When to Buy Tulips

Buying tulip bulbs

• Tulip bulbs should be purchased and planted in the fall, for spring blooming. When buying tulip bulbs, Plan and Plant has several suggestions of things to look for. The bulbs should be firm to the touch, if a bulb feels squishy, it should not be planted. You will also want to look over your bulbs for any scratches or bruises. If there are cuts or dents, the bulb most likely will not flower, so you should not plant it.

When to plant tulip bulbs

• The timing of planting your tulip bulbs will depend on your location in the United States. The further north you live, the earlier you need to plant your bulbs. Gardening for Kids gives the rule of thumb that you should plant in September or early October in United States Department of Agriculture Climate Hardiness Zones 4 and 5. For people living in zones 6 or 7, plant in October or early November and November to early December for zones 8 or 9. Zone 10 residents should plant in December to early January.

How to plant tulip bulbs

• Tulip bulbs should be planted in soil 6 inches deep, with the pointed end facing up. Once you place the soil on top of the bulb, you should, ideally, have 4 inches on top of the bulb, according to Gardening with Kids. If your soil is light and sandy, or you have a problem with pests like squirrels or voles, plant the bulbs 8 inches down. Tulip bulbs should be placed 5 inches apart. When planting, you will also want to use a low-nitrogen grain fertilizer specifically for bulbs. Follow the package directions for proper measurements.

Caring for tulip bulbs

• Once you have planted to bulbs, you will want to firmly pack the soil and water the area thoroughly. After the initial watering, do not add any more water until you see leaves appear. In cold weather areas, zones 3 to 6, you can cover the area with straw or other mulch to protect the bulbs during the winter. Once the tulips actually bloom, continue to water the flowers and cut them, if you so desire.

Caring for cut tulips

• Whether you purchase a tulip bouquet at the flower shop or simply create one from your own garden, you want the flowers to last as long as possible. If you grow tulips in your garden, plan to pick them once the flower is still tightly wrapped. According to My Florist, tulips will continue to bloom once picked. The website also has several hints to make your tulips last up to eight days. Chief among them is recutting the stems every few days at a diagonal, removing about 1/2 inch. You will also want to keep your bouquet out of direct sunlight and away from heating vents or other drafts.