Tulips Blooming in the Garden
So much is growing around my Bedford, New York farm. This week, many of my tulips are in full bloom.
Tulips, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, are perennial plants that open up each spring. They're grown for their graceful leaves and bright, cheery blooms. Some are traditional and cup-shaped, some have fringed petals, others have pointed ones, and some are full of fanciful ruffles. Some varieties even carry a soft, subtle scent.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- It’s so exciting to see the swaths of color in the garden beds after a gray, dreary, winter. Look at these perfectly formed tulips.
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- Just before last year’s Thanksgiving holiday, we planted all of our tulip bulbs in a handful of raised beds in the vegetable garden. We received hundreds of tulip bulbs from The Flower Hat. These look so healthy. Any kind of bulb should be firm and free of soft spots or visible rot.
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- All tulips are planted in the fall and bloom in the spring. They grow best in zones 3 to 8 where they can get eight to 12 weeks of cold temperatures while under the soil.
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- Once all the bulbs were in their designated rows, each one was placed into a hole made with a dibber. Tulip bulbs are medium sized, so they should be buried at least six to eight-inches deep. As a rule of thumb, bulbs should be planted about three times the height of the actual bulb.
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- And always place each bulb with the pointed end faced up. This is important for all bulbs. If the pointed end is not obvious, look for the flat side of the bulb, which is the bottom.
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- The beds were raked carefully so as not to disturb any bulb placements. Finally, they were left to nature for the duration of winter.
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- This week, many were blooming beautifully! Tulips have a fascinating history. Although closely associated with Holland, tulips were first cultivated in Turkey. The name tulip is believed to be derived from the Turkish word for turbans, “tulbend,” because of their resemblance. They gained popularity in Europe in the 17th century, peaking in 1636 to 1637.
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- This is Tulip ‘Columbus’ with its rich deep pink double flowers and petals tipped in silvery cream.
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- From above, one can see the large cupped, peony-shaped blooms and pointed petals.
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- ‘Foxy Foxtrot’ is a double tulip with shades of apricot, yellow, and hints of rose orange.
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- Its delicate blooms show slightly curved inner petals with a tinge of contrasting color.
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- Most tulip plants range between six to 24-inches tall. Taller ones should be shielded from any winds, so they don’t topple over.
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- The broad, strappy leaves of tulips have a waxy coating that gives them a blue-green color. There are usually two to six leaves per plant.
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- Tulips are stunning when planted en masse. Tulip ‘Spryng Break’ starts with dark pink-red blooms, but then changes ever so slightly as the white turns creamy yellow over time.
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- The inside is so geometric. Like many spring bulbs, tulips contain alkaloid compounds that are moderately toxic to pets as well as humans. The bulbs contain the highest concentration of toxins, but trace amounts are also found in the tulip flowers and leaves.
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- Tulip ‘Sanne’ has impressive, elegantly tapered flowers that open deep rose-pink and creamy-pink edges. As it matures, it turns lilac-pink with pink-ivory edges.
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- There are currently more than 3000 registered tulip varieties, which are divided into at least 15-groups, mostly based on the flower type, size, and blooming period.
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- Tulips have been hybridized in just about every color except blue. Most tulips have one flower per stem, but there are some multi-flowered varieties.
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- Tulips need well-drained soil. Sandy soil amended with some organic matter is perfect. They also prefer a slightly acidic soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5. I am fortunate to have such great soil here at the farm.
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- Tulip bulbs should be planted in full sun to partial shade. Too much shade will diminish blooming in spring.
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- By planting varieties with different bloom times, one can have tulips blooming from early to late spring. These should open within the next week – I’ll be sure to share more photos, stay tuned.
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