How to grow tulips

With more than 3000 registered varieties of tulips, it's hard to believe these vivid blooms were once so sought-after they were considered more valuable than property! Now, they're not only accessible, but they're an affordable bulb to pick up and add to your garden bed. With strong stems and vibrant colours, you can't go wrong with tulips.

When it comes to planting and growing, a common mistake is to plant cool-climate bulbs too early, when the soil is still too warm so here’s an easy to remember guide to growing them.

Carna Feldtmann

How to grow tulips

Climate

Spring-flowering bulbs like to be planted in autumn in cool soil. If you have frosts in April, plant towards the end of March. In frost-free areas, delay planting until late April or May.

Aspect

Most flowering bulbs need plenty of sun to do well, but this doesn’t mean baking! Under deciduous trees suits them well, or anywhere receiving at least four hours of direct sun a day.

Soil

They prefer average garden soil, which drains freely. If the soil is too sandy and dry, mix compost or rotted cow manure through it a few weeks before planting. If it’s heavy and clayey, build up a raised bed or grow bulbs in pots.

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Carna Feldtmann

Water

Keep the soil lightly moist. If you get regular rain in autumn and winter, you may not need to water at all!

Pruning

After bloom snap off developing seedpods, but leave the flower stem, as the bulb needs the nutrients in the stem. Let the leaves yellow before cutting them away.

Fertiliser

After planting, sprinkle a ration of controlled-release fertiliser over the soil and cover lightly with more soil. As soon as flowering finishes, water the leaves of the plants with a soluble fertiliser.

Give your garden a stunning explosion of colour lasting up to 100 days with this beautiful flowering bulb collection.