Tulips for Newbies

To tulip or not to tulip? This was the question I wrestled with when I first ventured into flower growing. Time and again, I came across advice from social media, YouTube videos, and seasoned growers, warning me that tulips weren’t worth the effort. They claimed tulips were high-maintenance, time-intensive, and, ultimately, not profitable. Convinced by their skepticism, I decided to steer clear of tulips—until recently.

A YouTube video changed everything. It featured a flower farm in Vermont that specializes in growing tulips year-round, even during the bitter northeastern winters. Their story fascinated me. Not only had they mastered tulip cultivation in a cold climate, but they’d also created a profitable off-season business. Since we plan to relocate to the western Catskills this year, I wondered: Could tulips help us sustain our business during the winter months when other farms are dormant?

Fueled by curiosity, I dove deeper into this farm’s methods and discovered they offer a course called The Tulip Workshop. Tempting as it was, I hesitated to enroll. Instead, I opted to experiment with tulips on my own. How hard could it be? I naively thought. Spoiler alert: It’s a lot harder than I imagined.

After some costly mistakes, I realized tulip growing is far from intuitive. To save you from similar pitfalls, I’m sharing key lessons I’ve learned so far, along with my honest take on whether The Tulip Workshop is worth your time and investment.

Understanding Tulip Bulb Types

Did you know there are different types of tulip bulbs, each at various stages of growth? You did? I didn't. What’s more, some bulbs undergo unique treatments while others don’t. But why does this matter?

If you’re new to tulips, like I was, you might think you can pick the prettiest bulbs, plant them in the ground before winter, and watch the magic happen—not exactly. Choosing the wrong bulbs, not storing them properly, or planting them at the wrong time can lead to disappointing results.

Botanists identify tulips by genus (Tulipa), species (e.g., Tulipa gesneriana, Tulipa tarda), and cultivar (specific cultivated varieties, such as 'Queen of Night' or 'Angelique'). However, from retailers, we purchase tulip bulbs from tulip types based on the following qualities:

1. Shape (refers to the form of the flower):

   1. Single: Classic cup-shaped tulips with one row of petals.

   2. Double: Peony-like tulips with multiple layers of petals.

   3. Parrot: Frilly, feather-like petal edges resembling a parrot's feathers.

   4. Triumph: Hybrid tulips with a robust, single-flowered shape.

   5. Lily-flowered: Slender tulips with pointed petals that flare outward like a lily.

2. Heritage (reflecting botanical origins or breeding history):

   1. Fosteriana (Emperor): Early blooming with large, elongated flowers.

   2. Kaufmanniana (Waterlily): Small, early bloomers with flowers that open flat.

   3. Greigii: Known for their patterned leaves and long-lasting blooms.

   4. Darwin-Hybrid: Tall, large flowers, mid-to-late blooming, excellent for gardens and cut flowers.

   5. Viridiflora: Distinguished by green streaks on their petals.

3. Flowering time (when the tulips bloom):

   1. Early-season: Typically blooms from March to early April.

   2. Mid-season: Blooms mid-April to early May.

   3. Late-season: Blooms from late April into May.

      
      

These are essential qualities to be aware of when you purchase tulip bulbs so you know the best time and way to plant the bulbs you just spent hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars on!

So, for example, you might purchase a crate of Single Early tulip bulbs, a classic tulip with six petals embodying the 'traditional' tulip silhouette. The 'single' refers to their single layer of petals, and the 'early' refers to their blooming period, which will be early Spring from late March to early April.

Treated Bulbs

When a bulb is treated, it has undergone some sort of pre-treatment process to manipulate or optimize its growth and flowering conditions. This includes various methods depending on your desired outcome. Here are some common meanings of a "treated" bulb:

1. Pre-chilled (cold treatment):

   Tulip bulbs that are pre-chilled means they are kept in a refidgerated type of environment for a period of time to mimic their native environment. This cold period is essential for the bulbs to break dormancy and initiate flowering.

   Treated bulbs have been exposed to a cold environment, usually between 40-48 degrees Fahrenheit for several weeks. This is particularly helpful for warmer climates or those that lack cold winters.

