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Can you plant tulips in the spring


How To Plant Tulips In The Spring

Did you know that if you missed planting your tulip bulbs last fall, you can still plant them this spring? And even better, still get them to bloom too!

Tulips are a beautiful addition to a spring garden. They are among the first of all blooming plants to emerge once the long winter season begins to come to an end. With their thick green foliage and colorful blooms, they certainly are a welcome sign that summer is near.

Traditionally, the planting of tulip bulbs occurs in the fall. This works very well for tulips, and for a couple of very important reasons.

Tulips are one of the first plants to pop through the soil in early spring. Sometimes, early enough that they still see a bit of snow even as they bloom.

First and foremost, by planting the bulbs in the fall ground, it helps protect them through the perils of winter. If left out in the elements, tulip bulbs are simply unable to survive the extreme cold. But more importantly, by planting in the autumn soil, the bulbs also have the opportunity to safely chill over the winter.

That chilling process is extremely vital for tulips. Unfortunately, without it, they simply can’t sprout and bloom in the early spring.

Beyond Fall Planting…

For this very reason, most gardeners assume if you fail to plant tulip bulbs in the fall, spring blooms are impossible. But here is the good news – that just isn’t the case! Even though fall planting is certainly the most popular way to plant tulip bulbs for spring blooming – it is not the only way.

In fact, believe it or not, with just a little bit of help, you can plant your tulip bulbs in the early spring, and still get them to bloom a few weeks later. Whether in pots and containers, or even in the ground!

Planting tulip bulbs in the spring instead of the fall takes a little more effort and planning. But one thing is for sure, it certainly isn’t difficult to do.

Even if you missed the fall planting period, you can still plant bulbs in the spring that will flower in pots and containers, or in the ground as well. With a bit of early planning, your tulips will bloom in full glory.

Success really comes down to providing the bulbs with the same chilling period they would have in the ground. Then, getting the bulbs into the ground or pots to still sprout and bloom. With that in mind, here is a look at the process, beginning with how to chill your bulbs.

Chilling Tulip Bulbs –
How To Plant Tulips In The Spring

It is certainly a fact that tulip bulbs require cold climatic conditions to bloom properly. On average, tulip bulbs require around 14 weeks of chill to collect and store all the nutrients they need. This chilling prepares them for the entire process, from sprouting to blooming.

The chilling process allows for a bulb to absorb nutrients from the soil around it. As it rests at a cool temperature, it slowly absorbs the food it needs to sprout and eventually flower.

Without a chance to chill in the soil, the bulbs simply don’t have enough power to grow. The end result are tulips that may not even push through the soil. And of course, without that, there can be no big, beautiful blooms!

Tulip bulbs draw nutrients from the soil around them during the winter. If planted when the soil is warm in the spring, they simply don’t have enough nutrients to properly grow.
How To Chill Bulbs Without A Fall Planting –
How To Plant Tulips In The Spring

Simply planting bulbs in the early spring will not allow enough time for them to chill and absorb nutrients. Chilling occurs when temperatures are lower and in the 40 degree Fahrenheit range.

Over a typical winter, the soil below the ground is plenty cool enough to chill. But by spring, the soil warms too much, and when that happens, the bulbs take in little to no nutrients.

That means if you want to plant bulbs during the spring, you need to start the process of chilling in late winter. That way, when the bulbs are ready to go in the ground in the spring, they are ready to grow!

When it comes to chilling in the winter, there are a couple of methods that can work.

Options For Planting Tulips After Fall –
How To Plant Tulips In The Spring

The method you use to chill your bulbs over winter will all depend on where you live and the climate outdoors. If you happen to live in a warmer area with no snow pack, or you are in the midst of an unusually warm winter in a cold climate, you can actually still plant your bulbs outside in January or February.

As opposed to the other plants, tulip bulbs prefer cold weather, as long as they can be in the ground. If your soil is not frozen solid, and you can create planting holes in the first few months of the year, then plant away!

