If you have been hesitating about planting bulbs for spring, now is the time to act. It is really rather late for small bulbs and daffodils – they will grow but you need to rush. But it is the perfect time to plant tulips. The photo above is me planting all the smaller bulbs of special tulips that I have saved from this spring break. I plant them close and most will bloom, but this is a bit closer than usual – it is just a nursery for all my tulips and they will produce some larger bulbs to lift next June. Mia in the background is making sure I do it correctly!
The selection of bulbs at Knights might be limited now – the newest kinds will have sold out – but there are still great tulips to be had. And tulips are just so versatile and useful. Apart from the amazing range of colours, the flowers vary in shape and size, the stems can be short or tall and elegant and you can enjoy them in pots, borders and beds. Just remember that they need sun and they will struggle in wet, clay soils. Even so, when you buy them the bulbs already have a fully formed flower bud and are pretty much sure to bloom.
The traditional way to grow tulips is to interplant them in beds with wallflowers, violas or forget-me-nots. We have the Victorians to thank for this and it is a great way to use them. Always put in the plants first and then the tulips. If you put in the tulips first you may damage the bulbs when you put in your wallflowers or (as above) forget-me-nots.
You can put some tulips in borders with small shrubs and herbaceous plants too, providing some needed colour in spring.
Where tulips are really useful is in pots on the patio. It is not always possible to plant great beds with tulips because of the work involved and the cost. But ten or fifteen tulips in a pot can look amazing and it is the way I use the more expensive kinds.
You can be clever and use colours to match or contrast with the tulips.
Don’t miss the boat – get your tulips in this week!
This week in the garden
Clear away old vegetable plants so you can dig the plot as weather allows
Trim back tall roses to prevent damage in gales
Prune apple trees
Cut back autumn-fruiting raspberries to just above the soil level
You can start to divide herbaceous plants now
Move soft garden furniture into the shed or cover with protective covers
Sweep up and compost fallen leaves