Hey everyone! I'm wondering if anyone here has successfully grown tulips using milk crates as planters. I came across a creator online who does this, and I'm curious about others' experiences with it. I have 150 tulip bulbs arriving in early October and I want to find a budget-friendly way to plant them instead of buying expensive ceramic pots. Just to share a bit more, I'm in zone 5a, living in a wooded area with wildlife around. I have a covered porch where I could store the crates in the winter to keep them from getting soaked but still cold until spring.
2 Answers
I currently use a mix of planters—some are in pots and some are inground. I prefer lightweight plastic or resin planters since I store them in my garage during winter and then bring them out in late winter. Just be cautious with your covered porch; it shouldn't consistently drop below 32°F, or you risk the bulbs freezing. I usually move mine outside when the daytime temp is above freezing and nights are at least 20-25 degrees. By that time, they start sprouting pretty well!
For tulips, you'll need more than just a hand-width of soil in those milk crates, plus you'll have to line each crate properly. I'm not sure where the advantage lies with using milk crates over other options. If you're worried about cost, you might want to consider plastic pots instead of specifically ceramic ones since they don’t require as much lining and do the job just fine!
Thanks for the tip! This is my first time planting bulbs, so I'm still figuring things out. I didn't realize plastic tubs would work too—very helpful!
Thanks for the advice! Looks like I should keep them in the garage during the coldest months since my porch definitely stays below 32°F.