Dig your holes to the desired depth, and plant the bulbs in a mix of compost and soil. The compost will help the bulbs absorb nutrients at a much faster rate, which can be helpful when planting late. Finish by placing a few inches of straw or mulch on top, and wait for spring!

For most, the above option simply isn’t a possibility. For most northern climates, there is either a heavy snow pack on the ground by January, or the ground is frozen. Don’t despair – you are still in luck. All you need is a refrigerator and some compost or potting soil, and you are in business!

Chilling Bulbs In A Refrigerator –
How To Plant Tulips In The Spring

One great trick for planting tulips during the spring season is to create space in your fridge for the chilling process. Planting your bulbs in nutrient-rich soil and then keeping them in your refrigerator will mirror the outside developmental condition that they need to survive.

The best way to do this is using a small nursery pot or container. Make sure it is freezer safe (no glass or clay pots) and fill it with a good potting soil with a bit of compost added in as well. Plant the bulbs in the soil with the tips facing up.

There is nothing quite like the sight of a tulip sprouting through the earth. Not only is it a symbol winter is over, but that summer is near!

Next, wrap the container in a plastic bag and close it airtight. Take the bag and place it inside the fridge for ten to twelve weeks. Be sure to check the soil every few weeks to make sure the soil is moist. If the bulbs dry out, they can not continue to absorb the nutrients they need.

Planting The Tulip Bulbs –
How To Plant Tulips Bulbs In The Spring

You should chill the bulbs in a refrigerator before you plant them for about 10 to 12 weeks. The longer the better in this case. In fact, if you can go 14 full weeks, that is best.

As late winter gives way to early spring, it is time to plant your bulbs! Planting time will depend on where you live, but a good rule of thumb is to plant when daytime temps are still only reaching 50 to 55 degrees (F) on average. If the soil gets too warm, it may not allow for the bulbs to sprout.

Planting In Pots & Containers

If you are planting in containers, fill your planters with soil in advance and leave them outdoors or in an unheated garage. This will allow the soil in the pots to stay cooler, and once the bulbs are planted in them, they can continue to absorb nutrients.

Remove the bulbs from the refrigerator and carefully plant them into the pots, covering them with soil as you normally would. Again, make sure the tulip bulb points are facing up when planting.

You may find at this point that some of the tulip bulbs are already sprouting. That is actually a great sign! Once you are finished planting, set the pots outdoors to continue to grow.

When planting your tulip bulbs in the ground, you may want to plant in a protective basket to help guard against squirrels and chipmunks digging them up.

As an added note, with spring planting, be wary of hungry squirrels and chipmunks. They can easily spot fresh soil and often will try to dig it the area up. Mulch will help, but you may also want to use a planting basket to protect the bulbs under the soil. See : How To Protect Tulip Bulbs From Squirrels

Planting In The Ground

When planting in the ground, start by digging a hole that is 8 to 12 inches deep. Add in plenty of compost to the bottom of the planting hole and plant the bulb with the tip facing up. Water the soil and make sure the soil is slightly moist when planting.

At least six inches of the hole should be moist as tulips are a big fan of water, but be careful not over-saturate the soil. Slightly and lightly compact the soil as you fill in the hole, and then cover with a bit of straw or mulch.

Continue to water to keep the soil moist while the tulips begin to sprout and grow. Again, be careful not to over water, it only needs to be moist. And just like that, you should have some beautiful tulips blooming, even though they were planted in the spring!

Conclusion

Remember that conditions such as climate, cool soil, moist environment etc. can and will all play a role in how successful spring planting will be.

Here is to planting a few tulips this spring and still getting them to bloom! For more on planting spring, summer and fall bulbs, see our entire section dedicated to Planting Bulbs on the blog.

This Is My Garden is a website dedicated to spreading the love and knowledge of gardening around the world. We publish two new garden articles each week. This article may contain affiliate links.

Can tulip bulbs be planted in spring? |

You may have noticed shoots and early blooms beginning to be appear in your neighbors' yards and be wondering: is it too late to plant tulip bulbs in spring?

