Re: Tulips



Meum71 wrote:

>  To have tulips come back year after year, a few conditions need to be
>  met:
>
>  1.  Select the right kind of tulips.  Many species tulips will live and
>  repeat just as daffodils do.  Otherwise, try Kaufmania, Fosteriana, or
>  Tall Late types.
>  2.  Plant them deeply -- at least 8 inches -- in well drained soil that
>  gets good sun.
>  3.  Fertilize with a good bulb food at planting time and each Spring &
>  Fall thereafter.
>  4.  Don't cut off that foliage until it's very yellow -- that's what
>  provides food for the bulb for the next year's bloom.
>
>  The above works well for me in zone 5/6 -- most of the tulips return for
>  at least 5 years, some longer.  Friends have had tulips repeat for 10 to
>  15 years -- planted 10 inches deep!
>
>  Anne LD
>
> >>
>
> Very good informantion.
> I would recomend darwin tulips- they are the very large ones that bloom late.
> Here in Minnesota we have had some that have come back for 15 years.
> since we do not have any spring to speek of- tulips are short lived.
> They need longe cool springs to grow there best.
> thanks for the good post Ann.
> "Plant them deep"
>

In our landscape division, we plant tulips 8-10" deep, dust with medicated foot
powder before covering, and only apply the fertilizer to the top soil.  We have
Tulips coming back year after year -- And yes, we do use the above recommended
species and classes.

What we do to disguise the foliage as it yellows however, is to plant the clumps
of bulbs behind and to the sides of perennials whose foliage will be high enough
to conceal the wilting, yellowing, and browning (in other words, not really
attractive) foliage of the bulbs.

Some of the best perennials for this are:  Heuchera, Hemerocallis, Anemone
japonica, Phlox maculata, Phlox paniculata, Kirengoshoma, the larger forms of
Nepeta, Euphorbia, some Salvia, etc.  There are also many dwarf or small shrubs
that accomplish the same purpose.

Rika        Willow Pond Nursery        http://www.willowpondnursery.com

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