TULIPS 

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By: Jeremy Brockpahler

(Picture courtesy of Ohio State University horticulture website.)

Tulips are a member of the Lilliaceae family. They are one of the most popular spring-blooming perennial bulbs. Personally, I enjoy them because of the wide variety of colors they can be found in. These colors range from the more common red, pink, yellow and white, to the occasional occurrence of violet, orange, and green. I believe that it is because of their great variety, that long-stemmed tulips are often used as cut flowers.

Typically, large groups of identical colors are planted together. The best example of this, that I have seen in person is on the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campuses, where huge flower beds of tulips are planted. From a distance they appear to be seas of red and yellow. I feel that this method gets the most effect out of the color of the flowers, rather than mixing colors, which would detract from the full beauty.

The season for bloom can vary but is typically for about two weeks in late March, April, or May. Foliage emerging early in the spring is tolerant of temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit without any major damage to the plant. Individual plants can range from 4" to 36" tall depending on the type and cultivar. Tulips perform best in well-drained soils and prefer full sun conditions, however partial shade can be tolerated.

Holland is the chief source for tulip bulbs planted in the United States, each year more than 150 million are imported. The tulip is one of the easiest flowers to grow successfully in the garden. Planting a bulb properly in the fall is almost all you have to do to expect to see a colorful flower in the spring. Bulbs should be planted in a well drained area, wet soil can help promote disease and fungus which can damage the bulbs. Large bulbs should be planted about eight inches deep to the base of the bulb (smaller bulbs should be planted shallower, even as shallow as 2"). The bulbs should then be watered, this promotes their growth so that they will have a strong root system before they enter their winter dormancy. These simple steps should ensure a beautiful flower in the spring, but in order to allow the plant to return to it's beauty each year like a true perennial, other steps must be taken. After the blossoms are past their peak, the flower heads should be clipped off. This allows all of the plant's energy to be put into the root system for development of a healthy bulb for next season. Fertilizing in both the spring and fall is also recommended for beautiful flowers, year after year.

 
SOURCES

-Ohio State University horticulture web page
-www.bulb.com (a very helpful gardening website)
-Text Book "Horticultural Science,"  Jules Janick