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

Best time to plant tulips?

TeacupTeacup Posts: 31
I just did a big tulip order, I usually plant them around late September but I’m wondering if it’s worth waiting a little longer?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Depends on your location. I can plant them here in September because it's normally cold enough, but October to November is probably best for warmer locations.
    If they're going in pots with fresh compost it doesn't matter so much. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The usual advice is to wait until November to plant tulips. Apparently it reduces the risk of them getting tulip fire (a fungal disease).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • TeacupTeacup Posts: 31
    Fairygirl said:
    Depends on your location. I can plant them here in September because it's normally cold enough, but October to November is probably best for warmer locations.
    If they're going in pots with fresh compost it doesn't matter so much. 
    They’ll be going in my lovely new pots! I’m in north west England so it might be quite chilly in September, I planted them the last week of September last year and they seemed to do okay, the odd one didn’t survive though 
  • TeacupTeacup Posts: 31
    also also another question, should I lift the bulbs after flowering?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It also depends on the type of tulip. The species ones are much more forgiving, and will multiply when happy, but like most tulips, they don't like being waterlogged, so it helps to keep them against a wall or similar   :)

    Pots are fine because they won't get tulip fire in those with fresh compost. The problem will only really happen in the ground if it's warm, which is why @JennyJ has flagged that up, and that's when later in the year is advisable. :)  
    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.