Hi everyone! I was passing a local business and saw them digging up their tulip bed after blooming. They offered me the bulbs they were composting, and I ended up with around 50 of them! I'm in the northern US, and I'm excited to plant them next year, but I'm wondering if I should plant them now or wait until fall, which is when I usually plant new bulbs. What would you recommend?
2 Answers
If the leaves are still attached to the bulbs, then you should plant them now! Those leaves are essential for helping the bulbs regenerate for next year.
It's best to get those bulbs in the ground now! They can wait until fall, but they'll thrive better when you plant them right away. Just a heads up, keep in mind that second-year tulips can be a bit tricky, but with some care, they'll multiply!
Thanks for the tip! I'm not too worried if they don’t do great next year, as long as they're healthy in the long run.
Not the OP, but I live in Zone 8a and planted tulips and hyacinths this year. Should I just leave them in the ground or dig them up to store? I was planning on planting more in the same area.
Got it! Half of them have leaves, so I'll plant those and let the others dry out!