Here at Floret, we plant tens of thousands of tulips each autumn. You can grow these beautiful spring flowers in a few different ways, depending on whether you just want to add color to your yard or cut a lot of them to use as arrangements. No matter how you plant them, make sure they are in a place that gets full sun and doesn’t have any standing water. Soil that is too wet will let diseases and rot grow.
To flower properly, tulips need at least six weeks of cold weather. If you don’t live somewhere that freezes in the winter, you’ll need to order bulbs that have already been chilled.
In the garden, tulips make the most impact when planted en masse. For a real show, I recommend ditching the bulb planter, instead planting clumps of at least 10 bulbs. Just make a big circle in the ground about 6 inches (15 cm) deep, add some organic bulb fertilizer and compost, and then plant your bulbs about three times as deep as they are tall.
Tulips can be planted quite close, less than 1 in (2. 5 cm) from each other, similar to eggs in a carton. Once your bulbs are in place, give them a lot of water and fill in the hole with the soil you took out earlier. Add 1 to 2 in (2. 5 to 5 cm) of compost on top to act as a mulch. Be sure to insert some type of stake so you remember where you planted them.
Bulbs can also be planted in pots. Remember that bigger is always better when picking a pot because they hold more bulbs and don’t dry out as quickly. Tulips can be planted quite densely in pots, similar to eggs in a carton.
To grow tulips solely for cutting, plant them in a wide trench. To use the trench method, dig a hole that is 3 feet (1 m) wide and 6 inches (15 cm) deep. Pile all the dirt to one side. Add a small amount of organic bulb fertilizer to the trench and smooth out the bottom of the trench at the same time. Place the bulbs, pointed side up, close but not touching. Label each individual variety as you go.
Once the bulbs are in the ground, give them a lot of water, making sure the trench is at least halfway full. This will help the roots grow quickly, which will lead to even bigger flowers. Backfill the trench, mulch the top with 1 to 2 in (2. 5 to 5 cm) of compost and set up irrigation lines. During the winter, water deeply a few times. It’s really quite simple!.
You can also grow tulips in bulb crates and make them flower in a heated greenhouse during the winter. However, this technique requires prechilled bulbs and quite a bit of precision. To be honest, we’re still trying to master the art ourselves. Once I get it figured out, I’ll be sure to share our secrets.
For the best vase life, pick the flowers while they are still in buds and the outer petals only have a hint of color.
We harvest our tulips as annuals at Floret, which means we pull up the whole plant, bulb and all. This gives us maximum stem length, extended storage, and a long vase life. As long as the bulbs are still on, tulips can stay dry in the cooler for two weeks because they are still linked to their food source. We cut off the bulbs and put the stems in water with flower food when it’s time to use them.
Leave at least two sets of leaves on the stem when you harvest your tulips if you want them to come back next spring. This will feed the bulb and give it the energy to bloom again. Flowers are typically smaller and of lesser quality in subsequent years but still put on a pretty show.
Tulips are naturally a very long-lasting cut flower. Stems from the store usually last for four to five days, but stems from your own garden can last for a week and a half.
When you first pick tulips, the top two-thirds of the flowers tend to bend and curve. To keep them straight, wrap them in a funnel of paper and put them in water for a few hours. Once fully hydrated, they will stand much straighter in the vase.
Remember that fresh-picked stems will get longer in water over the first few days, so if you’re putting them in an arrangement, put the flowers down deeper than you want them to be. Flower preservative will prolong the vase life of tulips and keep the petals vibrant and richly colored.
Tulips are one of the most popular cut flowers, prized for their beautiful blooms and versatility. While tulips can be enjoyed in the garden, many growers want to harvest tulips to display as fresh-cut flowers. Harvesting tulips for arrangements requires some special considerations compared to leaving them in the landscape. In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about successfully growing and harvesting tulips as cut flowers.
