Tulips are spring bulbs that gardeners plant in mid to late fall to ensure good blooms in the spring. In this article you will find out what you should know about planting tulips in autumn, what the different varieties are and when they bloom.
Planting tulips in autumn – what you should know
Tulips are perennial? Tulips are technically perennial, but years of breeding for the most beautiful flowers means that many varieties only bloom reliably for one year. Some tulips bloom earlier than others - early-blooming varieties bloom from late March to April, medium-blooming varieties bloom from April to May, and late-blooming varieties bloom in May. If you grow a mixture of different varieties, you can extend the flowering period. You can also mix flower shapes, heights and colors. Combining tulips can be quite an art, but you can purchase ready-made planting mixes from garden centers or online.
Tulip varieties and flowering times
Early tulips (end of March to April)
- Single Early Tulips – some of the earliest tulips, usually blooming in late March or early April. Simple, cup-shaped flowers on strong stems. Try “Apricot Beauty” or “Prinses Irene”.
- Double early tulips – long-lasting, double flowers that look like peonies on short stems. Early to mid April. Try the “Verona” tulip, with light yellow flowers.
- Kaufmanniana hybrids – water lily-like flowers. One of the most reliable perennial varieties.
- Species / botanical tulips – small and delicate (10-15 cm high), but robust and long-lasting. They are ideal for rock gardens, gravel gardens, containers or the front part of a border. They will come back year after year and self-seed if you don't depilate them. Some bloom early, others later in the season.
Mid-season tulips (April to May)
- Triumph Tulips – sturdy tulips with sturdy stems that bloom in April. Good for a windy location. Try the lipstick pink “Barcelona,” the burgundy and yellow “Abu Hassan,” or the orange “Cairo” or “Brown Sugar.”
- Darwin hybrids – tall tulips with large, cup-shaped flowers. The stems are very strong and wind resistant. Reliable for several years. Try “Apeldoorn” or “Apricot Beauty”.
- Fosteriana hybrids – these have slender, closed flowers that open wide in full sun. They sometimes have purple or brown markings. Formerly known as Emperor tulips. Try the stunning white tulip “Purissima.”
Late tulips (May)
- Single late/Darwin – oval flowers on tall, strong, wind-resistant stems. Try the dark purple “Queen of the Night” tulip, the peach “Menton” tulip, or the white “Maureen.”
- Double Late Bloomers/Peonies – one of the last tulips to bloom and very long lived. The large flowers look like peonies. Try the beautiful peach-colored “Angelique” tulip.
Planting tulips in autumn – garden:Choose a sunny spot with good drainage. These plants do not grow well in shade and will rot in moist soil. Autumn soil preparation is important for caring for tulips. Dig up the site and loosen the soil to a depth of about 30 cm. Add some compost or dry fertilizer to the soil. Also add some 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 granular fertilizer to encourage bulb growth.
Mix the existing soil, amendments and fertilizer like cake batter until well combined. If you have prepared the location for the tulips well, you can easily dig the individual planting holes. You should dig each hole three times as deep as the height of the tulip bulb. There should be twice as much soil over the top of the bulb as the height of the bulb.
Plant the bulbs in groups of ten, 2 inches apart. Place the bulb so that the pointed end is facing up. Don't worry if some of them are upside down. They should still bloom, but they will take longer to emerge from the ground in the spring and may not be as tall as they should be.
Planting tulips in autumn – pot: Tulips grow excellently in pots. Half-fill the pot with peat-free multipurpose soil and plant the bulbs at a depth three times their height, a few inches apart. You can also combine tulips with other spring bulbs in a container for a longer lasting effect.
How do tulips last longer in the vase? You can do thatfind out here!
When exactly should you plant tulips in autumn?
Tulip bulbs can be planted from mid-October, but November is considered the optimal time as it reduces the risk of a fungal disease called tulip blight, which is wiped out in colder weather. You can also plant tulip bulbs in December or even January - they will then bloom in spring. If you forget to buy bulbs, you can buy potted tulips from the garden center in spring - enough to display in one or two pots.
Planting tulips in March – What you should definitely pay attention tofind out here!
Possible problems and their solutions
Tulip fire (Botrytis tulipae) is a fungal disease that is particularly serious in wet seasons because the spores are spread by wind and rain. Symptoms include distorted and stunted shoots and leaves, as well as unsightly brown spots throughout the plant. If your plants are infested, remove and burn them and do not plant tulips in the same spot for at least two years. When storing bulbs from year to year, prevent this problem by dipping them in a fungicide solution. If you plant bulbs from November onwards, the risk of the disease should be lower.
How you should cut off faded tulipsfind out here!
Interesting facts: Are tulips poisonous?
Tulips are poisonous. They contain alkaloid glycosides in all parts of the plant except the petals, with the highest concentration found in the tulip bulb. People, dogs, cats, horses, farm animals, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs can be poisoned by tulips. Symptoms depend on the amount ingested.
