With most of your spring garden planting complete, you might think it’s too late to plant tulip bulbs, but it's not the case. In fact, while most of our yard jobs are finished for the year, November is the perfect time to plant my favorite springtime flower.
I was keen to discover why tulips can be planted later than other spring-flowering bulbs (and how to plant them the right way), so I called on two plant experts to share their knowledge to help you succeed.
Why wait until November to plant tulip bulbs?
“Tulips like to go into the ground later than daffodils, crocuses, or hyacinths because they prefer cooler soil temperatures,” explains Elise Harlock, floral expert at Prestige Flowers. “If planted too early, while the ground is still warm, they can start sprouting before winter arrives, which makes them more vulnerable to frost damage.”
And that’s not the only reason. “This timing also helps prevent fungal diseases such as tulip fire, which thrives in warmer, moist soil. Planting later keeps the bulbs healthy and ensures strong, vibrant flowers next year,” she adds.
What is tulip fire?
“Tulip fire is a common fungal disease that thrives in warm, damp soil and will cause spotty blemishes on both the leaves and the blooms,” explains Lucie Bradley, gardening and greenhouse expert at Easy Garden Irrigation. “By waiting until November to plant tulips, the soil will be starting to cool, making Botrytis tulipea less active."
Apart from avoiding tulip fire, Bradley explains that waiting until November to plant your tulips also reduces the growth of Fusarium fungus, responsible for basal rot, which causes the bulbs to decay. “Fusarium fungus enters the tulip bulb through the base or roots of the bulb, and as it spreads through the bulb, it blocks water and nutrients, preventing future growth,” she says.
What is the best way to plant tulips?
When planting tulip bulbs, Bradley says aim for a depth of two to three times the bulb’s height — usually around 6 to 8 inches deep. However, for smaller tulip varieties, they might only need to be planted 5 inches deep.
Getting the depth right
“Getting the planting depth correct is important as it ensures the bulbs will be protected in the ground from both changes in temperature and pests, as well as encouraging the formation of a strong root system which creates a solid base to support tall stems and large flowers,” she says.
And she adds that if you plant the bulbs too deeply, you might be waiting longer for them to bloom, or they might not emerge at all. Conversely, if you plant the bulbs too shallowly, they will be vulnerable to pests or weather damage and could sprout too early, leading to weak growth.
And whatever you do, plant your tulip bulbs the right way up, with the pointy end upwards. “This allows the bulbs to grow efficiently as they don’t have to waste time and energy correcting themselves,” she explains.
If you’re planting them in beds, Harlock suggests spacing them 3-4 inches apart, but if you’re growing them in pots, space them closer together for a fuller look.
Get the soil conditions right
Wherever you plant your tulips, they will appreciate good drainage, as if they sit in waterlogged soil, the bulbs are likely to rot.
“Before planting, loosen the soil and mix in some grit or coarse sand to improve drainage. Tulips hate sitting in soggy ground, so good drainage is key,” says Harlock.
“After planting, cover with soil and water them once to settle them in, then leave them be over winter. For pots, add a layer of gravel at the base for extra drainage.”
Tulips thrive in the sun
Just like most of us, tulips prefer a sunny spot. “They love full sun, which helps them produce sturdy stems and the richest colours. In shadier spots, they may still grow, but the flowers can be smaller and shorter-lived,” says Harlock.
Bradley also adds that unless they get six to eight hours of sunlight a day, they are more likely to grow ‘leggy’ as they seek out more light.
Top tip
If you have limited sunlight in your backyard, you might prefer to plant your tulips into pots, rather than directly into beds. This gives you the added flexibility of being able to reposition them depending on the sun's position.
A few tulip varieties to try
Even if you have your favorite types of tulips you grow each year, it’s worth throwing in a few others to add some variety, in both petal shape and color.
For a timeless beauty, Harlock recommends ‘Queen of Night’ for its deep, velvety maroon blooms, which she describes as looking black in certain light. She also suggests ‘Apricot Beauty, for a softer, more romantic choice, which has peach-like flowers.
For an unusual tulip, Bradley suggests growing ‘Carnival de Nice’ for its large, ‘peony-like’ double blooms, which appear in late spring. “The long-lasting flowers are a brilliant white ‘splashed’ with bright red, creating a gorgeous pop of colour in the garden. It also has a lovely, sweet fragrance, making it ideal for cutting and bringing indoors for a striking flower arrangement,” she says.
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