Plants like crocus, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, iris and snowdrop are all very popular and will thrive in your containers with the right care. 28 Sep 2020 at 08:59 #9. psd99. Mobster. Here’s our tips for planting tulips in pots and in your borders. This year I'll be planting my tulips as late as possible, probably late November. Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden Depending on your climate and whether you want to grow tulips (Tulipa spp_._) in pots or in the ground, you can plant the bulbs in late winter or early spring. After my tulips are dormant, can I plant another flower on top of the bulbs? For the best chance of success in growing the bulbs out of season, though, you'll need to mimic the conditions that the bulbs might otherwise have. Keep in mind that bulbs in pots will not bloom a second time indoors after flowering. Let’s look at how to store garden bulbs over the winter. Tulips: 9 tips for planting them in containers and pots this autumn While you may have already planted many spring-flowering bulbs, tulips are among those which do better if … Select a high-quality potting mix. Then space out your tallest tulip bulbs so that they are evenly spaced but so that bulbs do not touch. Plant them at the right depth. The key thing is to consider the eventual height of the tulips, choosing an appropriately sized container. Tulip bulbs love the cold. Dig a planting hole with a garden trowel or bulb planter and drop the bulb into the hole with the pointed end up. 1. They often know an awful lot about a wide range of plants, and have limited specific knowledge of each species. If you have squirrels in your garden, place a mesh cover over the container in autumn and winter, it’ll stop them digging. Plant them about four to six weeks before winter really hits. You’ll be rewarded with layers of color and fragrance in the spring. Look for houseplant potting mix. We had a wet summer and winter. Bring your containers outside in the spring when the danger of hard frost has passed or when the bulbs in the ground are starting to emerge. So you can either leave the bulbs in pots or remove them (then dry and put in bags) to store over winter. https://www.finegardening.com/article/how-to-plant-tulips-in-pots Daffodils and tulips can be left in pots outside over winter with no issues. Place it in a protected area, such as inside a garage or near a house foundation, until the bulbs sprout in spring. Don't be afraid to try some more adventurous varieties; West Point tulips, Dancing Flames or Champagne Flutes add vibrant personality to a garden, while bulbs like bluebells help create a garden oasis. The oft-repeated mantra ‘right plant, right place’ applies as much to bulbs in pots as to those in a garden. Some bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips and crocuses, can be forced to grow in pots inside the home over winter. PLANTING DEPTH AND SPACING. This is true whether you're using indoor or outdoor bulbs. Arrange tulip bulbs with their flat side facing out for a neater display of leaves. Learn how to plant tulip bulbs in winter from The Old Farmer's Almanac. After the flowers have faded and the spring gala is over, I plant all the bulbs except for the tulips in the garden. Regular gardening soil won't have the nutrients your bulbs need to thrive. Start by adding about 5-7 cm of compost to the bottom of the pot. Cover the drainage hole with a piece of pot. Even with limited gardening space, you can always squeeze in a few pots of hyacinths or daffodils into empty nooks and crannies. Because tulips need to be dormant for 12-16 weeks before they can bloom, you'll need to expose them to cool temperatures to replicate the weather in the fall. Tulips will bloom at the wrong time of the year for you, too, providing you pot the bulbs in early autumn. Choose large bulbs and avoid any with damage or mould. According to the Cornell study (done over a six-year period), you should plant tulips this way: Clear away snow and loosen soil, if possible. If you're planning on leaving your pot outside during the winter, you'll need to add enough soil to keep the bulbs warm. Tulips grow best in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, sheltered from strong winds. Q. There may be other containers in the garden that will benefit from the addition of a few tulips. Tulips need about 12 weeks of cold chilling to bloom properly, but there is a risk of freezing when bulbs are planted in pots left outdoors. Packing – Remove the bulbs from any plastic bags or containers. Joined: 7 Sep 2008 Posts: 4,996. gailjon said: ↑ With bulbs you should wait for the leaves to turn brown before cutting them off. Every single bulb disappeared. Check the planting depth instructions on the package. For a more lavish look, some experts recommend setting one layer of bulbs just above another, alternating so that bulbs are not directly on top of one another — but we say leave that to the experts. If not, choose an area with soil full of organic matter. Tulipa ‘Christmas Dream,’ pictured up top, bloomed in my bedroom window one February. In this practical Gardeners’ World video guide, Monty Don takes you through the process of creating a layered spring container display that starts with Iris reticulata in February, followed by Narcissus Tête-à-Tête in March, and then elegant long-stemmed purple tulips (Tulipa ‘Negrita’) in late April. Inspect for any damage (Hannah Stephenson/PA) Make sure none of the bulbs are soft or look rotten and if there are any, discard them. A broken piece of pot for drainage hole cover; Bulbs e.g. Growing bulbs in containers is always a bit of a gamble, but worth it!