Pointers for successfully planting and growing tulips

Tulips are the quintessential spring bulb, available in many sizes, shapes and colours to suit any landscape. By selecting varieties with different flowering times, you can enjoy a steady display of blooms from early to late spring. Here are some pointers for planting success.

• Low-growing, early-flowering varieties of tulips look lovely planted in clusters beside walkways or at the front of a flower garden.
• Taller, mid- to late-season tulips are excellent massed in beds, with pansies planted at their bases.
• Tulips, whether short or taller varieties, can also be grown anywhere for long-lasting cut flowers.

There are hundreds of hybrid tulips, grouped by size and flower shape, which makes choosing somewhat easier.

• Darwin and Triumph tulips have cup-shaped flowers on 38- to 60-cm tall (15- to 25-in. tall) stems in mid to late spring. They are best for cutting and bringing strong colour to the garden, although the bulbs last only a few years.
• Try Parrot tulips or Double Late tulips for something fancier. The Parrot petals are fringed. Double Late tulips have peony-like flowers. Both bloom in mid to late spring on 45- to 60-cm tall (18- to 25-in. tall) stems.
• Fosteriana tulips are gold, orange or red and grow to 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in.) tall.
• The 25-cm tall (10-in. tall) Greigii tulips have chocolate-striped green leaves and red or yellow pointed flowers.
• Kaufmanniana tulips, with flowers that resemble water lilies, red-streaked with white or yellow are even smaller at 10 to 20 cm (four to eight in.) tall.
• Smaller tulips that bloom from early to mid spring usually live the longest, and in cold regions can reproduce and grow into clumps.

Tulips fare quite well in the Canadian climate but the trick is to plant the bulbs in mid to late fall.

• Bulbs need eight weeks of soil temperatures below 4°C (40°F) to induce flowering in the spring.
• Many varieties can be potted and forced into winter flowering if given a suitable cold period.
• Choose a sunny site, as tulips will turn towards the sun if they don't get enough light.
• Plant small tulips 12 cm (five in.) deep and larger types 20 cm (eight in.) deep.
• Space bulbs eight cm (three in.) apart with the pointed ends up.
• After the spring show is over, clip off spent flower heads and fertilize the bulbs by sprinkling bone meal or commercial bulb food, as directed, on the soil around the bases of the plants to encourage leaf growth.
• Even with the best care, many varieties will not flower well two or three years after planting.
• In hot-summer areas, high humidity can cause bulbs to rot. While insect and disease problems are few, tulips are a delicacy for chipmunks, voles and mice. Enclose bulbs loosely in chicken wire when planting for better protection.
• To discourage deer, rabbits and groundhogs from getting at them, grow them in containers near the house.

The versatile and easy-care tulip is a favourite spring flower for many people, not only because of their incredible variety but also their hardiness. Following these handy tips will help you keep them healthier so you can enjoy them for longer periods.