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Frost damage or tulip fire?

BlueBirderBlueBirder Posts: 212
in Problem solving
I'm a total bulb newbie. Last year bought tulip bulbs from Crocus and planted lasagne style in November with some other bulbs. I used freshly opened compost mixed with perlite in new containers. The containers went outside when planted up and things have started growing. The tulip shoots look poorly and I'm worried it's due to a virus. We have had some cold snaps since they appeared including some frosts. I covered them in the worst of the wet over winter. 

Any thoughts much appreciated!


Posts

  • SlumSlum Posts: 385
    My guess is slug damage.
  • BlueBirderBlueBirder Posts: 212
    @Slum I hadn't even considered that! Do you mean slugs have damaged the bulb, or just the shoots? Slugs and snails are not (dare I say it in case I jinx it) really a big problem in this garden, apart from for some pansies and Campanula portenshlagiana which were absolutely demolished. 
  • SlumSlum Posts: 385
    Munching on the tasty new shoots. Muntjacs have taken the entire tops off some of mine that are in pots. 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Does not look like any pictures of Tulip fire that I have seen.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    Thanks for posting this.
    I posted about something similar earlier and I also didn't even consider slug damage.

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    By planting in November, using fresh compost, new pots and buying from a reputable supplier you've done everything you could to avoid tulip fire.  I also think slug or snail damage - tulip shoots may be softer or tastier than iris shoots!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree. Tulips like drier conditions too, so if you can keep them a bit more sheltered from the worst of winter weather, that can help enormously.
    Too late for yours unfortunately, but worth bearing in mind for future years. 

    Frost isn't a problem for them, it's wet, cold conditions they don't like. Slugs, sadly, like wet stuff  :|
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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