Tulip: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you plant tulips?
Plant your tulips in autumn, preferably later in the season when the soil has cooled. In temperate climates, November is often a useful guide, without imposing the same date everywhere. Counting six to eight weeks before the first frost can result in unnecessarily early planting. Avoid frozen or waterlogged soil and choose firm bulbs without rot.
Prepare a sunny position with well-drained soil. Follow the recommended depth for the cultivar; for many tulips it is about two to three times the bulb's height. Position the tip upwards and space bulbs according to their size and the display you want, without allowing them to touch. Backfill and water if the soil is dry.
In a pot, use a container with drainage holes and free-draining compost. Check moisture during growth, as a pot does not always receive enough rain. Match feeding to the compost and your plans for keeping the bulbs: claiming that tulips never need additional nutrients is too broad.
To recover bulbs after flowering, retain foliage until it has naturally yellowed and dried. Do not cut still-green leaves as soon as yellowing begins. Lift the bulbs carefully afterwards and keep healthy ones dry and sheltered until replanting. The next flowering also depends on the cultivar and the reserves built up during growth.
When do your tulips flower?
How to care for this plant
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Remove faded flowers
After flowering, remove faded flowers with their seed capsules unless you want seeds. Keep all green leaves to rebuild the bulb’s reserves. Do not tie them up; let them yellow naturally. Leave seed capsules where you want plants to self-seed.
