Lessons Learned

I'm not a kid. I've been gardening since age 5, over 60 years ago. Over the years, I've always used tulips as an annual. Every time I dig up a bed of tulips in the summer, after they've treated me to their blooms, I think, "These bulbs look healthy - I should have left them (and save myself some expense next fall)."

I've left the bulbs on a few occasions, and for the most part, I've been sorely disappointed. Their numbers always seem to dwindle, and they never seem to be as large and colorful as they were the first season.

In the fall of 2007, I planted 750 multi-stem flowering Darwin tulips "Orange Bouquet" in a new bed in my border. Last spring, they treated me to a wonderful view.

(to be continued)

After they bloomed, I started to clean out the bed to plant annuals for the summer. As I dug, that old Lorelei called me, saying "Look at these big, healthy bulbs! Leave them here. I know you've been disappointed in the past, but this time will be different - these bulbs will reward you next spring."

That siren's song, coupled with my own frugal nature AND my lazy nature (spending a hot June day digging up this bed by hand was NOT my idea of fun), led me to leave the bulbs and plant between them with impatiens for the summer.

I rationalized that, if I felt more energetic in the fall, I could always dig the bed and plant new tulips for spring 2008.

(to be continued)

Fall came and I not only didn't feel more energetic, I was also feeling the pinch of an economy on the downhill slide. I rationalized that the $200 (or more) I would spend on new bulbs could be put to better use at the grocery store (or gas station) so I decided to try once again, leaving the bulbs to bloom a second season.

Spring has now arrived and bulbs I planted years ago (daffodils, narcissus, muscari) are popping up, promising bloom. The new tulips I bought last year and planted in various places are thriving.

My bed of 'holdovers'? It doesn't look very promising. I think I've learned my lesson at last. Tulips are annuals in my garden - period. I saved a few dollars last fall, but now I have a 'hole' in my garden this spring. You never know how many more springs you will have to enjoy, so my philosophy is, 'Carpe Diem' - 'seize the moment!' I'll eat beans as long as I can have my garden to enjoy!

Amen from a former Lee's Summit, Missouri lady!

Wow! Your gardens are BEAUTIIFUL!!! I love both, the tulips and the impatiens. Just gorgeous!
Sherry

Leawood,

Your gardens ARE lovely, but if I may make a suggestion...

I dig up, dry and store my hundreds of tulips. I replace them with annuals and glads (I'm cheap - I grow the annuals from seed). In that manner, you can put the tulips back in fall, and they will bloom. It's the summer watering that makes them deteriorate - tulips originate where it is sandy and dry.

I realize that it is a lot of work to dig them up, but since you plan to put them in (much harder, I think) you would at least save a great deal of money.

Donna

An excellent suggestion, Donna. As a test, I'll take another large bed of tulips (this one planted last fall) up and experiment this summer, after they bloom. This bed has 1000 yellow Darwin tulips (Mrs. John Scheepers). I assume you wait until the bulb foliage has died before you dig the bulbs?

Edited to 'straighten up' my pic. I think I've found the solution to adding 'portrait' - format pictures - open them in PhotoShop and save them there instead of posting straight from the camera download.

OOOPS. I guess DG doesn't let you edit the pic, just the copy.

This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 10:22 AM

This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 10:24 AM

Leawood,

In addition to Donna's suggestion, Single Lates are also varieties that perennialize well relative to other tulips, and in my humble opinion, the Single Late group is THE most beautiful collection of tulips around - and the tallest and most prolific.

I would think in your zone you definitely provide the necessary cold for good return and you don't live in an area with outrageously high rainfall or damp conditions (during the summer) either - I know we average about 35" a year here which is similar to Chicago and I imagine yours can't be too much different. I have had a FEW tulips return for three years for me now, even here in the south - but they're in a very dry, sandy, well-drained area as Donna suggested. If I can get a handful to come back for three years I KNOW you can with your much colder temperatures!

I am also looking forward to the results of your experiment! It would be interesting to see what happens if you reserve a plot in a very dry area that only gets its water from rainfall - and is very well-draining - and see what happens.

Steve

This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 9:45 AM

Here's how the south bed looked on Thursday (March 26).

Here's how it looks this morning (March 29), after a rain/snow storm yesterday.

Steve, I like the idea of leaving the bulbs in the ground, in a bed that only gets rainwater, but I don't have that space available. Everything in my yard needs supplemental water to survive our long, dry summers.

Leawood,

Steve is absolutely on the money, as always. I had the single late, Maureen, in a spot where I couldn't dig it up for three years AND in an area that got water, and it came back for three years and doubled. I was finally able to dig it up last year.

It is helpful to let the foliage get as ripe as you can, but I have noticed that it happens MUCH faster than daffodils and does not have to be 100%.

Good luck!

Donna

LeawoodGardener, I'll just comment on your wonderful beds and accent posts!!!

Ladies and Gent, you are not lazy!! But I think I am. LOL!

I too will follow your experiment. How deep do you plant? 8'' is how deep I go.

For this bed I planted by hand (yeah, 1000 tulips, one scoop at a time). Optimally, I'd take out the dirt to the desired depth, lay the bulbs in and top off with soil and mulch - with this large a bed, it's too much work for me to take out all the dirt, find a place to put it, etc.

