Plant lovers who can’t wait may find it unbearable to have to wait until fall to buy tulip bulbs. There is, however, a very good reason to wait and not buy your spring bulbs, such as tulips, during the winter, spring, or summer. Put simply, tulip bulbs bought outside of Autumn are unlikely to produce decent, if any, blooms. Trustworthy websites and garden centers sell spring flowers like narcissi, crocuses, irises, and of course tulips in the fall, when they are ready to plant. This is because the bulbs are picked in the summer and then sold so that they can be planted in the fall. As soon as these healthy bulbs are planted, they start to grow roots and get their food from the soil. They are getting ready for the cool months of winter. After winter, the well-fed and healthy bulbs will bloom in the spring. After blooming, they can be picked again in the summer, and the cycle starts all over again.
Tulips are one of the most iconic spring flowers, beloved for their wide range of vibrant colors and unique flower shapes. Deciding when to purchase tulip bulbs is key to ensuring your garden bursts into a breathtaking display of blooms at the right time.
Optimal Timing for Tulip Bulb Purchase
The ideal time to buy tulip bulbs is in early fall, typically late August through September. This gives you the best selection of varieties while the bulbs are fresh. Bulbs purchased in early fall can be planted right away. While you can purchase bulbs later in fall or even early winter, the selection may be more limited.
Buying early also ensures you get the specific tulip varieties you want before they sell out. Popular options like parrot tulips and fringed tulips tend to go fast. Ordering ahead of the rush secures your top choices.
Avoid Buying Too Early
Take care not to purchase bulbs too far in advance of planting. Tulip bulbs can dry out if stored for extended periods. Buy bulbs within a month or two of when you plan to plant them.
Consider Mail Order for More Options
Check with local garden centers when tulips will arrive on their shelves. For the widest selection, consider mail order bulb suppliers. They bring in bulbs from growers around the world much earlier than retail stores.
What to Look for When Buying Bulbs
When selecting bulbs, choose large, firm ones free of mold, damage, or soft spots. Larger bulbs produce more spectacular flowers. Check the packaging date – fresher is better. The papery tunic around each bulb should be intact. Avoid bulbs with green sprouts, as they may bloom poorly after being replanted.
Sort by Bloom Time
Tulips bloom early, mid and late season. For extended color, combine all three bloom times. Early tulips open in March and April. Midseason varieties bloom in April. Late tulips flower during May.
Consider Flower Form
Tulips come in many flower shapes. Single early tulips have a simple cupped shape. Double earlys have extra petals for a peony-like look. Parrot tulips have ragged, twisted petals in vivid colors. Fringed types have delicately cut flower edges.
When to Plant Tulip Bulbs for Spring Bloom
Once you’ve purchased bulbs, the next key timing decision is when to plant them. Tulips require a period of chill around 45°F for 12 to 16 weeks to bloom properly. This cold period tricks the bulb into thinking winter has passed Exact planting times vary by region
Planting Zone Guidelines:
- Zones 3-4: Late September to late October
- Zones 5-6: Early to mid October
- Zones 7-8: Late October to early November
- Zones 9-10: Mid November to early December
Ideally, plant bulbs 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes solid. This gives roots time to develop before winter dormancy. Avoid planting too late when the soil is frozen.
Preparing for Planting
Once you have your bulbs, prepare for planting with a little advance planning and supplies
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Pick a planting site with full sun to part shade exposure. Tulips thrive in areas receiving 6 hours of direct sun per day.
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Improve drainage by mixing in compost if needed. Good drainage prevents bulb rot.
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Have planting tools on hand Use a dibble, trowel or bulb planter to create perfect planting holes
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Buy bulb fertilizer and bone meal to work into the soil at planting time. This gives bulbs an extra nutrient boost.
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Select mulch that won’t compact, like pine needles. Mulching helps insulate bulbs through winter.
Caring for Tulips Through Seasons
Basic seasonal care keeps tulips thriving year after year.
Fall and Winter Care
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Water bulbs after planting if soil is dry. Continue watering until the ground freezes.
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Mulch over the bulbs after the ground cools but before it freezes solid. Remove mulch in spring once shoots emerge.
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Avoid too much nitrogen fertilizer in fall, which can lead to weak floppy stems and fewer flowers.
Spring Care for Best Bloom
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Set up supports or cages for tall and double-flower tulip varieties, which can flop over when in full bloom.
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Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Allow leaves to yellow and die back naturally.
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Stop watering after flowering finishes so bulbs can go dormant.
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Allow foliage to die back completely before tidying up beds. Food is transported back to the bulbs through the leaves and stems.
Digging and Storing Bulbs
Tulips are often treated as annuals, but they can be “recycled” by digging up the bulbs and storing them over summer for fall replanting.
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Let foliage die down 4 to 6 weeks after blooming finishes before digging bulbs.
