Storing & overwintering tulip bulbs

Frederike

I am a student of agricultural sciences and a real country kid. At home, I love tending my small vegetable garden and spending time out in nature. When not outdoors, I love to write. Beyond gardening and writing, however, I am particularly passionate about wildlife.

Favourite fruit: currants and raspberries
Favourite vegetables: salsify, savoy cabbage and potatoes

It is impossible to imagine parks and gardens without tulips. In order for them to bloom again every year, tulip bulbs should be properly stored and overwintered.

collection of tulip bulbs — For yearly flowering, tulip bulbs need to be stored properly [Photo: Volker Rauch/ Shutterstock.com]

Every year between March and May, tulips bloom in a variety of colours. Most varieties are perennial and can be overwintered. Learn the best tips and tricks for storing tulip bulbs in this article.

Contents

Which tulip bulbs are perennial?
Digging up and storing tulip bulbs
- Overwintering tulip bulbs
- Oversummering tulip bulbs

Which tulip bulbs are perennial?

Almost all tulips are perennial in our country, although the single tulip bulb is annual. So how do tulip flowers reappear every year?
In summer, under optimal conditions, the mother bulb forms a daughter bulb before dying. The daughter bulb is a genetically identical copy of the mother bulb and flowers the following year. Only frost-sensitive varieties are annuals in our country, unless you overwinter them in a warmer place. Among the most robust varieties are Darwin tulips, Vidiflora tulips and wild tulips. Lily-flowered tulips also prove to be extremely hardy.

Darwin hybrid tulips in bloom — Darwin tulips come in a variety of colours and are considered very hardy [Photo: EQRoy/ Shutterstock.com]

In addition to the variety, the location and care also determine whether the tulip will produce a recurring bloom. The place should be sunny, warm and not too densely planted. Tulips kept in pots are especially susceptible to frost, as the soil can freeze through completely. In addition, shaded spots and waterlogging can also shorten the life of the bulbs.
Tulips that are purchased cheaply in the spring as ornamental plants, are usually more susceptible than those from specialised perennial nurseries due to the way they are cultivated. With the latter, you can count on the fact that the beautiful plants will bloom again every year with proper care and choice of location – but their price is somewhat higher.

Digging up and storing tulip bulbs

Tulip bulbs need to be dug up and stored over summer. For overwintering, on the contrary, this is not necessary, because the bulbs of garden tulips are hardy.

Tip: Even in optimal tulip sites, that is, in well-drained, loose soils and in full sun, the quality of the daughter bulb will decline from year to year until the plant finally dies.

dug up tulip bulbs — After the growing season, the foliage turns yellow – this is the time to prune tulips [Photo: ajlatan/ Shutterstock.com]

Overwintering tulip bulbs

Tulip bulbs can be overwintered in garden soil or a container at temperatures down to -23 ° C. They should not be stored indoors, as they need a cold stimulus to form flowers, and warm temperatures can because early budding.

Overwintering in garden soil

To overwinter, leave your tulip bulbs in the garden soil. Protect them from frost with foliage or fir branches.

Overwintering in a container

If the tulip bulbs are overwintered in a pot or balcony box, it is important to keep them away from frost. However, since the bulbs need a cold stimulus for flowering, they should still not be overwintered indoors. The pot or balcony box should first be wrapped with fleece, and then placed on a polystyrene board or a block of wood in front of a protective south-facing wall of the house. This will keep the bulbs warm enough to avoid frost damage. Alternatively, the entire pot or box can be buried in the ground. Then, in the spring, you can dig it up again.

purple prince tulips in bloom — Potted tulips need to be overwintered properly [Photo: Peter Turner Photography/ Shutterstock.com]

Tulip bulbs in the spring

During the spring, tulips form their beautiful flowers. In the process, they draw their nutrients from the mother bulb. At the same time, a new daughter bulb is formed on the mother bulb, which must be supplied with water and nutrients. Therefore, fertilisation is very important during this period, as well as a regular supply of water.
You can apply a small amount of organic fertiliser, such as our Plantura Flower Food, to nutrient-poor sites at the beginning of budbreak as a precaution. This slowly releases nutrients and thus prevents overfertilisation.

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Oversummering tulip bulbs

Once the daughter bulb has formed, the foliage will wither – it is better to cut it off. Then the bulbs can be dug up, cleaned and stored over summer. Oversummering is important for the formation of a miniature tulip inside the daughter bulb.

tulip leaves emerging from soil — Apply fertiliser when the tulip leaves start coming out of the ground in spring [Photo: Abigail’s photos/ Shutterstock.com]

Tulip bulbs are unfortunately susceptible to rot and pests if they are forced to spend the summer in moist, compacted, clay soils or cool shade. In addition, the daughter bulb will not develop well in the soil, because tulips are originally from warmer countries. In this country, the soil can not warm up enough as would be appropriate for the young tulip bulbs. So digging up and oversummering is essential in our country if you want to see beautiful tulips bloom every year.

Once the foliage is completely yellowed and cut off, the bulbs can be carefully dug up. For this purpose, a digging fork or spade is suitable. The bulbs will have completely changed their appearance since they were planted: on the outside you will see the old brown sheath layers of the mother bulb.
Once they are removed, the new daughter bulb can be found inside. This daughter bulb will need to be over-summered, so that it can produce new flowers the following year. If there are additional smaller tulip bulbs attached, you can dispose of them with a clear conscience. They are not developed vigourously enough and would rob the largest bulb of its energy. You can then store the tulip bulbs and keep them over the summer.

tulip bulbs and daughter bulbs — It is common for more than one daughter bulb to form [Photo: Evgenia Tuzinska/ Shutterstock.com]

In order for the daughter bulb to create a mini-tulip inside during the summer months, it needs storage temperatures around 20 °C. The more ventilation the bulbs have, the better they keep. Wooden boxes lined with paper are suitable for storing tulip bulbs. However, they can also be laid out on a metal grid or stored in a box with sand. Alternatively, you also have the option of hanging them in nets. You should regularly dispose of any rotten or mouldy bulbs. Tulip bulbs can be stored until mid-October, when they should be replanted in the garden soil or tub.

Tip: Label the boxes with the variety name and flower colour – this way you can correctly lay out the tulip bulbs in autumn.

tulip bulbs stored for summer — After digging up your tulip bulbs in summer, store them on a metal grate [Photo: Volker Rauch/ Shutterstock.com]

In the autumn, plant the bulbs in airy, humus-rich soil with a planting distance of 15 to 20 centimetres. n addition to these necessary properties, our Plantura Organic Flower Compost, which promotes healthy soil through its high compost content, is suitable for planting in containers. Learn how to plant tulip bulbs, in our dedicated article.

Tip: You can still plant the bulbs after October. However, keep in mind that the ground will eventually begin to freeze, making digging tedious.