Why Grow Tulips for Cutting
There are several advantages to growing tulips specifically for cutting rather than solely for landscape display:
-
Produce an abundance of gorgeous blooms for bouquets and arrangements over a short harvest window Tulips grown close together will yield many more stems than sparsely planted landscape tulips
-
Extend the enjoyment of tulips indoors. Fresh cut tulips can adorn your home for up to two weeks, allowing you to appreciate their beauty long after the outdoor tulip season has ended.
-
Grow rare or expensive varieties that would be cost-prohibitive to plant en masse in the garden. When grown for cutting, small quantities of specialty bulbs can produce many stems.
-
Control timing and maximize production. Tulips grown for cutting can be forced or chilled for specific bloom times to align with peak market demand.
-
Earn income from specialty cut flowers. Tulip stems command premium prices, making them a profitable crop for many small growers and florists.
Differences Between Landscape and Cut Flower Tulips
Growing tulips for cutting requires a different approach than typical landscape tulips. Here are some key differences:
-
Spacing: Cut flower tulips are planted densely, just 2-4 inches apart. Landscape tulips are spaced widely, 4-8 inches apart.
-
Bed preparation: Cut flower beds are raised, amended with compost and well-drained. Landscape beds do not require special soil preparation.
-
Fertilization: Additional fertilizer is applied to cut flower plantings to fuel maximum bulb and stem production.
-
Bloom time: Cut tulips are harvested in bud stage, before blooms open. Landscape tulips are left to flower fully on the plants.
-
Purpose: Cut flower tulips are treated as annuals, with bulbs discarded after harvest. Landscape tulips may be left as short-lived perennials.
-
Varieties: Specialty cut flower tulip cultivars are used, which have long, straight stems. Landscape tulips feature shorter varieties suitable for beds and borders.
Planning Your Cut Flower Tulip Garden
With an understanding of the unique requirements for cut flower production, you can start planning your tulip cutting garden. Follow these tips for success:
-
Sun: Tulips require full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Morning sun is ideal.
-
Soil: Well-drained, nutrient rich soil is essential. Cut flower beds benefit from added compost. Raised beds can improve drainage.
-
Irrigation: Some supplemental water is needed if rain is lacking. Drip irrigation is ideal. Take care not to overwater.
-
Spacing: Dense planting is key! Space bulbs 2-4 inches apart in beds or rows to maximize stems per square foot.
-
BEDFORD: For 200 stems, you’ll need about 50 square feet. A 4’x12′ bed is a good starting size. Expand as your demand increases.
-
Timing: Plant bulbs in fall 6-8 weeks before first frost for spring blooms. Chilling bulbs for 12+ weeks controls bloom time.
-
Varieties: Prioritize Tulipa hybrids like Darwin Hybrids, Single Late Tulips, Viridiflora Tulips, and Fosteriana Tulips, which have excellent stem length.
-
Fertility: Apply a balanced fertilizer when planting bulbs and again when foliage emerges in spring. Compost provides organic nutrients.
-
Crop rotation: To prevent disease, grow tulips in a different location each year. Do not plant bulbs in the same bed more than once every 3 years.
Planting Cut Flower Tulip Bulbs
Use these steps to successfully plant your tulip bulbs:
-
Till or double dig beds to 12+ inches depth. Mix in compost to enrich soil. Create raised beds in poor drainage areas.
-
Rake smooth. Space bulbs 2-4 inches apart in rows or grids. Dig a trench 6 inches deep.
-
Place bulbs root side down in trench. Cover with soil. Firm the soil but don’t pack tightly.
-
Label rows by variety. For earliest stems, plant deepest at 8-10 inches. Standard depth is 6 inches.
-
Water in well after planting. Add 2-3 inches of mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
-
Make sure bulbs are anchored against rain, frost heaving, rodents and other disturbances until roots establish.
Proper planting depth, spacing, soil, and aftercare will get your cut tulip crop off to a vigorous start!
