About Tulip
The classic spring bulb: a tunicate bulb that flowers once on stored food and then, in many hybrids, dwindles. Species tulips and Darwin hybrids persist better than showy doubles and parrots.
Depth and spacing
Typical range: 10-15 cm deep and 10 cm apart. A general rule is to plant at two to three times the height of the bulb; check the label for your variety. The drawing is to scale for 12.5 cm deep and 10 cm apart (the size of the organ is illustrative); try your own measurements.
When to plant
Plant in autumn. Plant: from your first autumn frost to 6 weeks after. These are rules of thumb for the northern hemisphere. Enter your frost dates for real dates.
Dividing and propagating
Lift clumps once the foliage has died back and separate the small offset bulbs. Offsets take two to three years to reach flowering size.
Lifting and storing
Lift after the leaves yellow, dry in an airy shade, store in net bags somewhere cool, dry and ventilated until autumn. In free-draining soil many can stay put.