When to Plant Tulip Bulbs?

Plant tulips in fall when temperatures are in the 60's or lower during the day.

Tulips require 12-16 weeks of consistently cold temperatures (50's during the day or lower) in order to produce a flower bud in spring.

How to Plant Tulip Bulbs?

Plant tulip bulbs in well drained soil. Tulips do not like wet soil, if water pools in the area they are planted add compost to help improve drainage.

Plant tulip bulbs 6-8" deep. The pointed end of the bulb should be facing the sky.

Place the soil that was removed from the planting hole over the tulips. Water the bulbs in after the initial planting. Avoid watering after the planting as they prefer to be dry in winter.

Bouquet Planting Tulips

For a full bouquet appearance plant 5 bulbs per one 10-12" wide planting hole. The bulbs can be planted 1-2" from each other in this larger hole.

Planting Tulips in Pots

Tulips can be planted in pots in temperate climates that do not experience many freeze and thaw cycles. If tulips are planted in pots in above ground containers in a climate that has varying winter temperatures the pots will need to be insulated to protect the bulbs from the effects of the freezing and thawing that may occur.

What to do when your tulips are done blooming?

The flower stems can be removed once the blooms have faded. Keep the leaves intact until they yellow, wither and can easily be removed from the soil. The leaves gather energy from the sun after the blooms fade to provide energy for the next seasons blooms. If possible, keep the bulbs dry during summer, as they prefer dry conditions when dormant.

When to plant Allium bulbs?

Allium bulb should be planted in fall when daytime temperatures have cooled for the season, but before the ground is frozen for winter.

How to plant Allium bulbs?

Planting depth varies based on each different type of allium. Allium aflutenense should be planted 4-5” deep with spacing of 4-5”. Allium often have a pointed end, that is the side of the bulb that should be planted facing up. If you are not able to tell which side of the Allium bulb is facing up, look for small thin dried roots on one end, that is the bottom of the bulb and should be touching the ground when planted.

Where to plant Allium bulbs?

Allium bulbs grow in hardiness zones 4-9 making them some of the most versatile bulbs for fall planting. Plant Allium bulbs in soil that drains well, they do not like sitting in wet soil over winter. Tall varieties of Allium should be planted in the back of the perennial border or mixed in as accents with shorter bulbs and perennials.

What are good companion plants for Allium?

Peonies, Bearded Iris, and Oriental Poppies bloom at the same time as Allium. These perennials and bulbs make excellent companions for allium to increase color and texture in the garden.

What to do with Alliums after flowering?

Allium flowers will remain in your garden as dried flowers for a few weeks after blooming. Once the stems begin to fade you may remove them from the garden and discard them. To really extend the life of the faded Allium flowers try spray painting Allium flowers and add them to indoor dried flower arrangements.