Planting one at a time, I don't think I plant that deep - more like 5"-6"; of course, I top it off with a couple inches of mulch, so maybe it equals out. Planting 8" deep, do you find they come up later in the season?

Hi BP. Since know I am digging them up I probably put them no deeper than 5 inches. But Scott Kunst at Old House Gardens advises 6-8 inches, so you are right in there. He also notes that Single Earlies, Single Lates, Lily-flowered tulips, and species last longer. That's right in line with what Steve has been saying. I find that single lates and lily flowered (some of the loveliest) come back at full strength when I dig them up. White Trumphinator is a champ. All the single lates and lily flowered are particularly tall and elegant.

I just want more, more, more (a love of over the topness). If I can replant 100 tulips I can get larger displays. I put my new ones in the most prominent plants and put the leftovers in large groups in other spots - anywhere, around the garden. Steve referred to it as "jungly" in another thread but (looking at Steve's wonderful yard) I would call it exuberant. And Lea, that's how you can get that !wow! effect you get every year for fewer bucks.

Donna








This message was edited Mar 31, 2009 7:46 AM

Oh gosh Leah! We just crossposted! 1,000 bulbs, one at a time? Now that's a work ethic! You're my hero (heroine?)

Donna

NOT a hero, just an old guy who has always enjoyed working in the garden. To me there is nothing more satisfying than spending a day toiling in the garden, coming inside at dusk, covered in dirt (or mud) to take a shower and relax with a tall, cold drink. When I do, I'm tired, but happy, and feel I've truly enjoyed the day.

Gary

Oh Gary, I agree! Between you and Steve, I'm in love! You're a man after my own heart.

Donna

LeawoodGardener, I can't imagine planting 1000 bulbs and unless it's a clean slate it is hard to find a place for the dirt. Since I just start off deep, I don't know if they're later or not. I just enjoy them when they do show. I see mine have just broken thru about an inch. I really love the boxwood borders. It's very impressive! Did you make the posts and brickwork?

DonnaMack, yes, that does make a difference! I was going to mention the species, but they really are no match for the Darwins and others. I do have the lily flowered.

Gary, ditto, except I think planting bulbs is my least favorite job :o) Maybe that's why I just have a tiny row :o)

Sally (in case anyone needs a heroine for something besides tulips. ) LOL!

Sally,

You are absolutely right about the species, and I should have mentioned them. I've had great luck with the Greigii Pinnochio and Turkestanica.

Donna

Leawood: You rock, man! I couldn't have said it better. Sometimes when I come in I can hardly straighten up, but after a good hot shower and a nice drink, it all is so satisfying.

BTW, where did you get those marvelous pillars? I love that classical look!

Thanks, Hemophobic!

I bought the cast iron columns from an antiques dealer in upstate NY, at the same time I bought the big urns in my garden. I had the walls built in 2007 to hold the columns. They had been painted white, so I had them sandblasted and gave them a faux marble finish.

How charming! All it needs now is a statue of Hebe among all those tulips!

Oh, and by the way, Sally, I know that you are correct about the Darwins. I've just never grown them, and so I can't talk about them from personal experience. Which is why this forum is so great - because it has the expertise of so many terrific people, like you.

Donna

Donna, thanks, but I am not the expert! I do have a lot of flower and bulb books :o)!

The species are so different and I love them. I just need to plant some.

1990. I had a clean slate. On the hottest day of the year, I dug trenches and transplanted over 100 tall pink tulips to the outer row and down the sides. Next came those I got from Michigan Bulb. In front are the Red Riding Hoods. I dug small patches needing divided, never dreaming there were over 100 in most of them. It was a grand show for many years and was always the tulip bed even when there were hardly any left. Then quackgrass invaded and I dug the entire bed. It's now my garden but I still have a few of the tulips lingering.

My Grandma started me off with 3 bulbs each of the RRHood and the tall pinks in 1982. The Michigan Bulbs were bought in 1981.

I am stepping out of my comfort zone with tulips. We were given some last Christmas. We did not plant them right away as it was the holiday season and also we were already having snow days (Seattle,WA). My husband and I managed to get them into the ground on Feb 12th, 2009. We have had more snow days since. Now, the weather is starting to act like true spring time. Is there any chance of these tulips coming up this year or do you think we will have to wait until next spring to see if they even survived?
thx

Dahlia: If they had been forced to bloom for Christmas, I doubt they'll bloom again this year. They need to store up energy for next year unless you lift them and force them again at Christmas this year. Someone else may correct me if I'm wrong on this.

No they had not been forced to bloom. They came in a large bag (like the one's at Costco right now...90 ct) and are named 'Mellow Yellow'. When we planted them a few seemed to have a touch of mold, many were sprouting already (about 1/4 of an inch).

Well, they should come up. They usually like 6 weeks of cold and they've had that since you planted them, so you just might get some blooms. Do post pics if they bloom so we can all enjoy!

I agree, I think they'll grow. Even some with a touch of mold. Big bulbs bloom earlier, so yes, post pictures of what you get! Beware of rabbits eating on them. I sprinkle mine with ordinary flour if I see nibbling.