Knowing when to plant tulips is key to the fabulousness of the display you will get, and for the best blooms, tulips should ideally go into the ground in fall, though planting in spring isn't completely out of the question. 

'Tulip bulbs can be planted in the spring, however there is no guarantee of a beautiful display. The soil could potentially be too warm as the bulbs need a period of chilling to break dormancy and grow,' explains Drew Swainston, H&G's gardening expert. 

Gardening editor of H&G's sister title Amateur Gardening magazine, Ruth Hayes agrees. 'Tulips are usually planted in late fall and early winter, November and December being the prime time,' she explains. 'You can still get them in the soil now, but it is too late for them to perform their best this year, though they should flower next spring.'

Content Editor

Drew started working as a journalist back in 2008 after gaining his National Council for the Training of Journalists qualifications. He also studied for a Level 3 horticulture qualification, and worked as a professional gardener for several years. Drew specialized as a kitchen gardener for the likes of Soho Farmhouse, and also produced year-round vegetables, microgreens, fruit and herbs for chefs at a prestigious restaurant. Drew has written a blog called Perennial Nerd for many years, talking about his life working in gardens. Drew is now bringing that same expertise and passion to Homes & Gardens. 

Can you plant tulip bulbs in spring?

(Image credit: Alamy)

You can plant tulip bulbs in spring, though you are unlikely to get generous blooms if any. 

'Ideally, tulip bulbs want temperatures below 50℉ for at least 14 weeks for a chance of blooms,' continues Drew Swainston. 'It is possible to recreate the cold vernalization by forcing the bulbs to bloom, storing them somewhere cold such as a garage for a period of a minimum of eight weeks.'

Instead, your best option may be to buy potted spring bulbs from a plant nursery that you can transfer to containers; that way you can be sure to plant tulip bulbs that will flower for you this year, and next. 

What happens if you plant tulip bulbs too late?

(Image credit: Alan Novelli / Alamy Stock Photo)

The worst case scenario of planting tulips too late is that you will get a very poor show of tulips this year, whether fewer or smaller flower heads.

'However, even if you do not get blooms this year then the bulbs may spend the coming fall and winter in the ground building up the energy reserves they need to put out stunning blooms next spring,' advises Drew Swainston. 

'For best results when planting tulip bulbs, make a large hole and plant them twice the depth of the bulb and space them around 4-6 inches apart. If you are planting the bulbs in containers, then you can plant the bulbs closer together for a fantastic display,' he concludes.

FAQs

What month do you plant tulips?

Tulips are best planted in November and December. That way, they can build up energy for a great spring show of blooms.

How and when to plant tulips: 9 care tips

Oh, how beautiful these spring flowers are, surprisingly blooming the awakening garden! What a wealth of shapes and colors they give us. Looking at their magnificent flowering, I want to smile and rejoice at the arrival of spring.

Through the efforts of foreign and domestic breeders, many truly unique species and varieties of this wonderful primrose have been created. And, probably, there is no such amateur gardener who would not grow tulips on his site.

In this article we will talk about the rules and timing of planting tulips, how to plant them correctly and how to care for them.

CORRECT PLANTING OF TULIPS

In one place, tulips can grow no more than 5 years. Then they need to be transplanted, otherwise the flowers will become small and may lose all their varietal characteristics (color, flower shape, etc.).

Planting dates . Some beginner gardeners are wondering when to plant tulips? The best time to plant them is autumn (between September 20 and 30, depending on the climate of your region).

Calculate the period of autumn planting in such a way that before the onset of stable negative temperatures, the bulbs have at least a month for rooting. If you plant tulips too late, they will lag behind in spring. And their flowers will be small.

Do not plant tulip bulbs too early. The soil temperature during planting should not be higher than + 8 degrees, otherwise it is likely that the tulips will grow. And this will lead to their inevitable death in winter.

Tulips can also be planted in spring. For example, if you got bulbs of some very rare varieties. But keep in mind that they will bloom only next year, at the same time as the tulips that you plant this fall.