2. Heat treatment:

   Some bulbs might be treated with heat to kill pests or diseases. Heat can also prevent fungal issues or help prep bulbs for storage and shipping.

3. Fungacide or pestacide treatement:

   Sometimes, bulbs are treated with fungicides or insecticides to prevent rot, mold, or pest infestations. This treatment ensures that the bulbs stay healthy during storage or planting. These bulbs are often labeled for consumer awareness, especially for those who prefer an organic growing method.

4. Growth regulator treatment:

   In some cases, treated bulbs might be exposed to growth regulators to control sprouting during storage or transportation.

Untreated bulbs are those that are not given any additional cooling time beyond the refrigeration they undergo during transport from the farm or suppliers you buy from.

With an understanding of the various bulb types, learning about the different methods for growing tulips is crucial, as there are multiple approaches!

Planting Tulips

There is more than one way to plant tulips! This was also news to me. So, let's dive into the various ways you can grow tulips.

1. Traditional in-ground planting:

   Plant bulbs 6–8 inches deep in well-drained soil, spaced 4–6 inches apart. Ideal for garden beds or borders.

2. Planting in containers or pots:

   Use a container with drainage, plant bulbs close together but not touching, and keep in a cool location until shoots appear. Great for patios or small spaces.

3. Raised beds:

   Fill raised beds with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil, plant bulbs as in-ground, and mulch for protection. Perfect for areas with poor soil or drainage issues.

4. Indoor forcing:

   Chill bulbs for 8–12 weeks, plant in pots, and keep in a cool, dark spot until shoots develop, then move to a sunny area. Best for enjoying tulips indoors in winter.

5. Hydroponic forcing:

   Place bulbs above water in special hydroponic trays, ensuring only the base touches the water, and keep cool and dark until roots develop, then move to LED lights. Best for enjoying tulips indoors in winter.

Knowing these different methods to grow tulips is important because it allows you to choose a method that best suits your resources, space, and time. Whether you have a large farm, limited patio space, or prefer to grow indoors for the winter season, there's a technique that can match your needs. For example, traditional in-ground planting works great for expansive landscapes, while container plants are ideal for small spaces. Raised beds can solve drainage issues, and indoor or hydroponic forcing lets you enjoy tulips year-round. Understanding these options ensures successful tulip growth, regardless of your circumstances.

Tulip Resources

You now know about the different types of bulbs and ways to plant them; however, this barely scratches the surface of all the growing complexities and nuances when growing tulips. Therefore, I suggest doing your research when planting the tulips. Here are some of the resources that helped me...

Growing tips:

• No-Till Tulip Planting by Jennie Love

• Getting Started by Holland Bulb Farms

• Hydroponic Tulip Trial by Little Farmhouse Flowers

• Tulips with B.A.R.E.Flower Farm

• All About Tulips by Iowa State University

• Interview with Linda D'Arco from Ampersand Bulb Co.

• The Tulip Workshop

Bulb suppliers in the US:

Note: You will need a wholesale account with these sellers.

• Ampersand Bulb Co. www.ampersandbulbco.com

• Netherland Bulb Company, netherlandbulb.com

• Ednie/Ball Horticulture, ballhort.com

• Dutch Grown Pro, pro.dutchgrown.com

• ADR Bulbs, adrbulbs.com

• Leo Berbee, berbeeus.com

Summary

So, did I end up investing in the Tulip Workshop? Yes! After spending hundreds of dollars on the wrong type of bulbs and missing my timeline for planting them, I thought, "Why invest more money in a course?"

Well, I don't want to waste more money on bulbs in the future, and perhaps there is still a way I can utilize the untreated bulbs I purchased in November. There is!

The Tulip workshop explains all the nitty gritty details. I had questions about cooling and growing indoors, recommended tulip types, and overall best practices for growing, harvesting, and selling tulips. I hope that with the mistakes I make now and the new knowledge I'm gaining, I can transform tulips into a profitable solution for Grace Rose Flowers in the winter months.

Stay tuned for updates about our venture into growing tulips indoors with hydroponic trays!