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Shake off loose soil and allow bulbs to dry in indirect sunlight for 2 to 3 days.
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Wrap each bulb separately in breathable newspaper or mesh bags. Store in a cool, dry spot around 55°F.
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Check bulbs occasionally and discard any that show signs of rot or disease. Replant healthy bulbs in fall.
Planning an Eye-Catching Tulip Display
With smart planning and preparation, your tulips will reward you with drifts of colorful spring blossoms. Here are some tips for an impressive tulip show:
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For focal impact, plant bulbs in blocks and swaths rather than single bulbs scattered here and there.
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Combine early, mid and late blooming varieties for up to 6 weeks of color.
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Mix heights for dimension, pairing short varieties with tall types.
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Repeat colors across beds for a cohesive look. Include some white tulips to make other colors pop.
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Plant showy parrot or fringed tulips among plainer varieties for added interest.
By understanding the optimal timing for purchasing and planting tulip bulbs, you can easily create a stunning spring bulb display in your own garden. A little planning and preparation goes a long way when it comes to successfully growing these iconic flowers.
And finally…Roses are red, Tulips aren’t blue
As a little postscript, this is another trick to be aware of. We’ve all seen ads with pictures of rainbow roses, bright blue tulips, and other flowers that look real. The colors really stand out because they are so different from each other. Well, buyer beware, – there is no such thing as a true-blue tulip. Tulips come in pretty much every colour of the rainbow, except blue. You know to stay away from a supplier that sells tulips that look too blue to be real the next time you see them.
It’s simply not possible to have a ‘fresh’ tulip bulb in Springtime.
Garden centers, dealers, and websites that really know better take advantage of their customers and are happy to ignore the bulb’s important life cycle in order to make money. Unfortunately, not all home gardeners will know this. This means that summer bulbs that were not used are packed up and sold all year long, even though they have often been out of the ground for more than a year. Plants and flowers need water and food, and bulbs do too. But these bulbs are ignored and left to rot or grow mold inside. This happens worldwide – even in the world-renowned home of the tulip. This time of year, souvenir shops, market stalls, and flower shops in the Netherlands will probably all have “fresh” tulip bulbs for sale. But the same rule still stands: don’t buy any tulip bulbs between January and August, no matter how convincing the seller is or how appealing the packaging might be. These bulbs are likely to be sick and hungry, and they won’t bloom as promised. If you are in a garden center or flower shop and see a bunch of tulip bulbs that are marked as “fresh” but sold out because it is time to plant them in the fall, don’t give in to the urge to buy them. Instead of healthy, vibrant blooms, all that you are likely to grow is simply frustration and disappointment.
Even the most impatient gardener can still plan ahead. You just need to find a trustworthy supplier, such as dutchgrown. co. uk, and place your online orders early. Even though you won’t be able to hold the bulbs in your hands, you can be sure that the healthiest and freshest bulbs will be sent directly to your home at the best time for planting, and you will be sure to get the best and strongest blooms. Trust us, it’s certainly worth holding out for.
My 2023 Fall Bulb Order // Garden Answer
FAQ
What months can you get tulips?
What time of year should I buy bulbs?
How long do bulbs last unplanted?
When to plant tulip bulbs?
A: The correct answer on when to plant tulip bulbs depends on your USDA zone, though in most areas, set out tulips in autumn or early winter. Keep in mind that, if you plant them at the proper time, no growth will emerge from those bulbs until late winter or spring.
When do tulip bulbs Bloom?
Bloom season: Tulip bulbs are usually classified as early, mid, or late season. The exact bloom dates will differ based on your climate, but planting some of each gives you an extended display of beautiful spring flowers. Size: Tulip bulbs come in a variety of sizes. In general, larger bulbs produce larger plants and fetch a premium price.
When should I buy tulip bulbs?
To maximize bloom time, I purchase my tulip bulbs as soon as they are available for sale, which is typically in late summer or early fall. Buying them at this time ensures that I have a wide selection of varieties to choose from and that the bulbs are fresh and healthy.
Is December too late to plant tulip bulbs?
So, there we have it; depending on the weather, December isn’t too late to plant tulip bulbs – and, in fact, it’s better to get them in the ground late rather than hold onto them until the following year; bulbs don’t like sitting around.
How long do tulip flowers last?
Most tulip varieties only last for one year and bloom once. Therefore, many gardeners need to plant new bulbs every autumn, according to Ivanov. In other words, tulips are similar to annuals, and once they bloom, you can deadhead the flowers.
Are tulips easy to grow?
Whether you choose tulips with single or double flowers, fringed flowers, or even varieties that don’t look like typical tulips, these spring-blooming bulbs are easy to plant and grow. Autumn is the best time to plant tulips, but the arrival of that season varies significantly across the U.S.