A Question Regarding Tulips:

[Contrary1]

Back in the fall of 2005 I planted 200+ bulbs along a fence row. The next Spring I had hundreds of beautiful tulips. The following winter we had a lot of the freeze/thaw type weather, and more than half of them did not make it. Evidently, the ground was too low. It really looks silly having flowers on just half of the fence row.

There is no feasible way to raise it, as it slopes downward from two directions too close to the property line. So, this year I am going to try my luck with wildflowers.

I would like to salvage as many of the surviving tulips as possible to replant in another area. When is the earliest time I can dig them up? They are flowering. Should I wait until they die out on their own, or can I move them now? I figure the flowers will be lost, but would the bulbs produce next spring? Or should I hold off replanting them until fall?

I can't seem to find the info online. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

[Nicole]

1. Enjoy the flowers first.

Wait until the tulips quit blooming & all the foliage has died back. The dying foliage provides energy for the bulbs to bloom again. If you dig them now you risk losing some of the foliage along with the flowers.

You can then plant them or store until fall. If you decide to store the bulbs wash off all the soil & let them dry completely. I leave them on the lawn all day for that. Put them in a basket, for air circulation, and store in a cool dry place. I bring bulbs indoors & put them in a corner of my utility room. My MIL stores bulbs in those mesh bags that fruit & veggies come in.

You can also wait until fall to dig & replant them but I wouldn't advise it. I've done that & lost so many because I cut through the bulbs. It's harder to find the exact location of the bulbs when there's no foliage left. OOPS!

[Blue Gardener]

2. Tulips can be very fickle

And don't always come back year after year. I planted daffodils instead of tulips for that reason (plus the bunnies don't eat them). You can get other colors than yellow, like pink and peach. Mine are blooming right now and they are gorgeous!

[Shoelace]

3. our local garden club sells them right after they bloom

gigantic flowering tulips they are too planted en masse in one of our historical home/parks. In late April, they dig the bulbs up after the flowers have lost their petals but are still green. They are one of the most popular items and my sister bought some tulips from them several years ago and the next year, they bloomed the same huge flowers! Give it a try, if it works for them, surely it will work for you too.
I once planted 200 bulbs on a farm we used to own. The gophers ate all but the red and yellow ones in a little over a year! Arrrggghhh!!

[Imalittleteapot]

4. Tulips do not re-bloom in my neck of the woods.

I don't make the effort anymore even though I adore tulips. I've heard that there are perennial tulips that will re-bloom in Texas but I don't trust that they will and won't spend another dime on the beauties. Daffodils, Iris and Narcissus are dependable here.

If I were you I would wait until Fall to dig them up and replant. If you live in a warm climate, stick them in the refrigerator and wait until December or January to plant.

Good Luck!