When planting in spring, remember that the soil in the flower bed should warm up to at least +10 degrees. Otherwise, the bulbs will not be able to take root and will die.

In order to prolong the spring flowering period of tulips, we recommend that you plant bulbs in autumn at different times with a weekly interval, for example, in the central regions from September 20 to October 10 (in the northern regions they will move back a couple of weeks).

Site selection and soil preparation. . The splendor and beauty of tulip blooms, as well as their health and longevity, depend on how correctly you choose the location of the flower bed and how carefully you prepare the soil.

Seat selection. Tulips, like all other spring flowers, plant in a very well-lit place. Only then will their flowering be bright and lush.

Tulips do not tolerate close groundwater and flooding with meltwater. Therefore, plant them in high flower beds (50 - 60 cm high) or on elevated places in your site.

Soil preparation . Tulips love fertile, rich in organic matter, loose, well-permeable neutral soil (pH 6.5 - 7.0).

They will not grow on acidic, heavy soils. Before preparing a flower bed for tulips, such land must first be neutralized with dolomite flour (2 kg per 6 sq. M of the site).

When preparing a flower bed to improve the soil composition for digging, add: 2 buckets of compost (or rotted manure) and sand, a bucket of leafy soil, 1/2 bucket of wood ash, 2 tbsp. spoons of double superphosphate and 1.5 tbsp. spoons of potassium sulfate.

Preparing tulip bulbs for planting . The beauty and pomp of flowering tulips in the spring will depend on the quality of the planting material.

How to choose tulip bulbs . Tulips purchased from us, not damaged or diseased. In addition, they have already undergone pre-sowing processing. Therefore, you can immediately plant them in your flower garden.

Tulips purchased elsewhere or in your possession are recommended to be examined carefully. Discard any damaged or diseased immediately.

Then sort the bulbs by size (each variety separately) and prepare labels for each variety.

How to treat tulip bulbs . Before planting, we recommend that you dip tulip bulbs into a solution of Zircon and Cytovit preparations for an hour (5 drops per liter jar of water).

Can be used for pre-planting preparation and pink solution of potassium permanganate.

METHODS OF PLANTING TULIPS

Planting tulips is a very responsible operation. Before starting, decide which varieties and where you will plant the flower beds. We recommend that you plant tulip bulbs in groups, defining the boundaries of planting each variety.

So you can create any patterns in your flower garden. Planted haphazardly, tulips can look very unsightly and even cause irritation. And on a flowering flower bed there should always be harmony!

How to plant tulips . Amateur gardeners use several methods for planting tulips. Let's talk about the most common ones.

Planting tulips in flower beds . The depth of the planting holes depends on the diameter of the bulb itself. On light soils, it should correspond to three, and on heavier soils, to two of its diameters. The distance between the bulbs is 25 - 35 cm (depending on the height and size of the flowers of this variety).

Sprinkle 1 tbsp. a spoonful of sand and plant the bulb upside down. Then fill it with soil.

When planting in spring , immediately after planting, water the flower bed with warm water at the rate of 10 liters per 1 square meter. m flower beds. After watering, mulch the flower bed with straw or peat chips. This will help retain moisture in the soil and discourage weed growth.

It is strictly forbidden to water tulips during autumn planting . They should not "wake up" in anticipation of the coming winter.

Planting tulips in baskets . For growing tulips, you can use special baskets for bulbous flowers.

They are plastic containers (diameter 30 - 50 cm) with a mesh bottom and mesh walls (the walls may also have longitudinal cutouts rather than a mesh surface).

In such containers, delicious tulip bulbs will be inaccessible to moles and mice.

The convenience of growing tulips in baskets lies in the fact that after flowering, the basket can be dug out of the ground and placed in another corner of the garden. This is especially true in a flower bed where many different plants are grown.

You can decorate empty places with seedlings of annual flowers (eg marigolds or petunias).

Baskets for bulb flowers are now sold in many country and household stores.

Planting tulips in greenhouses . This method is used by amateur gardeners who live all year round in the country for early forcing of spring flowers for cutting.

