Tulip Growing Guide

Without a doubt, Tulips are the star of spring! From elegant and timeless to wildly explosive or multi-layered gentle beauty, tulips provide incredible options for spring designs. Though they have a reputation of being difficult to cultivate, it's actually much easier than you think! We've put together this guide to help take the mystery out of the process. Make sure to click the link on the picture below to see details about each variety we offer and what they are best suited to.

And, as always, we are available to help with any questions you may have, so feel free to call or email us anytime!

STORAGE AFTER ARRIVAL                                                                                                                                           

Bulbs should be unpacked immediately upon arrival. Ventilate if not immediately planted. Store at 58-65°F - do not store with fresh fruit, vegetables or other ethylene-producing products.               

COOLING                                                                                                                                            

Cooling is the most important step in successfully growing flower bulbs. The main rule for almost all tulips is 14-16 weeks of cool temperature at or below 48°F. See more details below.

PLANTING MEDIUM & PROCEDURE

Planting medium can be any commercial soil or soil mix as long as it has good drainage and allows for undisturbed root growth. pH level should be 6-7 and soil should have a low soluble salt level. The following soil mixes have shown the best results: Fafard #2, Fafard #3-B, Fafard #4, Metro 350, Metro 360, Metro 500, Fison Sunshine #4. Plant bulbs with the flat side outside of the container and the top of the bulb should be level with the container rim. Use either clay or plastic pot, but make sure good drainage is available. Provide at least 2" of growing medium under the base of the bulb to allow for a good root structure. They also prefer a rather deep, loamy soil with good drainage.

Tulips can be used in pots, borders, perennial gardens or beds. Use a well-drained, composted site. Plant bulbs outdoors to that the soil is 6" above the bulb nose. Use 40-60 bulbs per square yard, space bulbs 5" apart (approx 4-7 per sq. ft.) Bulb size determines exact spacing and planting depth. Plant forcing bulbs at soil level.                                                    

WATERING                                                                                                                                                        

Water every other day. Always make sure that watering is done directly into the pot and not over the crop.   

FERTILIZING                                                                                                                                                      

Fertilize in the greenhouse only, not in the cooler. Use calcium nitrate at a rate of 2 lbs. per 100 gallons of water.

HEIGHT CONTROL FOR POTS                                                                                                                                      

The product A'Rest (ancymidol) has worked very effectively in controlling the length of the tulips in pots. However, varieties react differently at different times of the year to the same application. It is important that the forcer’s guide is consulted before using this product.  

FORCING WITH PRECOOLED BULBS

• Precooled bulb forcing must be temperature controlled

• An average of 16 weeks of cooling are necessary to get strong roots followed by great spring blooms

• We can dry cool your bulbs at 41°F (5°C) up to the last 3 weeks then ship them to you for the next steps in the process

• Precooled bulbs can be forced to root in hydro trays or black crates but must still be stored at 41°F (but as low as 36-38°F) and have very low light exposure

• After 3-4 weeks, roots should be visible in hydro trays or coming out the bottom of the black crates

• They can now go into a properly ventilated greenhouse at 65-68°F, with careful moisture control, for 4 more weeks to bloom

FORCING TULIPS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

4 weeks at 58-68°F. Bring into greenhouse January 5-10.                                                                                            

1st: Plant bulbs immediately upon arrival - approximately mid-September - in pots or flats. Place in cooler at 48F. Bring into greenhouse January 5-10.      

OR                                                                                                                                         

2nd: Dry precool bulbs (not planted) at 48°F until mid-October then plant in pots or flats and continue cooling at 48°F. Bring into greenhouse January 5.          

OR                                                                                                                                         

3rd: Obtain "precooled" bulbs (these have received 6-8 weeks of cooling) plant in pots or flats approximately mid-October and continue cooling at 48°F. Bring into greenhouse January 5.

FORCING TULIPS FOR EASTER

4 weeks at 58-68°F. Bring into greenhouse March 5-10.                                                                                               

After planting, keep bulbs at 48°F until the roots grow out of the bottom of the container. When the roots show, drop the temperature to 41°F. Maintain this temperature until early January - depending on sprout development - the temperature needs to be lowered to 34°F and held until brought into the greenhouse. If no cooler facility is available, the bulbs can be planted outside under a 6" layer of sand and straw (this method is only recommended in the Northern states where outside soil temperature makes it possible to do this).           

FORCING TULIPS HYDROPONICALLY

An extremely productive and less messy method of forcing bulbs is to use Hydroponic Trays. After giving the proper cooling (see above), put a Hydroponic Tray inside a bulb crate. Then place bulbs in the tray, up to 80 Tulip bulbs per tray, and add water. Place in cooler to keep at 41°F (but as low as 36-38°F) for 3-4 weeks to root. Once roots are established, move tray to a properly ventilated greenhouse to grow at 65-68 degrees, with careful moisture control, for 4 more weeks to bloom.

While growing in the Hydroponic Trays, it’s important to keep water levels up and very fresh. You cannot overfill the trays as excess will drain out. Do not apply water onto the top of the bulbs, but add water around or between bulbs. Drain holes in the trays make it easy to flush out old water to replenish with fresh water.

TULIP FIRE 

All Leo Berbee bulbs are inspected prior to shipment for evidence of any disease or infection. Unfortunately, outdoor flower bed soil holds many potential threats which can thrive under certain growing conditions. The best way to prevent any disease is to start with really great soil that is composted, aerated, and well-draining. In the case that you still encounter Tulip Fire, here is some helpful information.

What is it?
Tulip Fire is a fungus, Botrytis tulipae, which produces brown spots and distorted leaves. In severe cases, it looks as though the plants were scorched in a fire.

Prevention

• Pre-selected bulbs for planting
• Dip your bulbs in a fungicide solution before planting, according to current advice
• Disease detection - when the crop comes up, do daily inspections, and more often during damp weather
• Keep crop clean from weeds
• Harvest when stems and leaves are dry
• Set your rotation to one in three years and be sure all bulbs are removed from the field
• Plough the land after you finish cultivation (i.e. no spading machines)

Keep It from Spreading

• Carefully remove affected plants from the field and dispose of them immediately
• Apply fungicide crop sprays according to current advice and guidelines, using decision support systems (calculation of infection probability using the weather forecast and the level of fungal pressure)
• Flood infected soil for six to eight weeks in summer

When Forcing Bulbs

• Disinfect your bulbs according to current advice
• Keep the crop dry and give water below the plants (water from underneath)
• Use fresh, disease-free (potting) soil
• Do not store flowers from outdoors or cold greenhouses in damp spaces
• Prevent condensation on flowers in cooled storage
• Keep crop clean from weeds

Also Note

After picking flowers, dig bulbs ASAP to prevent future diseases. Additionally, as a preventative measure, avoid disposing of any tulip plant material in compost that will be used in other growing areas.