Q&A - Tulips

This just might be my favorite question ever....from Taryn who is in 5th grade in Waxahachie, Texas.

Question: I'm doing a research project on tulips, and I just read an article you wrote on tulips. So I was wondering:

. What are the main tips to growing tulips?

. About how long does it take to grow a single bulb?

. How do you think the tulip's population affect the society?

Thank you again for taking your time and helping me with this project!

Answer: Hi Taryn,

Did you know there's an entire book called "The Tulip" written by Anna Pavord, and it's a big best-seller? You might want to get a copy from your public library. In the meantime, here are the answers to your questions:

How to grow tulips:

-Tulips  grow from bulbs that need to be planted in a sunny location in soil that drains well. So if you have thick, heavy soil, it's best to plant tulips in pots or raised beds so the bulbs don't rot. You plant tulip bulbs about 4-6" deep, pointed side up in late autumn, for they need to be chilled over the winter. There are many different kinds of tulips that bloom at different times from March through May, so if you plan well, you can have tulips in bloom for months.

-How long does it take to grow a single bulb? Plant it in October, and it'll bloom the following spring.

-The bright, cheerful colors of tulips, and the fact they bloom in springtime, have cheered human beings up for centuries. In fact, hundreds of years ago, people in Holland considered tulips to be precious beyond jewels. Today we have so many colors, heights and shapes of tulips to choose from that its great fun to choose which we like best.  Also when you plant tulips in autumn, it is exciting and comforting to think about how they'll bloom in springtime.

Good luck with your research project, and I hope it inspires you to grow some tulips in your own garden.

These are all easy-to-grow Darwin hybrid tulips; photos courtesy of White Flower Farm

'Apricot Impression'

    

'Garant'

'Banja Luka'

 

Comments

[Taryn]

Thank you so much for putting me in your blog! Those flowers you put
on it everyday are very beautiful! I'll be sure to look at it for gardening tips! In the meantime, I will be getting my questions together
and emailing them to you as soon as I can.
P.S.
Thanks!!! ( Your helping me tremendously on my project!)
Taryn