This method is only possible with a heated greenhouse with artificial lighting. You can grow fresh flowers for the New Year, and for March 8, and for some other significant date.

How and when to plant tulips in a greenhouse? Planted in the same way as in open ground. And the timing of planting depends on the time by which fresh flowers will be needed.

Plant tulips 2 to 2.5 months (depending on species and variety) before they are cut. Set the temperature in the greenhouse to +26 degrees. Spend additional illumination of plants in such a way that they are illuminated 16 hours a day.

Use fluorescent lamps or special fitolamps for this.

Planting tulips in pots . It does not matter if you do not have a heated greenhouse. You can perfectly grow tulips at home.

Prepare pots or plastic cups (with holes in the bottom to drain water) with a diameter of 15 - 20 cm. Fill the bottom with sand in a layer of 4 cm. Plant the bulbs to a depth of 2. 5 of its diameter.

Keep the room temperature at +25…+26 degrees. Do not open any vents under any circumstances. Care for potted tulips the same way you care for flowers outdoors.

When growing tulips in pots, be sure to provide artificial lighting for 16 hours a day. If you need a lot of flowers, use wooden boxes instead of pots.

TIPS FOR CARE OF TULIPS

Tip one . Start caring for tulips as soon as the snow melts. Feed all plants with a solution of urea (2 tablespoons per bucket of warm water per 1 sq. M flower bed). Nitrogen top dressing will immediately give the flowers a powerful impetus for growth.

Second tip . Before flowering, feed the tulips with some ready-made mineral complex for spring feeding of bulb crops (strictly adhere to the dosage indicated on the package).

This top dressing will promote lush and bright flowering of tulips.

Third tip . Tulips are very fond of moisture, so make sure that the soil under the plants is always moist and loose. After each watering, carefully loosen the top layer so that a soil crust does not form on it.

After each watering, mulch the flower bed with straw or peat in a layer of 3 - 4 cm. The mulch layer will prevent moisture from evaporating from the soil and prevent the growth of weeds in the flower bed.

Fourth tip . Carefully cut out any faded buds so that they do not interfere with the flowering of new ones and do not create a sloppy look to the plant.

Tip five . After the formation of buds, do not give tulips nitrogen fertilizers (urea, slurry), otherwise the plants will begin to actively form a green mass to the detriment of the flowers.

Sixth tip . After flowering is over, feed the tulips with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers so that they bloom just as magnificently next year.

Seventh tip . Spend the last dressing of tulips at the end of September. To do this, use some kind of ready-made mineral complex for the autumn fertilizer of bulbous crops.

Eighth tip . Since tulip bulbs are transplanted once every 4 to 5 years, flowers must be properly prepared for winter. Do not rush to cut off the above-ground part of the plants in the fall. Wait until all the beneficial substances flow from the leaves and stems into the bulbs.

Cut them when they turn yellow and lie down on the flower bed.

Ninth tip . For the winter, cover a flower bed with tulips with dry leaves with a layer of 50 cm. Lay a fir spruce branch “needles up” in two layers on top so that rodents do not get to the tasty bulbs.

If severe frosts begin, you can lay lutrasil or some other covering material in two layers on top of the spruce branches, fixing its ends well along the edges so that the shelter does not blow away with the wind.

CLEANING AND STORAGE OF BULBS

When and how to harvest tulip bulbs . Tulips for the 4th - 5th year must be seated. For autumn planting, faded tulips can be harvested already in early - mid-July.

At this time, the leaves begin to turn pale, and the color of the scales of the bulbs becomes light brown. Carefully dig the bulbs out of the ground. Disassemble the basket, consisting of a central bulb with children.

Rinse them and place them in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes. Then blot and spread in one layer in a dry, well-ventilated room with a temperature of +23 ... +25 degrees for two weeks.

Bulbs intended for autumn planting should be stored in a dark, dry room with a temperature of +17…+18 degrees in paper bags or in dry sand.

How to properly store tulip bulbs . If you plan to plant your dug up tulip bulbs in the spring, then prepare them for winter storage in the same way as you would for the upcoming fall planting.

