Monte Carlo Tulips - dig up and toss or leave for next year?

This year I had 20 bright yellow double Monte Carlo tulips (from bleek's co-op last Fall).

Here's a picture of them: http://www.vanengelen.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Item&_recordnum=5543&_category=Tulips:DoubleEarly

I loved them. So what do I do now - leave them and hope they will do well next year, or dig them up at the end of the season and buy some more and plant them again in the same space? I've heard that each subsequent year tulips decrease in quality. I can replace them quite cheaply - but there is something in me that resists the thought of throwing out/composting something that was so beautiful - not to mention the effort of planting them again!

If they are planted fairly deeply, and the foliage is allowed to brown naturally before removing, and perhaps some fertilizer added, they might be worth saving a second season. Maybe you could add something like crocus or other minor bulb in the same area to extend bloom. John

John - good idea. They're not too deep, maybe 4-5 inches or so. I was just amazed at how beautiful they were. I like your idea about maybe adding something smaller to offset. These ones are in one of my hosta beds along the driveway, with the expectation that they'd die away as the hostas came to life. Crocus would do the same thing - and help keep that area bright in case the tulips don't do very well next year. I still might buy a few more for other parts of the yard, just for the bright yellow color.

When should they be fertilized to give them the best chance for next year?

Fertilizing could be done now in the spring, so the leaves can manufacture food for next years blooms. Usually, 4 inches deep is fine, but deeper planting (10") would mean the tulips are less likely to divide and multiply, meaning larger blooms. But if you are going to all that trouble of replanting, maybe new bulbs would be worthwhile!

In your area they should do fine for 1 or 2 more years., but do give them some fertilizer now and again in early Spring. Don't they give a 'WHOLE LOT OF COLOR' in the garden? I always cut one off and put it inside in a saucer with water on the table. Do not plant Tulips in the same spot for more than 2 or 3 years.

Bert - great. I'll be a fertilizin' maniac tonight. These were incredible. THe bright yellow has lasted quite a while. I've been taking them into work and putting them in a vase - this is my second batch. One nice thing about the Monte Carlos - being doubles, even as they're starting to wilt a little bit, they still look wonderful. The delicate scent was a nice addition to the office, too.

Is the reason not to plant tulips in the same area because they're nutrient hogs? Do they deplete the soil? Is there something that could be planted to complement or offset in between?

I love these.

i planted mine in containers and wasnt too surprised that they all didn't come up, considering the long bitter winter temperatures. i'm going to replant them into 2 containers and see how they do this winter coming. they are sooooooooooo beautiful. i've gotten lots of compliments on them.
the new design are nice too.
i read somewhere that tulips like to be kept dry during the summer, after they have died off. so i planted mine under the eaves of the house, hoping this would help them.