How wonderful it is to look out the window in spring and enjoy the riot of colors, incredible tenderness and beauty at a time when tulips are blooming! Transplanting at the right time, to the right place and in the right way is the key to the regular luxurious flowering of these garden flowers in your backyard. So, let's look into each of these questions in more detail.
Tulip transplant: when is the best time to do it?
To choose the most suitable time for transplanting tulips, you need to take into account the fact that their growth and development take place in two stages: first the underground part (bulbs and roots) develops, and then the above-ground part (leaves and, most importantly, flowers). Tulips transplanted in autumn will feel most comfortable, and subject to a number of requirements, they will definitely bloom in spring, because in autumn even young plants will have time to form a bulb, grow roots, and only then die until spring.
So, if you notice thatafter the end of flowering, the leaves of the tulips turned yellow by more than half, and the stem becomes soft, it's time to start preparing for transplanting. This usually happens at the end of June. At this time, the bulbs are dug up and stored in a dry place, shaded from sunlight.
Choosing a transplant location
Tulips, which are transplanted to a site with loose, fertile soil and good lighting, where waterlogging and water accumulation are not observed, will surely delight you with abundant flowering every season. However, it should be remembered that tulip bulbs feel comfortable in the same place without a transplant for no more than 2–2.5 years.
Tulips: transplanting and caring for planting material
October is coming. This means that it is time to deal directly with the process of planting tulip bulbs in a new place. The bulbs dug out in the summer are taken out, sorted out, the shrunken ones are rejected (usually their number does not reach even 10%). There are many folk recipes on how to prepare the bulbs for planting so that they are not afraid of diseases and pests, for example, soak the bulbs in a solution of potassium permanganate or hold them for some time in an airtight bag with garlic cloves.
It is very important to choose the right depth for planting the bulbs. Tulips that are transplanted too deep will suffer from a lack of light and air, and may even die. Experienced gardeners recommend planting bulbs ona depth equal to three times the height of the bulb. With the onset of the first frost, you can cover the area where the tulips were planted with a layer of hay.
As you can see, the process of transplanting tulips is not at all as complicated as it seems at first glance, although it requires some attention. But the result is certainly worth it, because tulips are a symbol of the arrival of spring, the awakening of nature, one of the first garden flowers that delight us after a long cold winter. Surround them with care and attention in the fall, and next season your flower bed will sparkle with bright colors!
