"Growing Tulips" If Holland is famous for anything, it's growing tulips!However, tulips didn't originate in Holland. They came from Turkey, where the climate is much hotter and drier.Over the past couple of centuries, the dutch have been ironing out all the glitches, and made growing tulips a national phenomenon. Wild tulips rarely grow more than 6 inches (15cm) high. The new hybrid varieties, which often grow to a height of 12 inches (30cm) or more can be damaged by wind and should therefore be planted in a sheltered spot.  Growing tulips in your garden:The soil should be fairly sandy and well-drained. Plant your tulip bulbs in October-December ( double check for your region ) about 6-8 inches (15-20cm) deep. Keep soil moist but never water-logged. Watch out for slugs in the first month or so after planting. If you're intending to mix other bedding plants in your tulip bed, these should be planted before planting the tulip bulbs to avoid damage to the bulbs. Some bedding plants need planting later in the year. To get round this, you can plant the bedding plants in a border. Leave a clear space for the bedding plants when you plant your tulip bulbs. Many tulip growers stick to growing tulips in their own tulip patch. Mix and match the colours and heights. There are hundreds of varieties:
Getting tulips to grow in your garden is pretty straightforward and as long as the ground has some moisture and is not water-logged ( watch out for this during the winter months ) the tulips should be fine. If you come across any distorted growth or blackening of the leaves, lift the bulbs and destroy. If you buy your bulbs from a reputable grower you shouldn't have too much trouble with diseased bulbs. Lift your bulbs when the foliage has died back completely. If you have the time, you can plait the leaves while they are drying to enhance their appearance! NB: Check on instructions for your particular variety as there are some new hybrids that don't need lifting. If you don't lift your tulip bulbs, you may still get a good show next year, but many varieties will dwindle over the years. After lifting the bulbs, keep them in a dry place all summer ready for planting again in Autumn next year. Happy Gardening! More "Growing tulips" Reading
Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Flowers Page Back To Flower And Garden Tips Homepage Click Here To Subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growingtulips.html |
Gurneys have a selection - for U.S. customers.
Thompson & Morgan deliver to UK addresses.
