Planting tulips for seasonal colour
Why not enjoy the crisp autumn air and plant some tulips ready for flowering in spring?
Planning ahead for glorious spring colour in your garden feels especially worthwhile as winter approaches and the days grow darker and shorter. And if you thought it was too late to plant bulbs, think again.
Tulips grow well when planted between September and December. The key is to plant as soon as you can after buying or receiving by mail order so the
Tulips are ideal for both pots and borders – you can use them as seasonal bedding plants, but there are also varieties suitable for permanent planting, or even naturalising in wilder spots in the garden.
There is a wide range of flower colour to choose from; including white-cream, yellow-orange, blue-purple, red-pink, even greens and dark black-purple. Flower shape adds to this diversity, with single-, double-, lily-flowered, viridiflora, fringed and parrot forms. Different tulip cultivars flower from early to late spring, so careful planning can give a succession of colour for months on end.
Space bulbs at least twice their width apart, and plant them at a depth of two to three times their height. The pointed end of the bulb should be uppermost.
More advice on growing and choosing tulips
Discover tulips; varieties and more
Video: Planting tulips in a border
Buy tulip books from RHS Shop
