If you miss the fall planting windowpane , here ’s how to set tulip in spring so you could enjoy their flowers .
Nathan Kirkman
You forgot to plant that sackful of tulip bulbs you bought last fall and wonder whether you could plant tulips in the spring . Whilespring - blooming bulbs are typically planted in the fallfor a rationality , that does n’t mean it ’s too late to get your tulip electric light constitute if you missed the ideal window . see out how to plant tulip in spring so they ’ll still bloom for you .
Credit:Nathan Kirkman
Why Plant Tulips in Fall
Like many other bulbs , includingdaffodils , crocus , andgarlic , tulips require a menstruum of cold scream vernalization . These plants require a sure amount of exposure to cold temperatures to trigger the shaping of features like flowers and medulla . Without vernalization , your tulips will grow but not belike salad days . You ’ll get a vegetative tulip this year — all leaf and no flowers . However , they will likely bloom the next year after they have a luck to vernalize over the winter .
For gardeners in cool climates , planting tulip in the falltakes advantage of natural condition to provide the 10 - 14 workweek of inhuman temperatures tulip need to bring on flowers . gardener in locations without stale winter need to corrupt chilled bulbs or chill them in the refrigerator .
Tips for Planting Tulips in the Spring
So , can youplant tulipsin the spring ? The quick response is that it depends . All is not drop off if you miss the fall planting window . Do n’t give up those bulbs , particularly if you spend serious John Cash ondesigner tulips . Here are a few thing to try .
Plant Early
If you have a handbag or two of bulbs left from fall sit around , you may be able to plant them now , depending on your climate . Some areas take in cool temperature over wintertime , but the ground does n’t freeze or only freeze in a thin layer .
If that ’s you , get out there and get those bulbs in the dirt — the to begin with , the better . While this is more of awinter plantingthan a springtime activeness , it may yield a few blooms . Take reward of a midwinter thaw to get those tulip in the background .
Buy Pre-Chilled Bulbs
look for for pre - chilled tulip bulbs online , and you ’ll discover plenty of selections . If you do n’t already have bulbs sitting around , this is the way to go . Knowing that many gardeners love tulips but do n’t live inareas with the necessary cold temperature , many supplier chill bulbs in coolers and send them in time for late wintertime planting .
Even if you do n’t live in a lovesome locus , you may take advantage of this and order pre - chilled lightbulb . Once they come , plant them forthwith or lay in them in a cool — but not freezing — location until quick to plant . These bulbs are often sold as “ ready for forcing , ” but they ’ll work okay if imbed outside instead .
Chill Tulip Bulbs Yourself
If you havespace in your refrigerator , you could mime the natural vernalization process . put the tulip bulbs in the icebox in a brown paper bag or a mesh pocketbook like onions are sold in .
Do n’t cool electric light in the same refrigerator as your fruit and veggie . Many fruits and veg give off ethene flatulence as they ripen , which can damage tulip lightbulb . If you have a spare electric refrigerator in the service department or a mini - fridge in the lair , it might be just the ticket . An unheated garage that remains above freezing but below 45 ° fluorine can also puzzle out .
Plant Them Anyway
Tulip bulbs in otherwise skilful condition — not mushy or soft , not dry out and crispy — should still be establish . If they have n’t been sufficiently chill , they probably wo n’t flower in the springiness , but they will pullulate and make foliage , recharge the bulb for next year ’s blooming cycle .
This is a great way to take reward of clearance electric light on sale in spring at deep rebate . singular colour and varieties that sell for sky - high prices in fall are frequently sell for a Song dynasty in late winter to clear inventory . Go out front and grab that sale bag and found the electric-light bulb in the ground for next year .
If you wanttulips that render faithfully year after year , wait forspecies tulipsrather than intercrossed varieties . Species tulip may be less showy , but they be given to last longer .
Force Tulips Indoors
Tulip bulbs can also be forced , which mean flim-flam the electric-light bulb into growing and flowering when they otherwise would n’t . You still demand to corrupt pre - cool bulb , which you institute in containers . squeeze tulips and other bulb into other bloom indoors is a bang-up way to bring a little springtime cheer into your house , even if it look like a wintertime wonderland out of doors .
Frequently Asked Questions
If your tulip have already bloom and you want to move them to a Modern location in the garden , have the foliage conk out course before digging up the bulbs . Remove the juiceless foliage and store the electric-light bulb in a dark , dry home for the summertime . Plant them in the downslope for beautiful outpouring blooms .
When planting tulip bulbs , the “ Rule of 3 ” general recitation is to space them aside at a length that is three times the electric light diameter and bury them in the soil at a depth of three times the bulb altitude . However , tulip bulbs can be planted as much as 10 inches recondite in very cold area .
That ’s easy . Just about every tulip bulb has a pointy end ; implant the electric light with that ending up . If you run across a electric light without a pointy end , feel the bulb for a rough area indicating where the rootage will grow , and position it down when constitute .
