Hey everyone! I'm moving this spring, with a tentative closing date set for May 30th, and I really want to take some of my cherished garden plants with me, especially the tulips my mom gave me last year. Since I'm more accustomed to indoor plants, I'm a bit anxious about moving these tulips. Is it okay to dig them up and bring them along, whether I plant them right away or put them in planters, depending on when I can move into the new house? My mother-in-law thinks they won't survive if I dig them up now and should only do it in the fall. I live in Ontario Canada, 6b zone, and my tulips have already started sprouting a few inches this spring. What do you guys think?
2 Answers
Absolutely, you can take your tulips with you! Just be sure to dig them up carefully, getting as many roots as possible, and keep them moist until you can replant them. They might not look great after being moved, but the chances are you won't lose too many. If you can do this within a couple of days, just keep them in a bucket with some moisture. If it takes longer than that, consider potting them to keep the roots in soil until you can plant them in your new garden. Just keep an eye on them if there's a long wait between your current and new homes!
Your mother-in-law means well, but she's mistaken about the timing. Once the tulips die back, you can definitely dig them up and move them. I'm also in a 6b zone, and by the end of May, my tulips are usually gone. If it helps, you can put a clause in your sales contract to allow you to dig them up at a more suitable time in the fall. It's not that unusual, and I've seen it done when sellers want to preserve their plants.
That makes sense! It sounds like we might be stuck for a few weeks or even a month between houses, unfortunately. I haven’t found a new place yet, so timing is a bit uncertain. I guess I'll just ensure I have movable pots ready and keep them there until it's safer to plant them again in the fall.