Jan 02 2011

How to Plant Tulips

Published by at 9:04 am under Country Life

Planting flowers seemed like a good way to welcome the new year, so yesterday, Megan showed me how to plant the tulip bulbs which I found in my Christmas stocking.

I have to say it was a banner year for stockings, maybe the best ever. Mine included flying wish paper, the Fantod Pack by Edward Gorey (darkly hilarious tarot-type cards), and a package of Purple Passion tulip bulbs:

I’ve been keeping them in the refrigerator since Christmas, and it was time to plant!

The soil here is too acid to grow much, so almost everything has to be planted in containers. Megan lent me one, and we found a disused pot in my garden.

First, we put in a layer of pottery for drainage. It helps to live in the former home of a potter, with boxes of broken pottery close at hand:

Luckily, the disused pot had potting soil with pearlite in it, so we recycled that, putting it on top of the broken pottery, and adding extra potting soil as needed:

Next, we added sand – easy to do when you live near the ocean:

Then a layer of sawdust, from last winter’s chainsawing of storm-fallen trees:

Mix it all up with your hands, other than the pottery base. Or get your sister to do it while you take pictures:

Then place the bulbs, sprout side up, in the cushy bed you have made for them:

Cover them up with a light layer of potting soil, so they don’t have to struggle to push through it:

Place the pot in a sheltered area, so the bulbs don’t get soaked and rot before they can bloom. We placed the containers beneath the overhang at the side of the house. It started raining (surprise!) before we finished planting them, so we didn’t have to worry about watering them. They’ll self-water until they bloom, in February (next month!) or March (almost next month!). I can’t wait.

5 responses so far

5 Responses to “How to Plant Tulips”

  1. # Alisonon 02 Jan 2011 at 9:13 am

    I have been meaning to plant tulips (my favorite fleur) ever since I moved here, and every year I forget. In this zone, you’re supposed to plant before the first freeze. Maybe 2011 will be the year I get it done. xo

  2. # suzyon 02 Jan 2011 at 11:22 am

    You really should! I can’t wait to see these bloom.

  3. # Joyon 02 Jan 2011 at 2:34 pm

    Exciting stuff.

    Did you know that mixing lime with your soil will reduce its acidity?
    Try googling & this will tell you all about it…or check out your garden books or mags.

    jx

    PS I hope the ‘boys’ don’t get into the pot…or squirrels……just a thought…

  4. # suzyon 02 Jan 2011 at 2:55 pm

    I’ll look into it – thanks! I guess we’ll see what happens withe squirrels and the kittens. So far, so good…

  5. # Guyon 03 Jan 2011 at 4:17 am

    Good job preparing the tulips Suzy, I’m sure they will come up just beautiful in the spring, they are a lovely flower to see and first ones to come out.