Tulip fire is a fungal disease that can affect tulips. Here’s how to identify it, and what to do if you find it
When your tulips start coming up in the garden, or when you’re planting bulbs in autumn, it’s important to check them for sigs of tulip fire. Here’s what to look out for, plus advice on avoiding the disease.
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What is tulip fire?
Tulip fire is a fungal disease, Botrytis tulipae, that affects tulips. Tulip fire causes brown holes in leaves and distorted growth. It is so-called as in bad cases, the foliage can look as if it has been scorched. You may also see fuzzy grey mould around the dead areas of foliage and black fungal spores on the bulbs themselves.
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The spores of tulip fire can persist in soil for several years and can also be carried on the bulbs themselves.
What does tulip fire look like?
The leaves have small holes in them, and you may see burn-like marks on the petals.
The foliage may also appear twisted and gnarled.
There may also be black sclerotia (small black lumps) on the bulbs.
What to do if you spot tulip fire
If you spot the signs, act quickly so that the disease doesn’t spread.
- Using a spade or a long trowel, remove the infected bulb from the soil, and bin it – don’t add to it to the compost bin.
- Also gather up any fallen petals
- Disinfect your tools to prevent the disease spreading.
- Do not plant bulbs in the same area of ground for at least three years, as the spores can persist in the soil.
Bear in mind that tulip fire can also be confused with other tulip problems, such as grey mould.
How to treat tulip fire
There is no current treatment available for tulip fire.
How to avoid tulip fire
- Check that you have the right conditions for growing tulips – they grow best in a sunny spot, in well drained soil.
- Buy bulbs from a reputable supplier, and check them over for signs of the black fungus spores.
- Do not plant tulips in soil that has been infected by tulip fire for at least three years.
- Consider a four-year rotation of tulips in the garden, growing them in different areas of the garden, which will leave each area of soil free for three years .
- Plant tulips as late as possible in autumn, ideally in November after a frost – low temperatures can kill the fungal spores. Plant them as deep as possible – at least 15cm and up to 30cm.
- Plant tulips in borders less densely, so they are less likely to infect each other.
- If you have been affected by tulip fire in your garden, it is still fine to plant fresh tulips in sterilised pots, in fresh compost.