Tulip Bulbs

Pam100 · June 2023

I am selling my mum and dad’s house and I have dug up about 12 tulip bulbs that were of sentimental value to them. Any suggestions what I should do with them now? Plant them in my garden or leave them to dry out, store them and plant in November? Many thanks

Fairygirl · June 2023

Do you know what kind they are @Pam100?
Storing them can be quite difficult, but if they're species ones, you can just plant them - in the ground or pots, depending on whether you have a suitable site for them.

Pam100 · June 2023

Hi fairygirl. I have no idea what kind they are. The story my parents were in Kew Gardens many, many years ago and the gardeners were digging them up. Dad asked if he could have some and they said yes take what you want. All I know is they are a deep red colour.

Fairygirl · June 2023

I wonder if they're the Apeldoorn ones.
Did they flower reliably every year your parents had them? If so, they should be fine, and could just be planted, and left to die down themselves if they haven't already done so, or even just put in pots and kept somewhere quiet over summer.

punkdoc · June 2023

Agree with @Fairygirl, it is probably harder to store them than it is just to replant them now.

Dovefromabove · June 2023

I would simply replant them, making sure they’re deep enough, and in good sunny spot. 😊

GardenerSuze · June 2023

@Pam100 My Mother in Law had red Apeldoorn tulips in her garden for over a decade. I was always suprised that they did so well year on year, as most tulips give up after the first two years. In many of the large display gardens tulips are dug up and replaced each year so perhaps that is what happened at Kew. This red tulip does seen to be the most reliable of all for flowering year on year.
As @Fairygirl mentions planting them deeply is important they also like good drainage and full sun. You might want to mark where they are too with a stick?

Fairygirl · June 2023

I think it was Dove that mentioned depth @GardenerSuze, but yes - a good depth always helps with establishment and good flowering.
The Apeldoorns have always been reliable, but not everyone likes red or yellow, so they aren't often as popular as other varieties, which is a shame. I pass a house when I'm out for a walk which has a lovely drift of the red ones through the planting and it's a cheery sight on a dull day

@Pam100's may not be those, as I wouldn't say they were a deep red, but it's better to plant rather than try to store - that can often be difficult to get right, even with the reliable types.

GardenerSuze · June 2023

Agree it isn't possible to be completely sure that they are Apeldoorns, red but not dark red ,let's hope for a lovely photo next spring.

Pam100 · June 2023

Thanks for all your replies. I agree with GardenerSuze on how reliable they were in my parents’ garden. Cheered them up every year and told me the same story about getting them from Kew. Bless them.

I will do as I’m told and plant them deeply now (if I can find any room in my garden!). If I plant them in a pot where would you suggest I locate them? Hopefully they will bloom and I’ll post a photo next spring. Fingers crossed.

Tulip Bulbs

Posts