Has anyone planted tulips yet?

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by Jess91, Oct 31, 2024.

  1. Jess91

    Jess91 Gardener

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    As title really.
    The usual advice is to plant in November to avoid tulip fire, but it has been so mild here in East Yorkshire, with day time temps around 15 degrees.
    I'm thinking it may still be too early? Has anyone else done theirs yet?
     
  2. katecat58

    katecat58 Gardener

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    I've done mine in pots - a couple of weeks ago actually.

    Bit busy in November with daughter's wedding!
     
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    • akwe-xavante

      akwe-xavante Gardener

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      Done mine on the North Yorkshire coast. Still got Foxgloves and Dahlias flowering
       
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      • LawnAndOrder

        LawnAndOrder Gardener

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        Thank you for that! Mrs Lao is doing it as I write. I am rushing out to tell her about “tulip fire”. I’d never heard of it. I don’t think she’s heard of it, either; and her outdoors being Dutch and all”!
         
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        • JennyJB

          JennyJB Keen Gardener

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          I haven't planted mine yet. No hurry, they'll be fine any time up until about Christmas. I only have one bag but I might get more if the shops start reducing them to make way for more seasonal tat.
           
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          • AnniD

            AnniD Gardener

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            All mine are in pots. It may be early, but life gets in the way, so it was either now or who knows when. However they can wait if you're not in a hurry :smile:.
             
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            • lizzie27

              lizzie27 Super Gardener

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              No, it's far too warm here. Tulip bulbs need a cold spell. Anytime up to end December will do.
               
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              • Butterfly6

                Butterfly6 Gardener

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                I did the ones going in pots yesterday as I had wallflowers going in as well which needed to be planted. I’ve done them at various times over the years, usually dictated by when time has allowed so from September to as late as between Christmas and NY
                 
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                • fairygirl

                  fairygirl Total Gardener

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                  It's not a problem to plant tulips in pots in new compost throughout autumn. It's only when planting in the ground that there's a risk of tulip fire.

                  I can usually plant them in the ground in September as the ground's cold enough here for that, but these recent mild autumns mean it's more problematic if planting in the ground. Mine are mostly potted though, so that's fine.
                   
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                  • Butterfly6

                    Butterfly6 Gardener

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                    I’ve only occasionally planted tulips directly into the ground so although a I haven’t had any problems with tulip fire, it might have been luck rather than judgement.

                    I have got some I want to plant into the garden this year but it’s just too wet at the moment plus my Cosmos and Gloriosa daisies are still going strong
                     
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                    • fairygirl

                      fairygirl Total Gardener

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                      I rarely plant them directly either @Butterfly6 , and only in the driest, most freely draining sites, which are the raised beds against the house walls. The species/botanical ones do quite well, but even those can succumb to the winter wet. If I have the 'normal' tulips, they're usually potted, and then I plant them out to take their chances, as most don't reliably return here anyway. I treat them more like annuals.
                      I also accept that I can lose bulbs each year - of any kind, as they can rot or get eaten. I've planted a load of new ones this year, so looking forward to a good display next year. :smile:
                       
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                      • Jess91

                        Jess91 Gardener

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                        Thank you everyone. They'll be going into pots as we have awful new build soil.

                        I think I might give it a few weeks.
                         
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                        • LawnAndOrder

                          LawnAndOrder Gardener

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                          Yes, Mrs L. started yesterday ... but HELP ... this morning quite a few of the bulbs had been dug up by squirrels. Not that they eat them, mind you, they just leave them on my grass!

                          They used to suggest the use of paraffin to keep the f …... riendly poachers away, but it's no longer legal apparently. Do you have any advice re the protection of one's jeopardized property, I wouldn’t want our lovely squirrels to become an endangered species.
                           
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                          • AnniD

                            AnniD Gardener

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                            • akwe-xavante

                              akwe-xavante Gardener

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                              Never heard of Tulip Fire before, googled it and i'm not aware that i've suffered Tulip Fire in the past, and it's something i'll look out for in future.

                              I've always unwittingly planted out Tulip bulbs into the ground from late October onwards as soon as the ground is soft enough.

                              I've never dug them up to store over the summer either, the majority flower the following years but some re-flower without the first year's size and vigour
                               
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