Forum home› The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Liquid Feed for spring flowering bulbs

mrsforgetfulmrsforgetful Posts: 2
in The potting shed
What type of liquid feed should a be using on my tulips and daffodil bulbs to help build them up for next year?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    A bit of tomato food or liquid seaweed will do the job. I only do mine once, when the foliage is on the way out, and I can't say I've noticed one being better than the other. Most tulips will dimish over time though, unless they're the species kind which will increase instead. 

    I should add that I only use it on the ones in pots. The ones in the ground get nothing apart from a share of some B,F&B when other planting gets it, and some compost added now and again in the borders.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • mrsforgetfulmrsforgetful Posts: 2

    I've grown tomatoes and wondered if I could use that liquid feed. So, thanks for the info.

    B, F&B = blood, fish and bone I'm thinking.

    Thanks for the help.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sorry - yes, BF&B is blood, fish and bone :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BerkleyBerkley Posts: 431
    What do you do with the tulips in pots, once they have died back completely? I have several pots with species tulips in and a few more with tulips Ballerina and Spring Green.
  • Logan4Logan4 Posts: 2,590
    Berkley said:
    What do you do with the tulips in pots, once they have died back completely? I have several pots with species tulips in and a few more with tulips Ballerina and Spring Green.
    I always take them out and store them in a cool dry place, I put mine in the garage and label  them,Then i can use the pots for the summer.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Species tulips are different from the other types you have. They will increase over the years, while the others will diminish, so bear that in mind.
    I never take the other tulips out of their pots, as they don't last more than a few years anyway. 
    Refresh the soil/compost you have in the pots of species ones to keep them healthy, and tuck them somewhere for the rest of the year. Water them now and again so that they don't get dehydrated.
    You can also give them a liquid feed as they die back, just to give them a boost. Tomato food is ideal. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GWRSGWRS Posts: 8,478
    Fairygirl , didn’t realise that about Tulips 🌷 
    Got some in pots , there second year and didn’t do as well , not sure what to do with them at moment , might put them in allotment and see what happens ? 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @GWRS , most ordinary tulips in pots don't do as well their second year, (not sure why not) so are best planted deeply in ordinary soil - your allotment should be fine and you could then use them for cut flowers.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I can't really plant tulips to any depth here, the soil isn't suitable. Even in the best draining border it's too wet and claggy. After a pot display, I sometimes plant a few in there, and I get one or two coming back for a year or two.
    They need really sharp drainage, and the right climate to do well for longer. We can't really replicate their natural environment easily in the UK, as they originate from Asia/Turkey.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.