Spring Tulips

Did you plant them too early? DH says that is the reason ours had not flowered. He usually plants tulips towards the end of November. Last year he planted the pots up in September.

I couldn’t get the colour I wanted at the garden centre, so I got some dark purple ones from B&M last autumn. They came up blind, although they were planted in the same pot with orange and red ones (I was trying to do my own version of a Sarah Raven mixed pot). I thought at the time I planted them that they looked a bit smaller than the others, so I wonder if bulb maturity/quality has something to do with it?

I might have planted them early … I’ll try again but wait until November.

Thanks

This reminds me of my first attempt at planting bulbs at school when I was 6 years old. We all brought a bulb in and a pot and compost and under the supervision of the teacher we each planted our bulbs and watched as they broke earth and grew and eventually flowered. Apart from mine that is which was the only one in the class not to flower looking very sad next to glorious daffodils, hyacinths and more successful tulips. Dented my confidence to be able to grow things for many years but overcame it when I acquired my first garden thirty years later. My philosophy towards gardening is most certainly a "some you win and some you lose."

Possibly planted a bit shallow? Give it another go this year. I plant bulbs in layers tulips, daffs and crocus to give a succession of flowers over a few months.

They do need to be deep. Monty says 3½ times the bulb size. Some folk tidy them up & keep in the ground, some take out & replant elsewhere straight away, so not sure if planting in Autumn/Winter makes a difference really. I planted tulips late Autumn lasagne style in pots. Never again! They are lovely at the time but go so scruffy when done, and you need to wait till all foliage has died for the bulbs to regrow.

i was thinking when I read your post that my reply would be that tulips are very 'hit or miss'.
After reading the posts I can see that is indeed the case.
In my garden I have some cream coloured bulbs which appear year after year. If I remember correctly they were from Dobbies garden centre.
Yet my daughter brought really fancy bulbs (15) back from Amsterdam and only 2 flowered yet all had the same treatment.
It's gardening, give it a go.

I too plant Tulips in layers but deep into the pots about October. Always get a fab display.
I never have luck with Daffodils, so only plant the miniature ones.

I have a surprisingly wonderful display of tulips on a south facing wall.I dead head immediately after flowering,then leave the leaves and stems to die off.I feel impatient during this time as I want to tidy the border . I treat them abysmally yet they
always look beautiful.

I usually remove the bulbs from the pots once the leaves have died down. Store them then repot in fresh compost late October. Been lucky so far. I don’t disturb those planted in the ground. Farmer Gracy have some wonderful varieties and their packaging is impressive

I was sent a nox of tulips from Bloominwild with bulbs attached..we planted the bulbs in 2 pots 2 years ago and so far have had 1 single tulip I live in hope🙂

Tulips are a bit temperament, and deffo d are the last bulbs to be planted and not before November. Taylors of Spalding are very good and reliable once established they come back each year but their 'strenght'tend to tail off after a few years. Keep trying as they are so rewarding!

Once the leaves of the tulips are totally brown & dead, cut them off, then feed remaining bulbs with a high potash fertiliser and mulch. This was what I’ve been told, so will see what happens. 🤞

Here’s the RHS guide to which tulips are more likely to flower every year, I can vouch for Negrita because I have it, but I’m planning to look up the guide on my phone this year when I’m buying, as so many only flower for one or two years.
www.rhs.org.uk/plants/tulip/longer-lasting

Leave mine in some years fab some years doubtful. This year fab!

Where I live, we call tulips deer treats. Luckily they won’t touch narcissus (toxic), and also seem not tempted by crocus or snowdrops. Most of my planting decisions are down to what the wildlife, which I love, won’t devour!

ellypat how lovely! I’d take wildlife any day.

I never have trouble with tulips - always in pots and throw away after they’ve flowered. I don’t have room to put any more in the garden, and they do tend to smother the perennials with their leaves.

I do love tulips though and their huge colour range - always so welcome after winter.

I also recommend farmer gracey tulips mine come up year after year such beautiful varieties although those dam cats like to dig them up!!

It happens .

Due to :

Poor quality bulbs to begin with - certainly not your fault !
Planted in soil , which is too shallow , spent or dry .
Planted out too late .
Planted in soggy soil and the bulb has rotted .

Some hybrids ie : Parrots are very touchy .

Try Darwini from a good source in well drained , fresh compost and a slow release fertiliser - Vitax Q4 is my tried and tested one !