Guide to growing Tulips - Tulipa

Members of the Tulipa genus are hardy bulbs that range in height from 10 to 60cm.

Given their popularity it is probably easiest to describe flowers of the Tulipa genus to be tulip shaped; Tulip Flowers tend to resemble layered upturn bells, and are carried on long stems.

The common name for members of the Tulipa genus is Tulip.

When do tulips bloom? Tulips usually bloom in the spring.

How to grow tulips

Tulips can be grown from either seed or bulbs; however you will get much faster results if you use bulbs.

When growing tulip bulbs they should be planted at a depth of about 10cm (or a little deeper in hot areas) in the autumn in either a sunny or partially shaded area. When planting tulip bulbs, dig a hole deeper then required, and put some manure in it, then put a 1cm thick of layer of soil and place the bulb on it, then bury the bulb with top soil that contains bone meal.

Ideally space tulips at 15 to 25cm apart (space dwarf tulip varieties at 10cm), and grow in a slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6 to 7).

When growing tulips indoors from seeds, sow at a depth of about 3mm into flats in the spring. The flat should then be covered in a plastic bin bag and placed in the fridge for three weeks. Remove the flat and sink into a shady part of the garden under glass and keep the soil moist, transplant tulip seedlings as soon as they look strong enough. Although it should take tulip seeds from one top three months to germinate, it may take as long as 6 years before they will bear flowers.

Tulip care

When taking care of tulips it is important that you give the tulip bulbs a good watering in when you first plant them. After that only water during prolonged dry periods. Every spring apply a light fertilizer. At the end of the flowering season cut back dead leaves to tidy the plants up.