Tulip bulbs can be stored in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator, in the cellar or on the insulated loggia.

In this case, the air temperature should be within +2 . .. +5 degrees. In the refrigerator, bulbs can be stored in plastic bags with holes for ventilation or in paper bags.

Tulip bulbs can be placed in sawdust boxes in the cellar. With such storage, monitor the air temperature so that it is always in the range from +2 to +5 degrees.

In the same way - in boxes with sawdust, you can store tulip bulbs in the winter and on the insulated loggia.

We have told you how and when to plant tulips.

Read also our published articles:

“Autumn planting of tulips”;

"When to plant bulbous flowers";

"How to save flower bulbs until spring";

Proper planting of tulips in your garden.

Planting tulips in spring - when and how to plant outdoors or in pots

Bright tulips will make a luxurious flower garden out of the simplest flower bed. But the possibility of planting them before winter is not always the case. You shouldn't get upset. Planting tulips in the spring, like other bulbous flowers, is quite possible. If carried out correctly, multi-colored hats will decorate the infield this season.

Contents

Should I plant tulips in spring

In the spring, those tulips that have survived dimming in the ground bloom profusely

Most often, these cold-resistant bulbous plants are sent for wintering under a layer of soil. This is done in September-October. During the winter, tulips accumulate strength for abundant and long flowering in spring. But it is possible to land handsome men in March-April.

In cold regions and without forcing in pots, they will bloom only the next year: the flower bud should ripen.

When preplanted in pots, or if the soil temperature allows the bulb to acclimatize, green pets will delight in flowering this season.

When planting tulips directly into open ground in the spring, it is important to choose the right location for them. A flower bed with oriental beauties should be protected from the wind, well lit and warmed by the spring sun. This will accelerate their growth and allow them to gain strength for rapid flowering.

Compared to "winter" tulips, those planted in the spring will not bloom so luxuriantly and plentifully, and the appearance of bright caps will be slightly later. But this has its plus: the flower bed will remain lush for a long time. Flowers planted in spring will replace autumn ones.

Dates: general, lunar and in different regions

Plant bulbs in spring as early as climate permits. The best option would be to plant the onions in special containers and pots for distillation even on frosty days, and when the temperature outside stabilizes, move them to a permanent place of residence.

So that the first sprouts do not die, the temperature of the soil at a depth of 10 cm must be at least 9 degrees. It is worth considering the selected variety - there are early and late options.

The climate in different areas also affects planting times:

The main condition is to complete the planting of tulips before the beginning of July, it cannot be carried out in the summer.

Auspicious dates for planting tulips in 2018 according to the lunar calendar:

What types of planting are there: in pots and in open ground

Potted tulips look stronger than those planted outdoors

Unsprouted, quality bulbs can be planted in spring in several ways:

Potential for growing flowers in a greenhouse. But this is more often done in order to implement them.

How to prepare material for planting

Bulbs for spring planting can be purchased from a specialty store and market, or harvested in the fall from a flower bed. Planting material should be stored in a cellar or basement. Before that, the onions need to be dried, remove excess soil and put in single-layer wooden boxes. Store such blanks at a temperature of about zero and good ventilation. Then the bulbs will save vitality, but will not germinate.

Clean onions can also be stored in the lower compartment of the refrigerator. This will harden future tulips and keep them viable.

To accelerate germination, the material for planting should be prepared:

  1. If the onions were recently purchased, they should be placed in the lower compartment of the refrigerator at least overnight. Tempering will strengthen vitality.
  2. In the morning, for half an hour, future plants should be lowered into a weak solution of potassium permanganate or another prophylactic against diseases and pests should be used.
  3. Immediately before planting, the planting material should be cleaned of tough husks and inspected for rotting and other damage. If this is not done, diseased plants will infect healthy neighbors in the flower bed.

An antiparasitic treatment is needed to eliminate pest larvae from the surface of the bulbs. Phytochemicals can also be used for this, for example, celandine infusion. Such treatment strengthens the planting material and accelerates the process of acclimatization on the open ground.

