in borders in different formations, or you might prefer to plant them in containers, where they will grow just as well with the right kind of care. This means you can enjoy the beauty of tulips even if you only have a small outdoor space.
Whilst the tulips you choose will very much depend on what you like, it will also be important to make sure you have the right growing conditions for your flowers. If you want to plant tulips and make sure they grow as well as possible, then you will need to ensure the right growing conditions. Here is a brief guide to planting, growing and caring for tulips in the UK:
- Tulips will usually flower between March and May, so you should plant your bulbs around October or November time. Planting later is thought to help reduce the tulip disease tulip fire.
- Make sure you check your bulbs over before you plant them. They should look healthy all over, with no signs of disease or mould.
- Allow around two bulbs’ width between the bulbs that you plant.
- Tulips enjoy a spot with full sunshine and where possible, you should choose a fertile type of soil that drains well. This is because tulips may be compromised if the soil is too damp.
- If you do have a soil like clay or sandy soil, you can use some organic matter to help you improve the quality ahead of planting. Work this into the soil around the area where you will be planting the tulip bulbs.
- Neutral pH is preferred, towards alkaline might be ok. If your soil has a lower pH than 6.5, you might want to consider applying some lime.
Whilst it might be possible to naturalise some tulip varieties, bedding tulips will usually not flower more than once. If you like, you can try removing the tulip flower bulbs from the ground and drying them out after they have flowered, so you can try to reuse them. Depending on what you want to do with your tulips, research the types of bulbs you are planting beforehand.
Different varieties that are popular include:
- Fosteriana tulip
- Bakeri lilac wonder
- Early double tulip
- Greigii tulip
- Darwin hybrid tulip
You won’t normally need to water tulips very often, as they won’t thrive if they are in conditions that are too wet. If the ground does become excessively dry then you may need to water them sparingly – this is better done if you have soil that will drain well.