Tulips in containers

[Florence Fennel]

This may sound daft, but who cares? I have lots of pots with tulip bulbs and there's only a couple of inches of growth right now. My questions are - is this normal for the time of year and would they benefit from a feed?

[Alison]

I thought bulbs had all the nutrients in them for that years growth and then needed to replenish themselves after they've flowered before they die down again. When they flower will depend on the variety though so if they're later than you expect then maybe they're a later variety.

[Florence Fennel]

That makes complete sense Alison, thanks - I'll not waste the plant food!

[Alison]

I'd check with a second opinion though Florence, I'm not very well up on flowering things

[Florence Fennel]

Me neither! I'm wondering now if I should water them? Might go out and check if the soil is moist - I'm anxious not to encourage rot. Strikes me that veg are easier

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

FF, like Allison said, they take in nutrients from the year before they die back! Always a favourite to give em a good "glug" of "Pot hash" before they do so!

But once "Pot Grown" 1st year they recommend putting em in open ground for the second! To flourish!

A lot of the top gardeners treat em as annuals, but here, I'm with you! I ain't got that a amount of money to "Splash" every year! Start bringing em back into growth, with a little watering, I have done with mine!

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks Deano - the ones I've got at the back of the house are new and I guess I'm over anxious! Nursing a glass of white now so I'll water them all tomorrow -it's time to look for a throw out

[Jungle Jane]

Tulips are later to flower than crocus & daffs,don't worry,it's good work growths appeared slightly,some of mine are tiny too,but some are more mature with unopened buds,but there's different varieties out there. Last year mine were in flower at the same time my plum tree was leafy it has no leaves at the mo. Some bulbs could be April - June flowering. I don't water them or anything they should be ok with enough moisture from the rain,even if the top looks dry,a couple of inches down it could be wet?

[Florence Fennel]

Would that apply for containers though Jane? I'll check tomorrow anyway

[Jungle Jane]

I don't think there would be much of a time difference because of being pot grown,some varieties are later to flower than others.

[WendyC]

I have tried over the years to get tulips to flower the following year but I haven't got the time or space to plant them out, feed etc for a couple of years. I do treat them as annuals now. I have tulips in pots at home and a few rows for cut flowers at the allotment. I would say they are at the same stage of growth, with perhaps the allotment ones slightly further behind, as it's more exposed there than my sheltered south facing garden.

[rary]

florence I just planted some tulip bulbs last week, I did mix in some feeding when I planted them and once they have flowered l give them six weeks or so as the leaves feed the bulb, I would recomend lifting the bulbs and storing them for next year, as they are prone to rotting, well in my garden anyway.

[bramble]

Flo, they should be fine. It wont do any harm if you want to feed them. Is this their first year in pots?

[lolie]

florence I just planted some tulip bulbs last week, I did mix in some feeding when I planted them and once they have flowered l give them six weeks or so as the leaves feed the bulb, I would recomend lifting the bulbs and storing them for next year, as they are prone to rotting, well in my garden anyway.

I've grown them in pots and they're prone to rotting and disease in pots, too, so it's definitely a good idea to lift them.

[Gillykat]

I bought some bulbs last autumn and put them in containers and they too are only a couple of inches tall at the moment. They look perfectly healthy though so I think they'll be ok

Good advice re lifting them once the foliage has died back - I'll do that and store them in the shed. I cannot afford to keep buying fresh every autumn!!!