How To Plant Tulip Bulbs Like A Pro
Spring is a season of rebirth, and tulips sprouting from recently thawed soil bring joy to allnature lovers. You can invite the bright colors and blue-green leaves of tulips to your garden,and the time to start is now. Follow our tips for planting tulip bulbs like a pro to experience thejoy of tulips next spring.
When to Plant Tulip Bulbs
Tulips sprout in early spring, but the time to plant them is quickly approaching in many parts ofthe country. Plant tulips in mid to late fall when nighttime temperatures are about 40 to 50degrees Fahrenheit and the soil temperature is between 50 and 60 degrees.
Plan them before the ground freezes for winter, so most gardeners wait for November or evenuntil mid-December. However, gardeners in the coldest parts of the country may find soiltemperatures ideal for planting tulips as early as September or October.
Knowing how to plant tulip bulbs relies heavily on when you plant them. A common mistake isto plant tulips too early. When planted at a higher soil temperature, they can get tulip firedisease, which results in rotting and deformation.
Water your tulips once after planting, then wait for spring.
Prechilled Tulip Bulbs
Tulips and many other spring-flowering bulbs need a prolonged period of cold weather to growproperly. Winter does the trick in northern parts of the country, but gardeners living in warmsouthern climates may need to prechill tulip bulbs to imitate the cold of winter.
To prechill tulip bulbs, place them in a refrigerator for 6-12 weeks before planting. Longer isbetter because you cannot over-chill tulip bulbs. Prechilled bulbs may also be available for saleat your local nursery.
How Deep to Plant Tulip Bulbs
You may have gathered that tulips can be finicky, but we assure you they’re worth the addedattention when planting. Plant your tulips 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart. Larger bulbsneed deeper holes.
The pointy side of the bulb is where your tulip will sprout. Plant this side up, or it will growdown into the ground.
Planting Tulips in Pots
You don’t need a garden to plant tulips. They can also grow successfully in pots and makegorgeous springtime decorations.
Proper drainage is essential for tulips to grow successfully in pots. You’ll need a pot withdrainage holes and soil that drains well. Loose soil is necessary, so water doesn’t gather at thebottom of the pot.
Your potted tulips will thrive in an area receiving full sun or only partial shade. Tulips love thesun and don’t require much water. Water them once after planting unless you live in anextremely dry area.
In the spring, let rainfall water your tulips if your area experiences rain weekly. During adrought, water bulbs once a week. Soggy tulip bulbs decay and die, so it is critical to notoverwater them.
Make Planting Tulips Easier
Now you know how to plant tulip bulbs, and there’s a way to make the process easier on yourhands, your back, and your joints. A Power Planter Bulb Planting Auger helps you dig a perfect-sized hole for every bulb, whether in the ground or a pot. It can also help with planting daffodilbulbs in the fall and planting garlic or other bulbs.
A tulip bulb planting tool like the Power Planter Auger can help with several other gardeningtasks, such as loosening rocky or hard soil and removing roots and weeds in your planting area.It is an invaluable tool to have in your gardening shed.
