In every tulip bulb lies the vitality for several years of cultivation in the bed and on the balcony, based on a robust winter hardiness. Cold is even essential for flower induction. However, we cannot leave the flower bulbs completely to themselves. Read here which additional measures make sense for magnificent flowering over several years.
Not only the bulbs survive frost and cold, tulip blossoms also survive a little snow
No winter hardiness without the right planting depth
A tulip bulb can only play its trump card of its stable winter hardiness if it is deep enough in the ground. As part of the planting, you set the course for a healthy overwintering. How to do it right:
- Plant tulip bulbs in a sunny spot between mid-October and late November
- The ideal planting pit is two to three times deeper than the bulb is tall
- In hardy regions choose a planting depth of 25 to 30 cm
In loamy, firm soil, the planting depth should be 10-15 cm. Otherwise, in spring, the tulip will take too much energy to rise to the surface and enchant us with its beauty.
Winter protection is recommended here
In the pot and balcony box, the container walls and the small volume of substrate do not provide sufficient protection against frost. Moving to frost-free winter quarters is out of the question for tulips, as the flowers will not sprout in spring without a cold stimulus. This is how your tulips on the balcony get through the cold season:
- Cover planters before the first frost with several layers of jute, fleece or bubble wrap
- Stand in front of the protective south wall of the house
- Push a block of wood or a styrofoam plate (35.50€) under it
If your garden is in a region that is regularly hit by harsh winters, we also recommend taking a few precautions for tulips in the bed. After planting in autumn, mulch with compost or spread a thick layer of leaves fixed with brushwood.
tips
Tulips benefit little from their winter hardiness if they lack the strength to bud in spring. So that tulip bulbs can create an energy reserve after the flowering period, only cut off the foliage when the leaves have all died off. Until then, all the remaining nutrients have been transferred to the inside of the flower bulb.