How to Grow Tulips
One of the easiest spring bulbs to grow, tulips are a must in your cutting garden. There are so many unique varieties, it's hard not to plant all of them!
Materials
- Bulbs, see above for sources and varieties
- Soil Amendments*
- Shovel
- Compost
- Rake
Instructions
- Plant bulbs in the fall, after the ground has cooled, ideally 5-6 weeks before the ground freezes hard, typically September–December, depending on your Hardiness Zone.
- Choose a location with well-draining soil (pH 6.0–7.0) and full sun. If you haven’t already, prepare soil with amendments/compost based on soil needs.*
- Dig a trench or the planting area 6–8 inches deep.
- Optional, spread compost in the trench/hole to promote root and plant growth.
- If planting for landscape, plant bulbs pointy-side up 1–6" apart.
- If planting for cut flower production, plant bulbs pointy side up close together, but not touching, like eggs in a carton.
- Backfill with soil and mulch with additional compost, if desired.
- Water in deeply at planting, but after that, rainfall should be adequate through spring.
- Tulips will bloom the following spring.
Notes
*We suggest amending your soil based on your individual soil’s unique needs. If you’d like to see exactly how we amend/fertilize our soil organically (and how you can too), grab our free guide by scrolling to the top of this blog post and sign up. It has lists and links to exact products.
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