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Planting Tulips

5 years ago

Thinking of planting tulips bulbs for next spring. Since I have no experience on planting this flower, wondering if this plant will grow well in TX and when will be the best time to plant it? Thanks.

Featured Answer

bostedo: 8a tx-bp-dfw

5 years ago

They can grow well in north Texas, but do not naturalize. There's a tulip farm in Denton county (Texas Tulips) that grows them for the cut floral trade as well as a recently popular visitor/self cut program (with entry fee). The family is originally from Europe with long connections to the Dutch bulb business, where they acquire both the bulbs they plant and sell. Am guessing the bulb varieties sold on their website should do well at least in the northern parts of the state. They give a planting window of mid-December through early January.

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Comments (8)

elaustin
Original Author
5 years ago
I’m in centrual of Texas. Not sure if tulips will grow well. Thinking to buy those bulbs at Costco.
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No it doesn't need to be dedicated to just the tulip bulbs - in fact, it will look far better if it is not!! Ideally, more permanent things like perennials and shrubs should be planted first, then plant the tulips in cluster surrounding them or interspersed through the planting area. The later emerging foliage of the perennials or shrubs will help to disguise the old tulip foliage as you wait for it to brown and die back naturally. I recommend planting the tulips in clusters of at least 5, but more is even better......individual bulb planting doesn't carry much of an impact. Annuals you can fill in with anywhere, although most would look better if used as edging plants. The tulips will do best if in full sun and well drained soil. And where they don't get a lot of extra water in summer when they are dormant. And it is important to know that many tulips do not return well in following years, to the point where many treat them as annuals and replant with fresh bulbs every fall. Species tulips are the best at perennializing (returning) but many of the Darwin hybrids are very good about blooming in subsequent years as well.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Tulips - except for some species tulips - do not naturalize well anywhere! That characteristic has been bred out of them over the years with heavy hybridization.

In warmer southern climates, these should be prechilled before planting. So you can purchase now and then refrigerate for at least 6-8 weeks before planting in the ground. But you will need to consider them essentially as annuals - a one seaason show, then over and done with. Dig up and discard. Make sure no fruit is stored in the frig at the same time. It emits ethylene gas that will abort any flowering with the bulbs.

Bulbs for central Texas
elaustin thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
bostedo: 8a tx-bp-dfw
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
these should be prechilled before planting

Yes, important to check with the seller. Ones from the farm mentioned above and some other on-line sources pre-cool/chill their bulbs.... less certain that this would be done with big box stock.
elaustin thanked bostedo: 8a tx-bp-dfw
TXSkeeter
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Agree that tulip bulbs need to be pre-chilled for a set time and temperature for planting in the DFW area but as important, research the correct TIME to plant the bulbs after the chilling has been completed. Note that even if you follow all the rules and chill yet don't plant almost straight out of the chiller, flower production will invariably suffer (in DFW). Most good independent nurseries can give you that timetable as it will/may vary from year to year.

I'd also invest in buying your tulip bulbs from reputable garden/nursery sources rather than from the pre-packaged bulb rack at the local mega store or home center where the bulbs and tubers were very likely dug and packed many months before with little care after they leave the grower, especially once they arrive at the store. .
elaustin thanked TXSkeeter
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Tulips have a certain charm, but you'd probably get more bang for your buck by planting Ranunculus roots. Most nurseries carry them. Get the largest size they have, soak them, plant them with the fingers pointing down in October or November and stand back for the best spring show you ever saw. There will be plenty for cutting and sharing. They rarely return the next year, so you can just pull them when their long spring blooming spree is over and have room to plant something else.
elaustin thanked roselee z8b S.W. Texas
castro_gardener
5 years ago
I'm with Roselee. Tulips here pretty much need to be treated as a one-time annual. for the price, there are many other bulbs or tubers you could plant for perennial color.
elaustin thanked castro_gardener
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
5 years ago
Daffodils are a great flowering bulb for warm climates. Costco will have a very limited variety selection but an ok place to get you started.
elaustin thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

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