Tulips are my favourite springtime flower. They were one of the first things I whacked into my raised beds and I’ve just loved seeing them come up year after year, multiplying and slowly changing colour as the pollinators jump from each of them throughout their season.
Tulips are super easy. Here’s what I’ve found they like:
GOOD DRAINAGE
essentially, this means preparing the bed or pot before planting out the bulbs. If you’re growing in a pot, add a level of rocks or broken up pots to the bottom first and then top up with compost. If planting in a bed, dig in a good amount of organic matter such as manure, compost or a soil improver which will ensure a good soil consistency and good drainage. Easy.
A LIQUID SEAWEED FEED
I love liquid seaweed for tulips, and they seem happy with it too. When you see the buds appear, give them a feed to help them to flower well and for as long as possible. Then once they lose their flower heads, feed them again to feed the bulb for next year.
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
Chop off their heads!! Underneath the flower will be a hard, round bulge. It’s a seed head. Chop it off so that the energy goes into the bulb and not into making seeds. Also, allow the green foliage (stem and leaves) to die back naturally. This also helps to feel the bulb for the next year. (Also means one less gardening job for you!)
PROTECT FROM SQUIRRELS AND SLUGS
For squirrels, I usually cover newly planted bulbs with chicken wire. This tends to put them off. Slugs and snails don’t tend to bother my tulips, but it doesn’t hurt to throw down some wool pellets or even a couple of beer traps if you’re brave enough!
By following these, very limited but effective rules, I’ve managed to keep my tulips coming for the past 3 years without planting a single extra bulb!
Always remember, plants want to grow. It’s their favourite thing to do. So anything that we, as humans can do to help them, will just make them grow that little bit stronger!
