How to grow tulips

By Hannah Gardner

Published: Tuesday, 01 November 2022 at 12:00 am

Tulips are easy to plant, looking after themselves underground over the winter months and emerging in spring to bring a burst of mood-lifting colour and swish of style to your garden. They make dramatic cut flowers too, (entirely superior to your average shop-bought bunch) looking ever more lovely in a vase as they slowly mature.

When to plant tulips

Don’t plant your tulip bulbs until it’s cold. Wait until mid-late October and plant through November and into early December. Avoid soaking wet or frosty days when soil is easily damaged.

How deep to plant tulips

Tulips should usually be planted between 10-15cm deep. Plant 8 cm apart, placing the smaller bulbs of botanical tulips closer together.

Planting tulips – a step-by-step guide

If you can’t plant bulbs straight away store them in a cool dry place.

Select a spot that has sun for at least part of the day, the sunnier the better.
Avoid planting in ground that is waterlogged or very heavy with clay. You are looking for nutrient-rich, moist but free-draining soil. However, for the first-year tulips really aren’t that fussy.
Tulips last longer if they have some shelter from strong wind.
Think what other plants are around, what will they look like in April and May? (This may influence your colour choice).
If you are planting in between existing plants also think about how much space they will be taking up in spring. This may be quite different to autumn when you are planting.
Place the tulips on top of the ground where you are going to plant them then dig each one a hole at least twice the length of the bulb deep.
Check bulbs are firm to the touch and undamaged then plant them pointy end up.
Cover them back up with soil. Water the area with a watering can and rose if you face a dry spell.

How long do tulips take to grow?

Tulips are planted in the late autumn and flower the following spring between March and May depending on the variety. Some more ‘perennial’ tulips reliably flower for years, but for many, it is best to either add to or replace them after one season to ensure a good show of flowers come spring. The fresh green foliage emerges first, then the stem extends and finally, the wonderful colour of the flower is fully revealed when they open.

How to grow tulips in pots

If you are planting two or three different colours consider whether you want them to flower in sequence or at the same time. Most early-season tulips flower at the beginning of April with later varieties following through April and into May. The flowers are at their best for 10-14 days depending on the weather.

Check you are happy with the eventual height of the flowering stems.

Look at the size of the bulbs and think about how many you can fit in your pot.

Ensure your container has drainage in the base. Then place some pieces of broken pottery or something similar that will partially cover the holes to create space for drainage.

Tulips do not need extra feeding. They will grow in any general-purpose peat-free compost as long as there is good drainage.

Fill the container with compost, to within 15 cm of the top, and position the bulbs. They can be quite close if you want a full-on flowery display but not touching. Next fill up to the top with compost, lightly pressing it down to avoid air gaps.

Water once after planting to settle the bulbs in the compost and then the container can remain outside.

Once the foliage starts to push through it is important that you water occasionally if there is a prolonged dry spell so they can continue to grow and have elegant long stems.

Pesky squirrels love to dig up and eat tulip bulbs, especially those in containers. They are easily deterred by covering the top of pots securely with chicken wire. You can it remove once the foliage is growing and the squirrels are through the hunger of winter.

Remember…if necessary, you can place a container in a more sheltered spot and move it into the final position as the tulips start to flower.