If you need to Dig up your bulbs:
- Snap Seed pod off after bloom
- Let Tulips Die Down, let leaves die off naturally
- Dig Up after leaves have died off
- Store in a cool dry place with air flow
1. Snap Seed pod off
When you take the flower head, seed pod off the stem you are letting the bulb know that it can start taking nutrients from the leaves back for a healthier bulb.
Healthy BulbsBad Bulbs
After blooming and the plant have dried down, the bulb keeps track of heat units. When they receive enough, a flower is formed for the coming season (for tulips, sometime in late July).
Flower bulbs are nature’s natural computer chips. They record the season’s temperature, moisture and air quality and when certain requirements are met, specific things happen. For example, when you plant your bulbs in the fall, a certain amount of moisture is needed for the roots to emerge. During the winter, most spring flowering bulbs need a certain amount of cold units before they will bloom.
2. Let Tulips Die Down
To best care for your bulbs, the leaves MUST be left alone until they are dry. The foliage manufactures the food that is being stored in the bulb for NEXT year’s flower.
Bulbs are actually a storage organ that helps the plant inside survive dormant periods.
- Sprinkle the seeds of wallflowers or Forget-Me-Not’s over your bulb planting in the fall. These fast growing plants will cover the leaves of the bulbs once the flower is gone in the spring.
3. Dig Up
June is a good time to lift tulips. Once the foliage on the plant has turned brown and dried, the bulbs are ready to be dug. Use a garden fork rather than a shovel to help minimize the risk of digging through any bulbs.
Tulips in cooler locations (hardiness zones 8 and under) do not have to be dug every year. To keep tulips healthy and productive, dig most tulips every three years.
Tulips do not like to be crowded, the more bulbs in their hole the smaller the bulbs become each year, and the fewer flowers that are produced.
Small bulbs produce only leaves, but if replanted and cared for, the small bulbs grow into larger bulbs that produce flowers the following year. In other words, if you have lots of leaves and little flowers it is time to dig up the bulbs and spread them out so they have room to get big enough to produce a flower.
If you only have a few leaves and small flowers the bulbs are probably getting too much water over the summer.
4. Store
Once the bulb is lifted from the ground clean off the old roots, they should separate easily from the cluster of bulbs. Separate all the bulbs; there may be different sizes and numbers under each plant.
Different varieties of tulips produce bulbs in different amounts and sizes. Of course, some years the weather may also affect your production. It is important that the bulbs are completely dry before storing or they will rot. To dry bulbs, put on a mesh tray in the shade outside for a day or two before storing them.
Store the bulbs for the summer in mesh bags, for plenty of air circulation, hung up in a cool place. An open box of wood or cardboard can be used also, but mice may more easily invade an open box.
The bulbs are alive and will suffer damage if stored in plastic or in boxes filled more than five inches in depth with bulbs. Good air circulation in storage is also important and never ever store in an airtight container. Keep the temperature below 90 F for best flowers in the spring.
FAQs
Tulips prefer full or afternoon sun.
They will not tolerate staying wet. The bulbs must not — repeat, must not — be planted in heavy or clay soils, or they will rot. There's no way around this except to amend the soil with organic matter, or plant shallow in raised beds with several inches of soil piled above them.
How do I take care of my tulip plant? ›
Tulips prefer full or afternoon sun.
They will not tolerate staying wet. The bulbs must not — repeat, must not — be planted in heavy or clay soils, or they will rot. There's no way around this except to amend the soil with organic matter, or plant shallow in raised beds with several inches of soil piled above them.
Can you leave tulip bulbs in the ground all year? ›
While you do not need to dig and divide your tulips every year; they should be dug up at least 3-4 years if planted in the ground. If you are not digging them up yearly, make sure they are not in an area of the yard where they will be watered all summer. Too much water over the summer will rot/kill your bulbs.
How to keep planted tulips alive? ›
Plant the bulbs an inch apart then fertilize.
For care, the method is the same as in-ground tulips: Don't overwater them, add a bit of fertilizer, and make sure they have the same amount of sun exposure. After they bloom, follow the same guidelines to clean up the bulbs and foliage.
How do you plant a tulip farm? ›
If growing for cut-flower production, dig a trench 6–8 inches deep. Plant bulbs close together, but not touching, often described like eggs in a carton. Alternatively, use the no-till planting method. Although optional, adding a layer of compost at the root zone during planting aides in both root and plant growth.
When should tulip leaves be cut back? ›
Tulip foliage should not be removed until it has turned brown and died. The length of time it takes the foliage to die back depends on bulb type, weather, and other factors. The foliage of most tulips usually doesn't die back until late June or early July.
What happens if you don't dig up tulip bulbs? ›
If you do plant your tulips bulbs late then this may results in smaller blooms. Can you leave tulip bulbs in the ground all year? There is no real reason to dig up tulips bulbs each year, or at all. Most gardeners leave their bulbs in the ground where they were originally planted, and, are left to rebloom.
How many years will a tulip bulb last? ›
It's just being a tulip. Short-lived bulbs: Most properly planted and cared-for bulbs will flower well for 3-5 years and beyond, but some thrive only for a couple of years or even one season before needing to be replaced.
Do tulip bulbs multiply every year? ›
Tulips will need a full year's growth in order to start multiplying and spreading. This means that the initial process will begin after their first bloom in spring. When this process begins baby bulbs will sprout from the main tulip root. This usually creates 2 to 5 more bulbs each cycle.
Are tulips toxic to dogs? ›
Tulips. Tulips can irritate your dog's mouth and stomach if eaten. Most dogs will only experience drooling, sickness and diarrhoea, but heart problems and difficulty breathing are also signs of more serious cases of tulip poisoning.
You have a couple of options when you have potted tulips. Cut off the flowers as they fade so the plant won't make seeds, but leave all the foliage attached so the energy can move down into the bulb. Plant the bulbs in rich, well-drained soil as soon as possible. Mark the spot so you don't forget they are there.
What helps a tulip survive? ›
Tulips are a thirsty flower so make sure there is plenty of cool water in the vase and be prepared top up as necessary. It also helps to change the water every other day and recut stems at this point. Allow space in the vase so they don't get squashed: overcrowding can damage the stem and shorten the vase life.
Are tulip farms profitable? ›
You absolutely can profit off tulips — but in order to do so, you better have a good planting system, experience no loss to voles/squirrels nor tulip fire, and sell every single stem (and LOTS of stems) at a premium price. The growers who profit off tulips are growing into the 10,000's of tulips every year.
How much money do tulips make annually? ›
Big Numbers
“California, the next largest producer, is down 5% from the prior year to $967 million in wholesale value. The two states account for 44 % of the total value.” “For 2020, five top states: Florida, California, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio accounted for $3.13 billion or 65% of the total value.”
Can you make money selling tulips? ›
Sales Channels for Tulips
Common sales outlets for tulips with local florists can easily fetch between $1 to $3 per stem, depending on the variety of tulips. Farmers market bouquets and grocery store sales can also produce excellent profits.
How long do potted tulips last? ›
How Long Do Tulips Last When Cut and Potted? Potted tulips may last longer if well taken care of. The duration can extend up to a few weeks.
Do tulips in pots come back every year? ›
Tulips are technically perennial, but years of breeding to get the most beautiful blooms means that many varieties only flower reliably for one year. Many gardeners plant new bulbs each autumn to ensure a good display. If you're growing tulips in pots, you need to plant fresh bulbs each year.
