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Tulips - Spring Flowers
This archived discussion is "read only".
» _Boanerges_ - Tulips Hi Traute......Hey, I was wondering about Tulips?.. I had planted some last year but they did not come up. Now I cannot remember where I planted them! (next time I guess I should make a Tulip map - lol) I was wondering what your thoughts are about planting these wonderful flowers. Do we wait until late fall, or are there certain tricks to follow. Should I dig them up every year, like Cannas(?)(tall plants with red or yellow flower).. My neighbor (an older women in her 90's) told me I can dig up her Tulips and plant them in my yard. But they did not come up. I think maybe that one of the problems was that I planted them in the summer. Any help would be great! Maybe next year I can take some pics for you, so you may see my progress from an old front yard - to 'blooming madness' (smile).... __W -- posted by _Boanerges_ » biogardener - Timing Yes, Wendell, timing is important with planting flowering spring bulbs. The later in the autumn you plant them, the better. I have planted mine as late as after the first snow. Here is the reason:If the soil is still warm, the bulbs get fooled into thinking that it is spring, and they start sprouting. Then, when the big frost comes, those tender new sprouts get killed off. The later in the spring the bulbs decide to sprout, the better. That is why you should not plant bulbs within a couple of meters of the house foundation where the soil is warmed by the heat from the building. If you are living where it gets really hot in the summer, as I am in the prairies, then you also need to provide cool shade for the bulbs in the summer after they bloom. My perfect spots for bulbs are on the south side of the house but on the north side of a lilac hedge or under trees which have no leaves in the spring during bloom time but provide cool shade in the summer while the old bulb dies and a new bulb or two form in its place. Tell me in which growing zone you live and what type of soil you have, and I will give you some more hints. Here is a map of US growing zones, so you can look up your zone. -- posted by biogardener » _Boanerges_ - Re: Timing In response to Timing posted by biogardener:Thanks Traute.. This is very helpful information. I appreciate you taking the time with this!.. I am in the 5b zone... Also, should I dig up those Tulips that did not bloom and wait until the fall to plant them?.. -- posted by _Boanerges_ » biogardener - No, don't bother. No, Wendell. Don't touch them now.First of all, did they sprout at all? Did they just produce leaves or did nothing come up. If nothing came up at all, then they sprouted before freeze-up and got killed in the frost. That would be the end of them and you would need to plant new ones in autumn. I always wait till really late when they get sold for half price. That is the best time to plant them. If just leaves came up, then they need fertilizing to gain strength for the next season. Here is what I do: I get pigeon manure which I spread on top of the dry leaves which I put over them after planting. The plants grow right through them. Then during the summer, I spread grass clippings on them to make sure the ground is never exposed. So the first question is: Did anything come up at all? Also, what type of soil do you have? -- posted by biogardener » aspenbloom - Re: No, don't bother. In response to No, don't bother. posted by biogardener:Hi Traute, In fragrant wellness, -- posted by aspenbloom » _Boanerges_ - Re: No, don't bother. In response to No, don't bother. posted by biogardener:okie... last year, I took some from the yard across the street and planted them around late summer. This year none of them came up. One did.. It had only one leave pop out of the ground. Looks kinda strange. I planted two this spring from the same yard. I dug them up before they bloomed and transplanted them to my yard. They did bloom but they soon died. My soil is pretty good, dark and not many clumps... Probably what I outta do is buy some new bulbs? -- posted by _Boanerges_
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