Tulipa - Tulip - Kees Nelis

Family: Liliaceae

Common Name(s): Tulip 

Native to: Europe, north Africa, Asia

Flowering: Late Winter to Mid Spring

Watering: Water in the bulbs after planting, and only water again if winter rainfalls are inadequate.

Planting Aspect: Full Sun, Part Shade

Preferred Climate:

 

Temperate

Description

Tulips are a colourful and easy to grow spring flowering bulb that can be grown in pots, terrace planters and most garden locations around Australia. For regular and yearly no fuss flowering success, Tulips prefer climates with moist, cool soil in autumn; cool to cold temperature during winter; a slow, warming period in spring and gradual, dry warming summer. This all helps to build up their condition for summer dormancy and regrowth in autumn.

They can then grow undisturbed in the garden or container for many years. If the home gardener is fortunate to live in a location where these most important conditions can be met, they can generally be assured of repeat flowering each year without great toil.

In general, depending on your home environment and climatic location, you have a choice of 3 methods to growing Tulips successfully.

1. Cold winter location: Have the above conditions – too easy!
2. Temperate winter location: Gently dig the bulbs up in early summer; store them in paper bags in a dry, airy place; precool them in a fridge vege crisper for about 6 weeks in early autumn and then plant them out again thereafter.
3. Warm to Hot winter locations with frost free climates: Regard them as Annuals; purchase new stock each year, refrigerate and plant as above.

Normal season flowering is from August to October with flowers growing to a height of 30-40 cm.

Cultivation

Soil should be free draining and prepared with well-decayed cow manure or blood and bone prior to planting. Plant the bulbs from March onwards in cool climate areas and as late as June in the warmer ones in a sunny, open position with some protection from wind. Be sure to plant the bulbs at least 13 to 15cm deep and 10 to 15cm apart. Water in the bulbs after planting, and only water again if winter rainfalls are inadequate. The bulbs should not be allowed to dry out nor over watered to sit in very wet soil during continuous hot days in spring.

Apply a general top dressing fertilizer as soon as foliage emerges in spring and continue to water until the leaves begin to turn yellow. Feel free to remove the spent flower heads but be sure to leave the stems and leaves attached to the bulb. Protect them from aphids, snails and slugs.