Simple Growing Guide: How To Grow Tulips?

The Tulip is one of the world's most iconic flowering plants. Tulip flowers have a simple, elegant beauty that has been attracting gardeners for hundreds of years. Fortunately, you don't need to have green fingers to create a stunning display. Follow this simple growing guide, and you'll be rewarded with fabulous blooms.

Quick Guide:

• Planting season: Fall (October through November)

• Blooming season: Spring

• Place: Sunny spot with a little bit of shade

• Soil: Well-drained soil

• Water: Water well once to settle it in. Only water when there’s been no rain for a period of 3–5 days

Tulips: The Diamonds Of The Netherlands

The Tulip season in the Netherlands is a breathtaking spectacle that attracts over a million visitors worldwide. In the 17th century, a Tulip bulb was worth more than a diamond. You could say that Tulips were the diamonds of the Netherlands in those days. Today, there are over 3,000 registered Tulip varieties and 150 different species.

When To Plant Tulip Bulbs?

You may be wondering: What is the best month to plant Tulips? We can say that if you need to wear a warm coat during the day, it's time to plant your Tulip bulbs. But the weather can be unpredictable. So, as soon as you feel the first chill in the air, around 60ºF (15°C), it's time to plant, usually in October or November. Tulips need a cold period to develop their roots and prepare for spring.

Do you live in USDA Hardiness Zone 9 or higher? The soil won't get cold enough for root development, but you might consider forcing.

Tip: You can have Tulips blooming from early to late spring by planting varieties with different flowering times.

How To Store Tulip Bulbs?

Has your package of DutchGrown Tulips arrived, but you can’t plant them immediately? No worries, our Tulip bulbs can be stored safely for a long time. But you need to store Tulip bulbs correctly. Unpack the bulbs and store them in a dry, well-ventilated place. A temperature of about 40–70ºF (4-21°C) is perfect. Ensure planting takes place before the ground freezes.

Where To Plant Tulip Bulbs?

Tulips prefer sunny spots with a little shade to get enough sunlight to grow. What they don't like is wet soil or soggy soil. Bulbs that “bathe” in water will rot quickly, so ensure your soil is well-drained. Is the soil most likely to be too wet? Improve it by adding organic matter such as peat, bark, or manure. If you are planting bulbs in pots or containers, ensure they have drainage holes in the bottom.

How Deep Do You Plant Tulip Bulbs?

Tulips need to be planted deep enough. The standard method for calculating the ideal planting depth is to dig a hole three times as deep as the bulb is high and place the bulb on the bottom with its pointy end up. The planting depth for Tulip bulbs is approximately 5-7 inches (12-18 cm), with a space of 4-5 inches (10-13 cm) between each bulb.

Read more: How Deep Do You Plant Tulip Bulbs?

How To Plant Tulip Bulbs?

Tulips in the garden

1. Wait until the ground is 60ºF (15°C) or colder. This is in September or October in the northern US and in October or November in the southern US.

2. Pick a spot in your garden that has well-draining soil and receives full sun or partial shade.

3. Plant the Tulip bulbs about 5–7 inches (12-18 cm) deep and 4–5 inches (10-13 cm) apart, placing them in the ground with their pointy ends up.

4. Water well once and wait for the spring.

Tulips in pots or containers

1. Wait until the soil is 60ºF (15°C) or colder. This is in September or October in the northern US and in October or November in the southern US.

2. Pick a spot in your garden that receives full sun or partial shade.

3. Find a well-draining container or pot with holes in the bottom and fill it with loose soil.

4. Plant the Tulip bulbs about 5–7 inches (12-18 cm) deep and 3–4 inches (7-10 cm) apart, with their pointy ends up. Make sure they never touch.

5. Water well once and wait for the spring.

Containers can’t protect potted Tulips as well as Mother Earth can. Do you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7? Let your containers spend the winter indoors to protect the bulbs. A dark, well-aired basement or garage with a temperature of no more than 60ºF (15°C) is best.

Read more: How To Plant Tulip Bulbs In Pots?

How To Grow Tulips For Cutting?

Do you want to bring some color into your house during spring? You can grow Tulips for cutting. Follow these steps:

1. Dig a long, 3-foot-wide (91 cm) trench and 6 inches (15 cm) deep and rake in some organic fertilizer.

2. Place the bulbs close together with the pointed ends facing up. Make sure they don't touch each other.

3. Give them plenty of water and fill the trench at least halfway to encourage an extra-large root system, resulting in larger flowers.

4. Fill the trench back up with soil, but put in irrigation lines so you can water them deeply a few more times throughout the winter.

5. In the spring, cut the Tulips as the buds start to color but haven’t yet opened to guarantee a longer vase life. Tulips can grow even longer. To prevent your carefully arranged bouquet from drooping, tuck the flowers in a little deeper than usual.

How To Take Care Of Tulip Bulbs During Their Growth?

Tulips don't like too much water. As soon as you see green leaves and buds emerging from the soil, water only if it hasn't rained in 3–5 days. This applies to the whole growing season. In general, rainfall is more than enough water for Tulips. You can find more tips in our article about how to take care of Tulips.

How To Take Care Of Tulip Bulbs After Blooming?

Tulips are technically perennials, but many gardeners treat them as annuals because our gardens rarely provide the harsh and often dry conditions they prefer. They return only when the weather conditions are perfect: a cold climate with little rain. If you want to save Tulip bulbs for next season, consider planting Darwin Hybrid Tulips. DutchGrown has a beautiful collection of Darwin Hybrid bulbs.

Once your Darwin Hybrids have finished their blooming period, you can deadhead Tulips. Remove the spent flowers, but don’t remove the leaves! Tulips need their foliage to gather nutrients to store back in the bulb. When the foliage turns yellow and dies back, you can deadhead. At this point, stop watering to allow the bulbs to rest.

Read more: What to Do With Tulips After They Bloom?

Explore High-Quality Tulip Bulbs At DutchGrown

At DutchGrown, you will find high-quality Tulip bulbs in top sizes to ensure optimum performance. You will find many unique Tulip varieties and carefully curated collections. Discover the Tulip collection now and plant your new bulbs in the fall for a colorful spring garden. We ship from Holland to all over the US.