The Blooming Season for Tulips in Michigan

Typical Season

• Every tulip is deemed either early, mid or late blooming, depending on the variety. If you plant a mixture of different tulip cultivars in Michigan, you can have continuous blossoming for up to eight weeks. Starting in April, your tulips stretch into the sky to decorate your yard until the end of May. For successful blossoming, plant your bulbs in the fall to allow the Michigan winter to chill the plants -- this cold period stimulates flower growth, especially if the cold lasts up to eight weeks.

Unseasonable Warm Weather

• Tulips grown in Michigan need a full-sunlight location for the best growing potential. However, an unexpected heat wave in the early spring causes the tulips to bloom rapidly; they sense that summer heat is closing in. If warm weather persists, your tulips may bloom and fade in April, leaving May with fading foliage. After flowering, deadhead your tulips to prevent rot from setting into the bulb and to direct photosynthesis energy into new flower formation for next year. However, do not remove the foliage after your tulip blossoms are spent. Allow the foliage to remain untouched and intact for approximately six to eight weeks. Tulip leaves photosynthesize during this period to provide energy to the bulb for future flower production. Only remove the foliage once it has a yellow hue.

Cool Temperature Consideration

• If a cold snap occurs in your region after tulip blossoming, the reduced heat stress on the blossoms allows them to last longer. In fact, the flowers can last until early June in cool, Michigan weather. You can also prolong blossoming by providing some afternoon shade. Although tulips need direct sunlight for photosynthesis, dappled afternoon sunlight provides a cool environment for long-lasting flowers.

Planting Influence

• Your tulips bloom in April and May when they are planted properly between late September and early December in Michigan. Bulbs need to be positioned 8 inches deep in the soil with a maximum ground temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. When you plant the bulbs deeply enough, they form critical roots necessary for moisture and nutrient uptake while protecting the bulbs from curious wild animals. The long planting time allows the bulbs to receive the chill they need to signal spring blooming.