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Key Takeaways
- Tulips were once a hot commodity, leading to an economic crash in Holland in the 17th century.
- Plant tulip bulbs in the fall for successful growth, ensuring proper chilling period before blooming.
- Provide tulips with sunlight, water, and regular care like deadheading to thrive and produce blooms annually.
Get ready to tiptoe through the tulips and take a walk down memory lane! Adored for their bright and cheerful blooms, tulips are perennial flowers that appear in the garden every spring. Their attractive blooms come in a range of alluring colors, like rosy pink, radiant yellow, and vibrant orange. While they are quite common in gardens nowadays, tulips were once a very expensive and sought-after flower in history, but do you know why?
Learn about the fascinating history of tulips, along with when to plant tulips, and how to successfully grow them in the garden.
The History of Tulips
What's special about tulips?
Back in the 17th century, tulips were first introduced into Europe and quickly took Holland and the Netherlands by storm. Often referred to as tulip mania, the rise and fall of tulip prices reflects one of the first speculative bubbles ever recorded in history. The frenzy started in 1634, causing tulip prices to soar, and by 1637 the entire market crashed, significantly impacting the Dutch economy.
- During this time, these flowers were extremely sought-after, especially by the wealthy who considered tulips to be a status symbol in society. Tulips were labeled as a luxury item, and were popular not only for their range of rare and beautiful colors, but also for their ability to withstand the harsh European climate.
- As the desire for tulips became more and more intense, middle and working-class families also became swept up in the tulip frenzy. People everywhere wanted to get their hands on tulip bulbs, and some even went to great lengths to do so — signing various contracts and agreements, using credit and mortgages to finance their tulip obsession.
- Eventually, by 1637, the speculative bubble burst as tulip prices reached an all-time high, and people were no longer able to fulfill their agreed-upon contracts. This left many families and workers forced to declare bankruptcy, as they were unable to pay their outstanding debts.
- During this major crash, the Court of Holland had to halt and freeze tulip trading agreements, to help the economy recover.
So, what's special about tulips? Now you know that these popular flowers were once so in demand that they almost ruined an entire economy in Holland. Looking back on history, it's crazy to think that a simple flower like tulips was once such a hot commodity!
When to Plant Tulips
Plant your tulip bulbs at the correct time
When it comes to tulips and flowers, planting them at the right time of year is vital to their overall success in the garden. The best time to plant tulips is between September through to November, depending on your climate and frost date.
- Plant tulip bulbs in the fall, when temperatures range between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, about six to eight weeks before the ground freezes. Choose a sunny spot that has well-draining soil and receives anywhere from six to eight hours of sunlight each day.
- Plant tulip bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep and place one bulb per hole, spacing 4 to 6 inches apart.
- Your garden soil should be cool when you are planting, but not freezing. Before planting your bulbs, check the frost date for your area and hold off on planting until you are sure the soil is cool.
- Tulips require a period of chilling before they bloom in the spring, approximately 12 weeks of cooler temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. During this chilling period, your tulip bulbs will begin to establish a strong root system before the ground starts to freeze.
Come spring, tiptoe through the tulips and enjoy their beauty! When spring arrives and temperatures begin to increase, tulips will emerge from the ground, showcasing their bright, colorful blooms in the garden.
Caring for Tulips in the Garden
Provide your tulips and flowers with regular care to thrive
After planting your bulbs, continue to provide your tulips with proper care and maintenance to keep them flourishing and producing new blooms every year.
- Sunlight: Tulips require plenty of bright, direct sunlight for maximum growth and beautiful blooms. Opt for a garden location that receives between six and eight hours each day.
- Watering: After planting, water your tulip bulbs weekly, providing 1 inch of water until the ground freezes. Once spring arrives and leaves emerge on your plants, begin watering again once a week. Hold off on watering during heavy periods of rain, as you do not want to overwater and rot your bulbs.
- Pruning: After the blooms fade on your tulips, deadhead and remove the flowers, while still leaving the leaves intact. Allow the leaves to remain for up to six weeks or until the foliage turns yellow. During this time, your plant is gathering energy to produce blooms for the following year. Pruning or removing the leaves too early will impact flowering next spring.
- Fertilizer: Apply a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 9-9-6 at planting, or once a year in the fall. During this time, your plant is growing and establishing new roots and is better able to absorb essential nutrients. Avoid fertilizing in the spring, as shortly after the plant goes dormant for the summer months, and will not benefit from a boost of nutrients.
Tiptoe Through the Tulips!
Now that you know the history of tulips and when to plant tulips in the garden, consider growing these attractive flowers and watch them reappear in the garden year after year. Tulips and flowers make a wonderful addition to your garden space, adding a pop of color to your landscape with their cheerful blooms. To keep your plants happy, provide tulips with plenty of direct sunlight, deadhead spent flowers every spring, and apply a dose of nutrients in the fall.