Harvesting Tulips for Maximum Vase Life
The key to great cut tulip stems is correct harvest timing and post-harvest handling:
-
Monitor buds closely as they swell and color shows. Plan to cut when buds first split but before blooms open.
-
Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut each stem underwater at soil level to prevent air embolisms.
-
Remove any foliage that will fall below the waterline in the vase. Strip lower 2-3 inches of leaves.
-
Re-cut stems and place immediately in clean water. Use floral preservative to prolong vase life.
-
For best results, store freshly cut stems dry and upright in a cooler at 35-40°F for at least 8 hours before arranging.
-
Allow tulips to hydrate and open fully in water before displaying in a vase. Change water and re-cut stems every 2-3 days.
Proper harvest and post-harvest techniques will yield long-lasting blooms for your cut flower arrangements!
Tulip Varieties for Cut Flowers
While all tulips can be used for cutting, these popular varieties have excellent vase life and stem length perfect for cutting:
-
Darwin Hybrids: Iconic tulips with gorgeous 20+ inch stems.Varieties like ‘Apeldoorn’, ‘Pink Impression’ and ‘Golden Parade’ make stunning cuts.
-
Single Late Tulips: Vase-shaped blooms on long, strong 16+ inch stems. ‘Menton’ and ‘Yellow King’ are eye-catching cuts.
-
Fosteriana: Extra early blooms in March-April on 18+ inch stems. ‘Purissima’ and ‘Red Emperor’ make cheery spring bouquets.
-
Viridiflora: Green-toned blooms with electric hues. ‘Spring Green’ and ‘Artist’ supply unique palette additions.
-
Lily-Flowered: Elegantly tapered goblet blooms. ‘Ballade’ and ‘Marilyn’ provide sophisticated style.
-
Kaufmanniana: Early bloomers ideal for forcing. ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ and ‘Heart’s Delight’ give winter/spring color.
With many colors, bloom times, heights and forms, tulips provide incredible diversity for cut flower designs.
Troubleshooting Common Tulip Problems
Even with the best care, tulips can encounter problems. Here are some common issues and solutions:
-
Leggy stems: Insufficient sunlight, overcrowding. Improve air circulation and light exposure.
-
Tip burn: Fluctuating soil moisture. Water deeply and consistently during growth.
-
Foliage damage: Chemical damage, weather damage, slugs/snails. Remove damaged leaves promptly. Improve airflow. Control pests.
-
Failure to bloom: Improper planting depth or timing, diseased bulbs, rodent damage. Plant high quality bulbs at correct depth in fall. Use wire mesh guards to deter pests.
-
Short vase life: Old water, bacterial growth. Use fresh water with floral preservative. Re-cut stems and change water every 2-3 days.
Catching issues early allows you to take corrective action and get your tulip cutting crop back on track!
Storing Tulip Bulbs After Harvest
Tulip bulbs for cut flower production should be discarded after harvest. However, for gardeners wanting to re-plant a small number of bulbs, proper storage is important:
-
Allow foliage to ripen 4-6 weeks after blooms are cut to replenish the bulbs.
-
When foliage turns yellow, lift bulbs and remove any remaining soil. Dry bulbs out of direct sun for 2-3 weeks.
-
Sort carefully, removing any damaged, diseased, or soft bulbs. Store only largest, healthiest bulbs.
-
Place bulbs in breathable mesh bags. Store in a cool, dry, dark place around 40°
Join Us Join the Floret newsletter & stay in the loop on all the exciting happenings here on the farm
If you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll get flower-growing tips, special deals, early notice of upcoming workshops, exciting news, and all the behind-the-scenes Floret news. Search Floret Flowers.
- Search Shop
- Search Rest of Site
Tulips as Cut Flowers: Harvesting and planting tulips for the cutting garden!
FAQ
Do tulips grow back if you pick them?
How do you store and harvest tulips?
How do you keep cut tulips fresh in a vase?