Plant Tulips bulbs from October to December, right up until Christmas, in a sunny spot with well draining soil. Tulips will tolerate a bit of shade but dislike wet feet which will ultimately lead to bulb rot.

Prepare the site by removing any weeds or stones and use a trowel to loosen and aerate the soil. Dig a hole large enough to fit all of the bulbs that you are planting, working 6"-10" deep and about 6" apart, making sure the pointed end of the bulb is up in the ground. In warmer climates plant bulbs deeper than 10 inches; the deeper you plant a tulip, the tougher it will be. Tulips planted deeper have thicker stems and fall over less often. 1) alternate rows of early, mid, and late blooming tulips so you may enjoy tulips throughout the entire season! 2) plant tulips later in the season to avoid squirrels' peak gathering time—no one wants to worry about tulips being scavenged!

Caring for Your Plants

Fertilize the bulbs when the foliage pushes through the soil in spring with a general low-nitrogen organic fertilizer. Remove spent flowers as soon as the bulbs finish blooming to encourage the plant to send energy to the bulb growth. Allow the foliage to wither completely before you remove it and avoid summer irrigation. Tulips prefer to be dry during their dormancy. Darwin hybrid tulips will bloom the following year and sometimes the third year, but most will need to be replanted year after year.