How to Plant Tulips in 6 Easy Steps

There is a plethora of articles on this topic, so, I have decided to refrain repetition as much as possible, and offer direct suggestions that people commonly overlook while planting tulips. This article will serve a good guide for amateurs. I have used unanswered questions from discrete chat forums to give-out a meaningful article, which I hope, shall help respond your questions too.

Step 1: recognize your climate Zone.

To plant Tulips, it is imperative that you understand the climate zone you are in. For this, there are approved Usda climate Hardiness Zones defined & advanced by the United States division of Agriculture (Usda) and have subsequently been adopted elsewhere. The first step is to locate your zone, which you can do here -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone. Next, here is a general idea on When to plant tulips based on your climate zone:

For Zones 4 and 5: September or Early October.
For Zones 6 and 7: October to early November.
For Zones 8 and 9: November to early December.
For Zone 10: Late December to early January.

For zones 8 through 10, it is always a good idea to refrigerate tulip bulbs for six to eight weeks before planting. (more of it in the arrival steps).

Step 2: rule which Tulips you wish to grow.

Choosing which Tulips to grow is dependent on where you live (Check your zone), where you're planting (again dependent on zone), and the desired effect.

Two of the base ways to group tulips is by bloom time and flower height. Select varieties with different flowering times to increase the bloom season.

Since this article is about "How to" plant tulips and not about "Which" Tulips to plant, use your best judgment and your preferences to Select the Tulip Varieties.

Step 3: Select the right Tulip Bulbs for plantation.

Choosing the right Tulip Bulbs that won't disappoint you is a bit of technical part but with care, even amateurs can Select the right ones.

All you need to do is to take care that the Bulbs are large in size, with no cracks or signs of rotting on the covering of the bulb. The larger the bulb size, the bigger and best the flower you'll get

Choose only bulbs that are firm and free of defects such as cuts, bruises, or mold. If you are buying later in the season, be wary of store-bought bulbs. It is recommended that your buying decision should be based upon collection or species name, not color. "Yellow tulips" for instance, can mean different kinds of varying performance. Or you may get a composition of colors.

Also note, sometimes you may notice an amber gel-like substance called gummosis gift on Tulip bulbs. It is not harmful, so as to influence the bulbs' performance. So don't worry about it.

Step 4: choosing the right place to plant & setting the Soil to plant tulips.

Tulips grow best in full sun. These plants prefer a sandy soil which is well drained. Ensure that water does not collect and the place is not prone to late frosts.

A soil 6 inches deep with 60 degrees Fahrenheit or colder is best marvelous for planting tulips.

You need the following to plant tulips:

- Bulbs
- Trowel
- Shovel
- Bulb Fertilizer
- Mulch

Using your shovel, unearth soil upto 6 inches and create a level base.
If the soil is light or sandy dig 2 more inches. Now, using a Trowel, plant tulip bulbs, one by one with pointed end facing upwards. Space individual bulbs about 4-5 inches apart. Larger bulbs to be spaced more (5-6 inches), than the smaller bulbs (2-3 inches). Most importantly, plant them so the flower part is facing the sun.

You need to note that Bulbs are food sources for the flower and they begin growing in the wrong direction if facing the wrong direction. Needless to say here, that they would use up principal energy and food trying to find the sun.

Step 5: Add Fertilizer and Cover up

Fertilizer for Tulips is nothing but Compost, peat moss, bone meal. These are used for promoting the growth. If you are using a low-nitrogen granular fertilizer specially formulated for bulbs, ensue label directions about the whole to apply.

Firm soil with the shovel and water thoroughly.

Step 6: further Care

Apply straw mulch about a month after planting. This gives the bulbs time to begin growth before the soil freezes solidly.

More Things to note:

- Do not water Tulip beds, as most varieties prefer to stay dry in summer, and keep beds weeded. Do not remove foliage until it has yellowed completely.

- Watch out for aphid infestations often identified by streaking of flowers, aphids can render permanent damage to tulips and can spread throughout whole bed. Pluck off any infected tulips.

- Cut off blooms before or as soon as they begin to fade to ensure salutary growth next season.

- If you are trying to ice tulip bulbs before planting, place them in a paper bag away from ripening fruits (the fruits produce ethylene gas, which destroys the flower bud within the bulb).