Grow Tulips in a Few Simple Steps
You plant tulips as bulbs, and they reward you with spring flowers in dazzling colours and flower shapes.1 They are easy to grow in borders and pots.1
Tulip bulbs are planted in autumn. Plant your bulbs in autumn.1
What You Are Planting
A bulb is a fleshy, rounded, underground storage organ.1 Bulbs are usually sold and planted while dormant, which simply means resting.1
Examples of bulbs include daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic. Daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic count as bulbs too.1
The botanical name for tulips, which is their scientific name, is Tulipa.1 Their flowers are cup-shaped with attractive centres.1
Where to Put Your Bulbs
Give your tulips a spot in full sun.1 Some types tolerate light shade.1
Nutrient-rich, free-draining soil is best, meaning soil that feeds the plant and lets water drain away.1
Borders and containers both work well. Grow them in borders and containers before summer flowers appear.1
When to Plant and When to Expect Flowers
Plant in autumn, then wait for mid to late spring, when most tulips flower.1 The bulbs go in months before you see any colour, so a little patience pays off.1
Choosing Which Kind to Grow
Specialist tulips, which are closely related to wild species, often multiply in gardens.1 They are also likely to reflower, meaning they flower again in later years.1
If you want the best displays, replace your tulip bulbs annually.1 That is a simple way to keep borders and pots looking their best each spring.1
Quick Checklist
- Buy bulbs that suit your plan, and plant them in autumn.1
- Choose full sun, or light shade for types that tolerate it.1
- Use nutrient-rich, free-draining soil.1
- Plant in borders or containers before summer flowers appear.1
- Replace bulbs annually for the best displays, or try specialist tulips that often multiply.1