Question

Hello,

I planted 50 tulips last year for the very first time and only one came up. I have dug around a little and they appear to have disappeared? A friend said probably voles got them but after reading some of the threads here I am now wondering if they froze? But if so they would not have just disappeared, right?

So if it was critters, what can I do to prevent this again should I re-plant some?

Thanks,
Susan

The same thing happened to a friend of mine several years ago... about 150 tulips from Brent and Becky's did not come up the following spring. Not a one! But we don't think it was critters. What we think happened was he worked up this trench really well with a small tiller and planted the tulips there. Because we have heavy clay around here, we figured that with our winter rains these bulbs suffered from a bathtub effect with the water in the trench draining much slower than the surrounding soil. Now he grows a nice selection of annuals in that area;-)

Now critters, I don't know much about them but I know alot of people here have had critter problems so hopefully they will post.

Its doubtful that freezing temps was the culprit, it typically doesn't adversely effect tulips planted in the ground. If the area is wet, especially before the bulbs have rooted, that could be the problem. Voles are another possibility, I've had them wipe out entire plantings of tulips (although out of 50, I'd think they would have missed at least a couple). Bulb cages or home made versions made of chicken wire can be helpful.