Rembrandt tulips produce striped or “broken” blooms. The white, yellow, or red petals are striped (flamed) with red, bronze, or purple. Rembrandt tulips were sold for huge sums during “tulip mania” in Holland in the seventeenth and…
Rembrandt tulips produce striped or “broken” blooms. The white, yellow, or red petals are striped (flamed) with red, bronze, or purple. Rembrandt tulips were sold for huge sums during “tulip mania” in Holland in the seventeenth and…
Plant the tulip bulbs as soon as possible. Tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs can be planted as late as December if the soil isn’t frozen. After planting, cover the area with several inches of straw, pine needles, or leaves.…
Several things can be done to make it difficult for squirrels to dig up tulip bulbs.
When planting tulips and other spring flowering bulbs, make sure they are planted at the proper depth. Plant tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths 6 to…
Plant spring-flowering bulbs at a depth equal to 3 to 4 times their maximum bulb diameter. Accordingly, daffodils and tulips should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep, crocuses and grape hyacinths 3 to 4 inches deep. Large bulbs, such as…
Plant spring-flowering bulbs at a depth equal to 3 to 4 times their maximum bulb diameter. Accordingly, tulips and daffodils should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep, crocuses and grape hyacinths 3 to 4 inches deep. Large bulbs, such as…
Plant bulbs at a depth equal to two or three times their maximum bulb diameter. Larger bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are often planted 6-8 inches deep. The smaller bulbs like squill, snowdrops and crocus are…
High-quality spring blooming bulbs are large, firm, solid, and purchased from quality retailers, both in-store and online.
When buying bulbs, select only firm, solid bulbs for planting. Avoid bulbs that are…
To successfully force daffodils indoors, you’ll need high quality bulbs, a well-drained commercial potting mix, and suitable containers. Containers for forcing can be plastic, clay, ceramic, or metal. Almost any container can be used…
Spring-flowering bulbs that can be forced indoors include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses. While many bulb varieties can be forced, best results are obtained by selecting varieties recommended for forcing. To enjoy spring-…
Most modern tulip cultivars bloom well for 3 to 5 years. Tulip bulbs decline in vigor rather quickly. Weak bulbs produce large, floppy leaves, but no flowers.
To maximize the number of years tulips are in bloom, choose…
Tulips perform best in partial to full sun. Planting sites should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Tulip bulbs also need a well-drained, fertile soil.
Learn more about tulips in this article: …
Grape hyacinths (Muscari spp.) are spring-flowering bulbs. They produce urn-shaped flowers on 6- to 9-inch-long, upright spikes. (The flower spikes somewhat resemble clusters of grapes, hence the common name.) Flowers…
Tulip, daffodil, hyacinth, and other spring-flowering bulbs usually begin arriving in garden centers and other retail businesses in late August. Spring-flowering bulbs purchased in late summer should be stored in a cool, dry place (such as…
When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of other plants, it is called allelopathy.
Black walnut is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest that produces an allelopathic compound called juglone which is…
There are a number of species and varieties of bulbs and bulb-like structures like corms and tubers that grow well in Iowa. Some of these species are readily available from retailers and others may have to be purchased from specialty producers or…
Crocuses perform best in well drained soils in partial to full sun. Plant crocuses in clusters of 25 or more corms for maximum visual impact. Good garden sites include perennial flower beds, rock gardens, and among low-growing…
Daffodils perform best in partial to full sun. Planting sites should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. They also need well-drained, fertile soils. Daffodils don’t bloom well in partial to heavy shade. The…
Daffodils can be dug up and replanted as soon as the foliage dies back (turns brown) in early summer. Daffodils can also be dug up and replanted in fall (October). If you would like to move daffodil bulbs in fall, mark the site when…
Tulips can be dug up and replanted as soon as the foliage dies back (turns brown) in early summer. Tulips can also be dug up and replanted in fall (October). If you intend to move tulips in the fall, mark the site when the foliage is…
October is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs in Iowa. This allows bulbs to establish and develop good roots before winter. Planting bulbs too early in the season in September when soil temperatures have not yet cooled may cause some…
October is the ideal time to plant daffodils, tulips, and other spring-flowering bulbs in Iowa. When planted in October, spring-flowering bulbs have sufficient time to develop a good root system before the ground freezes in winter. If…
Early fall is an excellent time to plant Asiatic, Oriental, and other garden lilies (Lilium spp). Plant lily bulbs at a depth equal to three times their diameter. Container-grown lilies can also be planted in spring and…
October is the ideal time to plant tulips, daffodils, and other spring-flowering bulbs in Iowa. When planted in October, spring-flowering bulbs have sufficient time to develop a good root system before the ground freezes in winter. If…
Most bulbs should be planted in a full or part-sun location. Early blooming bulbs are often successful beneath a high branched deciduous tree because they usually flower before the tree fully leafs out. After the bulbs…
Most modern tulip varieties bloom well for only 3 or 4 years. However, there are some tulip types (classes) that bloom well over a longer time period.
Darwin hybrid tulips are generally the longest blooming hybrid tulip.…