When growing your tulips in containers,
avoid placing the container in direct sunshine. The soil needs to remain
cool so the bulb doesn¹t prematurely receive signals that spring has
arrived. If the sun warms the soil in the container too early, the bulb
will send up shoot and flower before an adequate root system has developed.
Keeping the soil cool for as long as possible will encourage the strongest
and most expansive root system possible.
Perennial tulips
are special because, unlike many hybrids, they come back reliably year
after year. Besides choosing a truly perennial variety, there are a few
steps you can take to ensure perennial performance... Plant bulbs in
well-drained soil. This will help naturalizing or perennializing and cut
down on the risk of disease and fungus. Plant bulbs deep. Measuring from
the base of the bulb, place the tulip about 15 cm deep. Water after
planting. This will ensure that your tulips develop a
strong root system before going into winter dormancy. After the blossoms
have peaked, remove the flower heads and allow the green foliage to die
back. Fertilize in fall and spring.
The botanical name of this popular spring flower is derived from the
Persian word, toliban, turban, when the inverted flower was supposed to
resemble. It does belong to the Lily Family and grows
wild over a great territory from Asia Minor through Siberia to China. Tulips are very easy
to grow. Most gardeners plant their bulbs in November in full sun. Place
your tulips about
15 cm deep in moderately loamy soil with some humus and sand added. After
flowering, allow bulb foliage to wither before cutting - that way, sap in
the foliage returns to the bulb where it provides added strength for next
year.
You may choose to lift your tulips after the
foliage has ripened. This is not necessary with hardy perennial varieties.
If you lift, store the bulbs in a dry place during the summer and replant
them next fall in fresh soil - this will reduce the risk of disease. Each
year before replanting, inspect your bulbs for bruises or cuts that may
allow diseases to enter and then spread to other bulbs. This is essential
since an infection of the incurable disease 'Fire' (Boyrytis) will require
you to burn all your tulips!