Since they were first introduced, tulips have been singled out as spring guests that should linger longer.
Tulip Festival
The tulip festival usually lasts from early April until late May, but through the work of plant explorers and hybridizes, earlier and later varieties have come forth.
It is now possible to have tulips at the end of a warm March and close to a cool May – yes, even into June.
Thousands of Tulips
The famous Scottish seed firm Bobbie & Co. surprised everyone at this year’s Chelsea Show in England by displaying 10,000 cut tulips after England had said goodbye to the 1950 tulip festival.
How was it done?
The bulbs were grown in northern Scotland, cut, and flown to England just before the show.
For a late display in your own latitude, it isn’t necessary to go to the extra expense of planting bulbs in another state.
Planting of Tulips
The same variety planted in full will bloom as much as 10 days earlier than bulbs planted where they will have only one-quarter as much sunshine.
Bulbs of the same variety planted 3 inches deep will come into flower 2 weeks earlier than those planted 7” inches deep.
Large- and medium-sized bulbs of the same variety, planted at tile same time, will also show a wide range of blooming dates.
By observing these rules, a gardener can enjoyment of a given variety over a longer period.
Enjoyment of Tulips
For extended enjoyment of tulips, it might also be wise to divide your initial investment among the various classes to include early, medium-early, early May-flowering, and late-flowering varieties.
The showy kaufmanniana hybrids and Red Emperors open the parade. Next come the single and double early groups, the May-flowering doubles and triumphs, early Darwins and cottage types, and finally, the late Darwins.
Varieties of Plants: Intermediates and Season Bridges
There are also many intermediates and season bridges.
A few of the very last to bloom among the Darwins are:
- BLUE RIBBON
- RAS TAFARI (blackish)
- ARISTOCRAT (pink tints)
- INSURPASSABLE (orchid)
- VICTORY (deep scarlet)
- NEPHITOS (yellow) and
- AVALANCHE (white)
Also among the late-blooming kinds are some breeders:
- CHERBOURG (golden umber)
- J.J. BOUWMAN (light orange tints)
- CHEYENNE (light geranium red and carmine)
- Gov. STUYVESANT (warm golden brown) and
- Louts XIV (purple and gold)
Many others linger longer than their class average, and a student of this phase of tulip culture will surely come up with some wonders.
Longevity of Tulip Varieties
A hook of many pages could be written about the longevity of individual tulip varieties. ZOMERSEHOOti was already famous in 1630.
It was one of the highest-priced beauties of that time, and the blooms were coveted by the young French compresses just as rare orchids are treasured by women today. This same Zomerschoon still astounds us today.
Its centuries-long life is reflected in its length of blooming, for in cool seasons, it remains fresh for 23 days.
Another oldster is the tall, multipetaled MARIAGE DE MA FILLE, which dates back 100 years.
Culture No Secret
What’s the secret to safeguarding these garden treasures, bringing them back for return performances every year?
There’s no secret, just the adherence to a few simple practices.
Planting The Bulbs
Plant your bulbs at least 6” inches deep in poor but never soggy soil. Planting 7” to 8” inches deep will certainly keep them out of reach of year-round garden pests like squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, moles, and mice.
After the plants have bloomed, leave the foliage on for 2 or 3 weeks; then remove it by grasping the stem and leaves close to the ground and twisting rapidly.
Stir the soil with a cultivator and sprinkle the spot lightly with bonemeal. Then forget it.
Heavy Feeding for Root Growth
Heavy feeding attracts hugs and blight and induces exhaustion through splitting and heavy root growth.
In abandoned and totally forgotten gardens, tulips have survived for 50 years without any food except what was at the band in the immediate vicinity.
Those who waver between lifting tulips annually or leaving them where they bloomed should weigh the hazards of lifting against the safety of ground storage.
Annually Lifting the Bulbs
True, the Dutch propagators lift their bulbs annually, and their agents have assiduously lectured about this so-called necessary process.
They forget that strictly cultural needs are not always the best where facilities are limited, seasons differ, and help is scarce and uninformed.
Enemies and Evils
More enemies and evils are ready to pounce upon lilted bulbs than upon those left in the ground.
Think of the mildews, insects, rodents, human carelessness, and accidents in storage.
Loss of labels and the double labor involved when bulbs are brought above ground for their “recommended” 3 to 5 months of rest and curing.
Undisturbed Tulip Bulbs
If it is at all possible and fitting in the general garden plan, tulip bulbs should be left undisturbed for the years you want them to do their best.
If large plantings have to be taken up, do so 2 or 3 weeks after blooming. Immediately remove the stems and foliage and cure on a dry floor out of the sun for 6 to 8 days.
Then separate out all bulbs the thickness of a man’s thumb. Throw away all smaller bulbs if you’re not interested in commercial production.
Sizes of Tulip Bulbs
For an amateur gardener, the cost of trying to raise small bulbs to good flowering size is much greater than fresh top-size bulbs would cost initially. Replant the large bulbs from September 15 on.
Every gardener is entitled to three seasons of bloom from freshly planted bulbs.
To accomplish this requires very little care and brings the cost of tulip enjoyment down to about 3 cents per bulb per year—based on tulips costing $9.00 per 100.
Starting the venture with top-size bulbs is ¾ of the surety of having three years of success.
Power, Beauty, and Longevity of Bulbs
Under our hemisphere’s suburban weather and soil conditions, small or young bulbs do not increase in “power, beauty, and longevity.” Not in amateur gardens in any event.
There is a particular challenge in buying young bulbs; usually, a fatal challenge when results are compared with the neighbor who started with $9.00 bulbs simultaneously.
All Tulip Varieties: Best Flowers for Bulb Measuring
Almost all tulip varieties produce their best flowers from bulbs measuring 12 cm. (4 ½” inches) around the thickest part.
The best bulbs for planting should be nearly 5” inches around or larger. Some varieties make bulbs larger than 12 cm, and a few are top-size bulbs at 11 cm.
Generally, then, for a 3-year minimum plan, buy 12 cm. bulbs which cost Amin $9.00 per 100. Plant on October, 7” inches deep for regular blooming or 3” inches deep for early blooming.
Twist the stalks 2 or 2 weeks after the flowers are finished, stir the soil a bit, and apply a light dressing of bonemeal. Following these simple directions will give you the most tulip enjoyment.
44659 by Hendrik Langeler