Tulips are one of the most popular spring flowers. Their bright blooms make gardens look beautiful. A lot of gardeners treat them like annuals and plant new bulbs every fall. You can dig up tulip bulbs and plant them again for years of beauty.
Learning proper techniques for digging up and storing bulbs ensures you get the most out of these lovely flowers. With some basic care, tulips can rebloom for 5 years or more.
When to Dig Up Tulip Bulbs
Timing is critical when harvesting tulip bulbs. Follow these tips:
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Wait until all foliage has turned completely yellow before digging. This lets the leaves feed the bulb so it can bloom again next year.
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Dig up bulbs by early to mid June at the latest. Later risks damaging them.
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In warmer climates, dig earlier by late May to prevent premature sprouting.
How to Dig Up Tulip Bulbs
Follow these steps for successfully digging up bulbs:
1. Loosen the Soil
Use a garden fork or shovel to gently loosen the soil around the tulips, at least 6 inches from the stems. Avoid slicing bulbs.
2. Lift Bulbs
Once soil is loose, carefully lift bulbs by hand, cradling them if soil is dry.
3. Remove Foliage
Trim off yellow leaves, leaving 2 inch stems. Don’t pull leaves to avoid damaging bulbs.
4. Clean Bulbs
Use a soft brush to remove soil. Avoid washing as excess moisture causes rot. Handle gently.
5. Cure Bulbs
Curing allows bulbs to dry for storage. Details below.
How to Cure Tulip Bulbs
Proper curing prepares bulbs for replanting:
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Spread bulbs in a single layer in a cool, dry, airy spot indoors or outdoors.
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Place on screens or racks for airflow underneath if possible
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Cure for 4-6 weeks Bulbs are cured when papery and outer shells loosen.
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Discard any damaged, diseased or mushy bulbs. Healthy bulbs will be firm.
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Store cured bulbs in mesh bags or open crates in a cool, dry spot.
When to Replant Tulip Bulbs
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In cold climates, replant fall bulbs late September to late November before ground freezes.
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In warm climates, delay planting until December or January for best flowers.
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Plant cured bulbs 4-6 inches deep and 6 inches apart in well-drained, enriched soil.
Tips for Continued Success
Follow these tips for tulip bulbs that thrive for years:
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Divide crowded clumps every 2-3 years to prevent overcrowding and reduced flowering.
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Add new bulbs to refresh displays since hybrids rarely persist. Species tulips are more persistent.
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Rotate planting sites to improve drainage and reduce disease.
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Remove spent flowers but leave foliage until yellow to nourish bulbs.
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Allow seed pod development for self-seeding.
If you pick, dry, store, and replant your tulips the right way, they will bloom again and again for many springs. After carefully digging up and taking care of the bulbs every season, it’s nice to see those flowers come back every year.
FAQ About Digging Up Tulip Bulbs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about properly harvesting tulip bulbs:
How do you dig up tulip bulbs?
With a hand trowel, dig a trench 8 inches deep around the plants. Then, carefully pull out the bulbs by hand. Carefully remove any remaining soil and trim off foliage.
What happens if bulbs are dug up too early?
Digging bulbs before foliage fully yellows prevents them from replenishing nutrients for next year’s bloom. Wait until leaves yellow completely.
How do you get rid of old tulip bulbs?
Follow the same process as digging them up for replanting. Discard any bulbs that appear damaged or diseased during curing rather than storing them.
How do you store tulip bulbs after digging?
After digging up bulbs, allow them to cure for 4-6 weeks in a cool, dry spot. Then pack cured bulbs in mesh bags or open crates and store in a cool, dark place until autumn planting.
How long do stored tulip bulbs last?
With proper harvesting, curing and storage, tulip bulbs can be replanted and bloom successfully for 5 years or longer. Hybrid bulbs have shorter life spans than species.
Should tulip bulbs be divided?
It’s best to divide crowded clumps every 2-3 years to prevent overcrowding and encourage vigorous flowering. Also replace aging hybrid bulbs with new ones.
When is the best time to replant tulip bulbs?
Replant cured bulbs in late autumn before ground freezes, around late September to November in colder climates. Delay planting until December or January in warmer climates.
Following proper techniques for digging up and storing bulbs results in healthy tulips that return reliably for years. Pay close attention to timing and care when harvesting bulbs from the garden. With a little effort, you can enjoy tulip blooms spring after spring.
When to Dig Up Tulips?
When to dig up tulips is just as important as how to dig them up. Digging tulips prematurely can kill them. If you want to dig up tulip bulbs, don’t be in a hurry. Do not get the shovel out yet, even though the plants will look worse once the flowers are gone. Tulips flower in spring and, by early summer, their bright blooms are wilting. You can go ahead and deadhead the unsightly blooms, but wait until the foliage yellows to dig up bulbs. A tulip bulb contains not only the tiny plant but also all the nutrition that the plant needs to make it through the winter and bloom the following spring. Once tulips finish flowering, they use their leaves and roots to gather nutrients and fill up the storage containers with supplies. If you dig up the bulb too soon, it won’t have had a chance to get all the nutrients it needs. Only dig out the bulbs when you see the leaves of the plants turning yellow and wilting.
Do You Have to Dig Up Tulip Bulbs?
No law requires gardeners to dig up tulip bulbs each year, or at all. In fact, most bulbs prefer to stay in the ground, and, left in place, rebloom the following year. Gardeners only dig up tulip bulbs when the plants seem less vigorous and offer fewer flowers, which can indicate overcrowding. If you feel that your tulips aren’t doing as well as they did last year, dig them up. But before you do, find out when to dig up tulips. You should never dig up bulbs. If you do, you might dig them up at the wrong time.