Material on planting and growing freesia may also be useful: https://diz-cafe.com/rastenija/freziya-posadka-i-vyrashhivanie-v-domashnix-usloviyax-i-otkrytom-grunte.html

How to Pot and Outdoor: Step by Step Instructions

If you strictly follow the planting technology, even in the spring, you can achieve abundant shoots and friendly flowering.

Proper planting of flowers in the ground

Spacing 10-12 cm between bulbs

Those who decide to plant plants immediately in open ground, must first decide on the ideal place to live for tulips. This is especially important when planting in the spring: the sooner the plant takes root, the more likely it is to bloom quickly. A flower bed is erected in a well-lit, sun-warmed place. But the rays should lay down so as to cover the entire surface evenly. Otherwise, the stems will stretch towards the light source, become crooked and thin.

When choosing a site, you need to focus on the composition of the earth - light sandy loamy soils or loams should be preferred. Heavy soils inhibit growth and flowering.

Further steps for planting bulbs are not difficult:

  1. Prepare the soil for planting. As soon as the snow cover came off, the earth thawed, it should be dug up to the depth of a spade bayonet. So it will be easier for the rhizomes to go deep into the ground, and acclimatization will accelerate.
  2. Apply organic fertilizer. Top dressing can be of any type. Only fresh manure is not recommended - it can lead to root rot or fungal infections. If the soil is light, you can improve its composition with mineral fertilizers. This will speed up germination and ensure abundant flowering.
  3. The seed needs to be spread evenly in the flower bed. There should be a distance of about 10 cm between future tulips.
  4. On the ground, make furrows or dig holes, water them.
  5. Put the onions in the prepared soil with the tip up and sprinkle with fertile soil.
  6. Level the surface of the flower bed with a rake and water again. Double watering allows the bulbs to compact in the soil, which speeds up their germination.

The planting depth is determined by the size of the bulbs. Large seed is planted in a hole with a depth of more than 10 cm, and small onions sometimes need 5 cm.

Experienced gardeners estimate the depth by eye - it is equal to three bulb sizes.

This point must be taken into account, because too deep placement of small onions will slow down their germination, and large ones will come to the surface and dry out.

Pot planting tulips

Tulips in pots - an incredibly beautiful sight

Here, first you need to decide whether tulips will be grown for forcing or will remain in decorative pots for the entire flowering period. In the first case, any pots are suitable, in the second, you need to choose low and wide, made of ceramics. Plastic options are cheaper, but they do not allow air to pass through, which is necessary for the development of the root system.

The following planting steps are the same for the forcing method, even for permanent rooting in decorative flowerpots. Required:

  1. Fill the bottom of the container with pebbles or small stones, an average of 5 cm. The drainage layer does not allow water to stagnate and prevents rotting of the rhizome.
  2. Fill the pot, leaving another 13 cm to the top, with special substrate. It consists of a mixture of leafy, garden soil and humus in equal proportions with a small percentage of sand and peat material. Tulips prefer slightly alkaline soil. You can buy a potting mix suitable for these flowers in a flower shop.
  3. Spread the seed on top of the soil, holding the onion with the pointed end up. The preferred distance between flowers is 10 cm.
  4. Cover the bulbs with soil so that 2–3 cm remain to the edge of the pot.

Then you need to put the pots in a sunny place - on a window or glazed balcony. In autumn, planting is done in the same way, but the pots are removed for three months in a room where it is dark and cool.

Proper care of young flowers after planting

Plants should be watered regularly until the first sprouts appear. The irrigation regime depends on the amount of natural precipitation and soil composition.

After germination, watering continues. You need to pour water only under the root so that moisture does not get on the leaves and stems. At the same time, plants should be fed with potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers.

When flowering is complete, wilted leaves must be removed. The stems are cut when they turn yellow. In the fall, you need to dig up the bulbs, dry them and send them for the winter. But if the climate allows, they can be left just in the ground, and the flowers will sprout beautifully next year.

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