How To Plant Tulip Bulbs

Tulips are a gorgeous spring flower that come in a variety of colours and shapes. Plant them in the autumn, and watch them grow and bloom when the weather turns warm in the spring. Keep reading to learn more about planting tulip bulbs.  

You want to plant the bulbs before the first deep frost, which hardens the grounds and makes it much more difficult to dig holes for the bulbs. The bulbs should be planted when the soil is still at least 16 °C (60 °F).

• Plan to plant the bulbs within a week after buying them. They shouldn't stay above the ground for too long.
• Don't plant the bulbs too early, or they might come up before the weather gets cold and die as soon as the frosts come. They should lie dormant in the ground all winter and come up in the spring.
• Choose bulbs that are firm to the touch with a light brown papery skin, almost like an onion skin.
• Do not plant a bulb that is soft or shrivelled, as it may be rotten or dead inside.
• Tulips grow best in areas that are sunny or lightly shaded, and not excessively wet.
• Tulips come in many colours, so it's easy to plant them in interesting patterns and shapes. You could alternate colours or plant a whole bed of multi coloured tulips, for example. Design a tulip pattern that makes sense for your garden.

 

There are a range of tulip varieties and colours available in The Garden Pavilion! Justin Smyth, Horticulturalist Powerscourt Garden Pavilion