Too late to plant tulips?

Well, is it?

My parents-in-law have a lovely planter that is currently empty and would look wonderful simply crammed full of tulips. I see a lot of garden centres are flogging off tulips half price so was thinking of a Christmas present for them.

And if not tulips, any other bulbs I could plant now for a display in Spring?

Thanks

 

Hi Aaron,

If the bulbs are sound and not squishy then they will be fine if you plant them now. I have planted them all the way through January and they have come up-if a little late. I personally would say the end of January is probably the very latest.

 

Thanks Claire, that's good to know.

 

Being pathologically forgetful teaches you a lot lol

 

Hi Aaron.

Gardener's Question Time recently reviewed trials that were carried out in the north and the south on planting tulip bulbs at different times. If I remember corectly, you can still plant them up until the end of January (and possibly into February) and they still come up, just a few days later than those planted earlier. So, you should be okay if you plant them up now - and get a bargain! I must look in my local garden centre.

Chris

 

Yep, tulips are best planted late, in November or December, that way they are less prone to viruses!

Daffs are best put in early as they need to get their roots out

 

Tulips Last January our garden centre had"fill a bag for £1" my bag held 20 ,I layered them in a pot,they were a bit late but very lovely.My Brother is neater than me, got 24 in his bag.

 

I have planted two tulip bulbs in a plastic container, made some holes in the bottom and used a multi-purpose compost. The bulb tips are just showing through the top of the compost. I have placed the box (unsealed) in a cupboard, wheer it is dark and cool, and am watering it on average once a day.

 

Hi Simon,

I think you are confusing tulips with hyacinths perhaps. Tulips need to go outside and planted twice their height in depth, not with their tips showing.

 

Thanks for all the replies. We've been away (in Amsterdam, amongst other places) and I was tempted to buy some of the tulips for sale in the flower market, but I'm glad I didn't. Was at parents-in-law place this morning and their garden is covered in snow and frozen solid!! Might wait until it warms up before planting some!