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Fall is here and it's time to start planting spring bulbs. One of the most rewarding kind of bulb to grow is the tulip. They bloom early, and with proper bulb selection, will continue to bloom all spring. Although we associate tulips with Holland, they really originated from Persia; in fact, the name tulip means helmet in Persian and refers to the shape of the flower. Tulips are available in numerous colors, sizes, and shapes, and best of all, they are really easy to grow.
Step 1:

Decide where you want to plant your tulips and how you want your flowerbed to look. Now is the time to be creative! Tulips look best when planted in clusters of 5-10 rather than in a straight line. They come in a huge selection of colors including red, yellow, pink, black, purple, white, orange, and multicolored. Tulips can be early, mid season, or late season bloomers. They can also be short (less than 8"), medium (8"-18"), or tall (over 18"). Take all of this into consideration when planting your garden and before you buy your bulbs.

Step 2:

Buying high quality bulbs is very important. As a general rule, the larger the bulb, the bigger the flower will be. Avoid bulbs that look shriveled, dried out, or have mold or cuts. If you are not going to plant your bulbs immediately after purchase, store them in a cool dry location. Do not store them in the house or in a heated garage.

Step 3:

Once you have chosen your location and purchased your bulbs, prepare the soil by removing rocks and weeds, breaking up clumps of soil, and adding special tulip fertilizer and bone meal. If you do this, your bulbs will last longer and your flowers will be more beautiful. As long as you can dig a hole in the ground, you can continue to plant bulbs. The soil should be about 60 degrees, 6"-8" down.

Step 4:

Plant the bulbs 6"-8" deep with pointed end up; this should be 3-4 times as deep as the bulb is wide. There should be 4"-6" of soil covering the top of the bulb. Plant your bulbs at the same depth if you want them to bloom at the same time. Plant the bulbs 4"-6" apart in clusters of 5-10. Firm the soil and water well. In extremely cold climates, cover your bulbs with mulch.

Step 5:

If you are worried about squirrels or other animals eating your tulip bulbs, plant narcissus bulbs in between. They will keep the little pests away.

Next spring, send a picture of your tulip garden to judy@foliageunlimited.net and I'll publish it on my web site: www.foliageunlimited.net. The person with the most spectacular tulips, as decided by our site visitors, will receive a special plant as a prize from Foliage Unlimited.
About this Author:
Judy Feldstein founded Foliage Unlimited Inc, one of the largest interior plant maintenance companies in Arizona, in 1976. For more information about the care and selection of  house plants, plants that clean the air, or selecting the right plants for your office, home, or business go to: www.foliageunlimited.net or contact Judy directly (judy@foliageunlimited.net).
View more information and all guides by Judy Feldstein

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