Getting tulips right

In West Michigan this time of year, especially in the Holland area, it's hard to avoid the hype around the tulip-- and for good reason. These bulbous members of the lily family are an annual reminder that spring has sprung; they thrive in areas with dry summers and cold winters, so West Michigan is a great place to enjoy them.

If you're interested in growing tulips, or even if you've had them in your yard for years, we've got some tips for getting the most from these beautiful perennials.

For planting:

• Nature never intended for bulbs to hang out above-ground, so plant them the same year you get them.
• Plant tulip bulbs in the fall, six to eight weeks before a hard frost is expected and when soils are below 60 degrees F. In West Michigan, this means October to early November.
• Tulips dislike excessive moisture. Ideally, the soil is well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic, fertile, and dry or sandy.
• Rainy summers, irrigation systems, and wet soil are death to tulips. Never deliberately water a bulb bed. Wet soil will lead to fungus and disease and rot. Add sand to the soil when you plant to encourage quick drainage.
• Space bulbs 4 to 6 inches apart, so choose an appropriate plot size.
• To deter mice and moles—if they have been a problem—put holly or any other thorny leaves in the planting holes. Some gardeners use kitty litter or crushed gravel.
• If ravenous rodents are a real problem, you may need to take stronger measures, such as planting bulbs in a cage of wire.
• Plant bulbs deep—at least 8 inches, measuring from the base of the bulb. But when you're digging your bulb's hole, don't stop at 8 inches-- digging even deeper to loosen the soil and allow for drainage. Remember, the bigger the bulb, the deeper the hole it needs.
• Set the bulb in the hole with the pointy end up. Cover with soil and press soil firmly.
• Water bulbs right after planting. Bulbs need water to trigger growth. But then, lay off the water.
• If you’re planning to raise perennial tulips, feed them when you plant them in the fall. Bulbs are their own complete storage system and contain all of the nutrients they need for one year.

Caring for your bulbs and tulips:

• Water tulip bulbs only during dry spells in the fall; otherwise, do not water.
• Add compost to the bulbs and flowers every year (fall & spring).
• Deadhead tulips after flowering.
• Allow the foliage to go yellow for about six weeks after flowering before cutting it down.
• Replant the largest bulbs; smaller bulbs may be grown in containers in a bulb frame, in mix of equal parts loam, leaf mold, and sharp sand. 

Every fall the City of Holland plants over 300,000 tulip bulbs, which in the spring will welcome visitors to Tulip Time. Once the blooms are done, the city invites people to be part of their annual "Tulip Dig." You bring a shovel and buckets and help yourself. Keep an eye open at the City of Holland's website for more info later in the spring. 

Tulips don't last long, but they are a welcome flash of color after a cold gray winter. Follow these tips and yours will be the envy of the neighborhood for years to come.

​Source: Farmer's Almanac. Read more on raising tulips here.

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