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Finished Tulips

widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
in Plants
Have this tub of tulips that are almost finished, what is the best thing to do with them now, would like to put some other plants in this tub as soon as possible, thank you
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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    You can lift them and heel them in in the veg patch or part of the flower garden, and leave to die down naturally. Sometimes they will come back next year, but for tubs I find they only really last a year. If you want to use the pot now, you could just accept that you have this years enjoyment out of a bag of bulbs, and get a new bag to plant in the autumn.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Plant them out deep in open ground and they have a chance of returning.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I'd put them in the ground somewhere where they aren't going to be disturbed - you can give them a feed but then leave them alone.
    Basic Tulips will flower for years if allowed - some species are more faddy than others and will need replacing after a couple of years.
    As with other plants, we are encouraged to discard and buy new every year.  It isn't always necessary - except to the bulb suppliers ;)
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    Thanks for all your help, think I will put them in a spare bed and see what happens next year, thanks for your advice 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Snap the heads off first,do they don't waste energy going to seed
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    Thanks I did wonder about the heads, was going to cut the stems off, or is it just the dead heads
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Just take the heads off and leave the stems, it all helps to feed the bulb while its dying down.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    Thanks for that info,
  • Dinnerplatedahlias🌸Dinnerplatedahlias🌸 Posts: 99
    I’m short on space so I popped mine into pots and stuck them round the side of the house to die back naturally then at some point in the summer I cut away all the yellow foliage and store the bulbs in a cardboard box in the garage. Done it a couple years now and I’ve had great success. 
    If you’ve over winter dahlias before it’s a similar process. 
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    That's a good idea, thanks for that
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