Tulips are one of the most popular spring flowering bulbs, lighting up gardens with their cheerful blooms in shades of red, yellow, white, pink and purple. Many gardeners treat tulips as annuals, planting fresh bulbs each fall. But did you know you can dig up and replant tulip bulbs for many years of beauty?
Learning how to properly dig up and store tulip bulbs ensures you get the most out of these lovely flowers. With some basic bulb care, you can enjoy repeat blooms from mature bulbs for 5 years or longer.
When to Dig Up Tulip Bulbs
Timing is critical when digging tulips. Follow these tips:
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Wait until the foliage has turned completely yellow before digging up bulbs. This allows the leaves to nourish the bulb for next year’s bloom.
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Dig up bulbs by early to mid June at the latest. Any later risks damaging the bulbs.
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In warmer climates, dig up bulbs earlier, by late May, to prevent them from sprouting again too soon.
How to Dig Up Tulip Bulbs
Follow these steps for successfully digging up tulip bulbs
1. Loosen the Soil
Use a garden fork or shovel to loosen the soil around the tulips, at least 6 inches away from the stem. Be gentle – you don’t want to slice into the bulbs.
2. Lift Bulbs
Once soil is loosened, carefully lift bulbs by hand, one at a time. Use both hands to cradle bulbs if the soil is dry.
3. Remove Foliage
Cut or snap off any yellow foliage, leaving about 2 inches of stem attached to the bulb. Don’t pull off leaves as this can damage the bulbs.
4. Clean Bulbs
Use a soft brush to clean off soil. Avoid washing bulbs as excess moisture can lead to rot. Handle bulbs gently to avoid bruising.
5. Cure Bulbs
Curing allows bulbs to dry out for storage. See below for details.
How to Cure Tulip Bulbs
Curing tulip bulbs properly prepares them for replanting in fall:
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Spread bulbs in a single layer in a cool, dry, airy spot out of direct sun. A garage, shed, or basement are good locations.
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Place bulbs on screens or wire racks if possible, for air circulation underneath.
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Allow bulbs to cure for 4-6 weeks. Bulbs are cured when the skin feels papery and outer shells are loose.
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Discard any bulbs that appear damaged, diseased or mushy. Healthy bulbs will be firm.
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Store cured bulbs in mesh bags or open crates. Keep bulbs in a cool, dry spot until planting time.
When to Replant Tulip Bulbs
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In cold climates, replant tulip bulbs in fall anytime from late September to late November, before ground freezes.
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In warm climates, delay planting until December or January for best flower production.
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Plant cured bulbs 4-6 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Well-drained soil enriched with compost or bulb fertilizer ensures the biggest blooms.
Tips for Continued Success
Follow these tips and your tulip bulbs will continue performing for years:
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Divide crowded clumps every 2-3 years. Overcrowding reduces flowering.
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Add new bulbs to refresh displays. Hybrid tulips rarely persist but species tulips will continue blooming.
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Rotate planting sites to improve drainage and minimize disease.
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Remove spent flowers but leave foliage in place until it yellows to nourish bulbs.
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Stop deadheading and let seed pods develop if you want bulbs to self-seed.
With proper digging, curing, storage and replanting, you can enjoy the return of tulips in your garden for many springs to come. The effort pays off when those beloved flowers reemerge and unfurl their petals in a welcomed display.
Harvesting and Storing Flower BulbsIf you lift your Bulbs, they should be stored in a well ventilated place and replanted in the fall. Every five years
Storing FAQs for Flower Bulbs
Flower bulbs are usually one of the easiest plants to start from seed in the garden. However, there are a few things you can do to make sure they come back every year. Lets go over some frequently asked questions about flower bulbs.
How To Dig up Tulips and Store them to Maximize Garden Space
How do you dig up tulip bulbs?
Be careful when you dig up your bulbs. Use a hand trowel to dig a trench about 8 inches (20.5 cm.) deep around your tulip plant. Make the trench several inches (5 to 10 cm.) larger than the plant to prevent hurting the bulbs. With your fingers, lift out the bulbs and brush off the dirt, then remove dead foliage with a scissor or pruner.
What happens if you dig up tulips too early?
Once tulips finish flowering, they use their leaves and roots to gather nutrients and fill up the storage containers with supplies. Digging the bulb up too early means that the bulbs will not have had a chance to replenish their nutrient supplies. Only dig out the bulbs when you see the leaves of the plants turning yellow and wilting.
How do you get rid of tulip bulbs?
Use a hand trowel to dig a trench about 8 inches (20.5 cm.) deep around your tulip plant. Make the trench several inches (5 to 10 cm.) larger than the plant to prevent hurting the bulbs. With your fingers, lift out the bulbs and brush off the dirt, then remove dead foliage with a scissor or pruner. Curing tulip bulbs is not difficult.
How do you store Tulip bulbs?
Use a trowel to dig about eight inches into the ground around each bulb, then lift the bulbs and shake off the extra dirt. Trim off the extra foliage. Next, cure the tulip bulbs by setting them in a box of peat, paper, or other packing materials. Allow the bulbs to dry for a few days, then store them on paper in a cardboard box.
