Do Tulips Multiply?

Planting

• Plant tulips in a sunny location in well-draining and fertile soil bed. Work the garden 8 inches deep and add approximately 3 inches of organic matter, such as compost. Plant tulips with their tips facing upward and about 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart.

Care

• Water tulips after planting with 1 inch of water. Water them also during long spells of hot and dry weather. Every spring and after blooming, sprinkle a complete fertilizer such as 5-10-10 or 6-12-12, using 2 lbs. of fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden.

Foliage

• Leave the tulip foliage alone. In the fall, when the foliage yellows, cut it back to the ground. Do not cut it back after blooming. As long as the tulip foliage is green, it is absorbing sunlight and converting it into energy. This energy is then stored in the bulbs for both multiplying and for next year's plants. If you don't like the way the plain foliage looks, plant tulips near the back of the garden and plant late spring and summer blooming plants in front.

Division

• Since tulips multiply, dividing the bulbs will be necessary every three to five years. When the tulips produce fewer flowers than they did in previous years, the garden is overcrowded and too many bulbs are competing for water and nutrients. In the fall, after cutting back the foliage, lift the tulip bulbs from the soil and separate the bulbs by hand. Many will be growing together. Replant the bulbs or give them away. Plant smaller bulbs toward the back of the garden since they may not bloom the first year.