How to Plant Tulip Flowers

There are more than 3,000 different types of tulips in a variety of colors and sizes. One of the harbingers of spring, tulips are low-maintenance, easy-to-grow perennial flowers. Bulbs planted in the fall will flower in the following spring, and can be grown in flower beds or in containers. Hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4 through Zone 10, tulips can weather below-freezing temperatures, long winters and hot summers if they're properly planted.

Tulip bulbs
Hand trowel or shovel
Watering can and water
Mulch
Thermometer
Fertilizer suited for bulbs

Instructions

- 1
  
  If you're planning for certain patterns, keep tulip bulbs separate by color.
  
  Select the best bulbs for planting. This requires examining them for bruises, cuts or other defects that could affect the viability of the bulb. Also, if you prefer, you can keep the bulbs separated by variety or color.
- 2
  
  Select your planting dates based on the zone where you live.
  
  Determine the optimum time for planting. Planting dates vary based on your individual USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. In Zone 4 and Zone 5, tulips can be planted in late September or early October, while in Zone 6 and Zone 7 the bulbs can be planted in late October to early November. In the warmer Zone 8 and Zone 9, plant in November or early December, while in Zone 10 tulips can be planted in late December to early January.
- 3
  
  Chilling tulip bulbs will help ensure that they flower.
  
  Chill the bulbs for between six to eight weeks before planting. This is only necessary for the warmer climates where winter temperatures never reach below freezing, such as Zone 7 through Zone 10. This will ensure that the bulbs will recognize the change in temperatures and properly germinate. Bulbs can be chilled in a refrigerator if they're placed inside a paper bag to keep the bulbs from absorbing refrigerator odors.
- 4
  
  Make sure the ground is cool enough.
  
  Make sure the soil is cool enough for the tulip bulbs. The ground temperature should be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If the ground is too warm, the bulbs may begin to grow before the winter, and die when the cold weather comes. If it is too cold, the tulip bulbs may not be able to store enough nutrients to begin building their root systems in the spring.
- 5
  
  Plant at the right depth to ensure tulips are sheltered from the winter elements.
  
  Dig the holes for the tulip bulbs. Bulbs should be placed 5 inches apart, with the bottom of the hole 6 inches deep. This should leave approximately 4 inches of soil between the top of the bulb and the surface of the ground. Planting every tulip at the same depth also means that they will bloom at the same time.
- 6
  
  Fertilize tulip bulbs as needed.
  
  Place the bulbs in the holes with the pointed end up. If the soil is poor, a low-nitrogen fertilizer can be applied. Fertilizers can differ based on brand and type, so follow the instructions on the label.
- 7
  
  Protect your bulbs from bitter temperatures.
  
  Cover the tulips with dirt. In northern, cold-winter Zone 3 through Zone 6, covering the bulbs with a thick layer of mulch can help insulate them from the bitterly freezing temperatures while still chilling them enough that they will begin to develop in the spring.

Information About Tulips

How to Freeze & Replant Tulip Bulbs

Growing Tulips