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Tulip experts - help please!

Jess91Jess91 Posts: 159
in Plants
I am going to grow tulips for the first time this winter.  I've never really bothered with them before and not too sure how fussy they are.

I have Queen of the Night, Viridiflora Greenland and Orange Toronto. I'd like to put some together in a 45 x 40cm pot.  I know I can't do them until mid November time but until then, a few questions:

How far apart do I need to space them? I'd like a full looking display.

What growing medium? Will MPC do, or would they prefer JI no3? Or add grit? Or something else? Do I add FBB or wait and feed them as they start to form buds?

Do I need to shelter them from rain over winter? I want them on the patio when they flower but the pot will be pretty heavy to move once it's full.  If I leave it on the patio they will be exposed to rain over winter.  I could have the pot near the house wall until spring but I'd prefer not to have to move it later if possible. It can't stay near house wall come spring as won't get any sun.

Some are shorter than others. Do they need to go at different depths or can I chuck them all in at the same depth as the tallest ones?


Thanks in advance

Slowly building a wildlife garden, in a new build in East Yorkshire.
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited October 2023
    You can pack them in as tight as you like. I think I would put the tallest ones in the bottom layer, then the next and so on, but they'll grow to the right height whatever.
    MPC will be fine as it's only for one season, but use crocks to stop the drainage holes getting blocked. Grit won't hurt but I don't think it's essential. Most tulips don't repeat very well, but if you want to try to keep them for a second year, the time to feed is when the flowers have faded so that they can build up as the foliage dies down, and make sure they can bake in the sun during the dying back period too. 
    I would put it near the house wall over winter unless you live somewhere with very low winter rainfall. If you want to put it in it's final position from the start, you could try putting something like a patio table or chair over it until the tulips start growing.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    If you have squirrels in the neighbourhood then you may want to protect the bulbs. I put a piece of wire netting over outdoor pots of bulbs until there is enough growth to deter the furry fiends.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    edited October 2023
    You can just leave them outside.  I do both - some under cover (outside) and some open to the elements as they go in very big pots that I can't move.  Both survive fine even in a wet winter but I think the trick is very good drainage.  Lots of grit mixed into the compost, and crocks to keep drainage holes open, like JennyJ said, and pot feet to keep them off the ground and give the water somewhere to go.

    For annual tulips (meaning most of them) I use MPC with some spent compost from finished summer pots mixed in, and of course the grit.  I only used John Innes (#2) for perennial tulips like Clusiana.  For yours I wouldn't bother.

    I don't feed annual bulbs.  Perennial tulips get a good feed after flowering before the leaves die back.

    I have squirrels in my garden, and I find so far (touch wood) that planting fairly deep and covering with a layer of grit is enough to keep the bulbs safe.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I read somewhere years ago that when planting tulips make sure they are all facing the same way, ie with the flatter side facing the outside edge of the pot. This means thar all the leaves come out the same way and don't obscure the flowers.
    Seems to work.
  • Jess91Jess91 Posts: 159
    edited October 2023
    Thank you everyone, very helpful! Yes, I'll only be using them as annuals.

    @Fire wow they've packed those in haven't they!! Interesting link, thank you.

    @AnniD that's helpful to know, thanks. I didn't realise they actually had a flatter side to be honest! I will have a look tomorrow. 
    Slowly building a wildlife garden, in a new build in East Yorkshire.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    This is a great lecture from Great Dixter on bulbs




  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    Those bulbs are packed in, they obviously have a more generous budget for bulbs than me! On a cost saving mission, I experimented a couple of years ago and used the same type of tulip across three pots but with different numbers in each. 

    One full, almost as dense as in the photo above one about 2/3rds the number and one half. It’s obviously partly down to personal preference but we found the “half” pot was enough for us - lots of colour and enough impact. The 2/3rds was lovely and if I was mixing varieties together and budget allowed I would do that. The packed full pot didn’t, to me or my OH have any more impact than the 2/3rds.
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited October 2023
    Those bulbs are packed in, they obviously have a more generous budget for bulbs than me!

    Dixter is one of the leading ornamental gardens in England.

  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    I read somewhere the rule of thumb when planting is about twice there height for depth so JennyJ comment about large ones at the bottom is spot on.
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