<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n10. Tulip Varieties <\/h3>\n\n\n\n There are hundreds of varieties of tulips to choose from. However, not all tulips suit intermediate or novice growers. Some types of tulips are costly. Back in the 17th century during the height of the tulip bubbler, as single Semper Augustus bulb sold for $5,700, which in today\u2019s money standards adjusted for inflation, would be more than 150-times its value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this was an anomaly of its time, some tulips are still reasonably expensive, so check the price tag before you add it to your cart. Here are our top varieties of tulip we recommend for your garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emperor tulips \u2013 This type of tulip has large flowers and are the first tulips to bloom in the spring. Emperors are one of the easiest tulips to grow, as they are mold-resistant and don\u2019t receive many pest problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Greigii tulips \u2013 This variety produces two to four flowers on a single stem. The blooming season extends by a few weeks with this type, and growers will notice that the foliage develops stripes or flecks of color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n11. Rotate Your Flowerbeds <\/h3>\n\n\n\n As we discussed earlier, tulips are susceptible to fungal disease. Even if you pull the bulbs of infected tulips, the pathogens may remain in the soil for years, infecting any further bulbs you plant in the same spot. It\u2019s for this reason that we recommend you rotate your crops each flowering season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fungus becomes a problem for tulips grown cold, damp condit0ons. While tulips need dark and cold to germinate and start, when they are growing, they demand full sunlight and the heat of the summertime to maintain their healthy growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To protect your future crops, we recommend that you dig up all of the bulbs at the end of the growing season. Inspect for disease, and throw out any infected bulbs. You can salvage healthy bulbs, and regrow them the following season. However, we recommend you start fresh each season to avoid any complications from occurring with your crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n12. Digging and Curing Tulip Bulbs <\/h3>\n\n\n\n If you do decide to create a sustainable tulip garden and replant your bulbs, you\u2019ll still need to dig them up for inspection at the end of the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Save any bulbs that make it and then start the pruning process. Be careful when digging up the tulips, and make sure you dig with your trowel in an 8-inch radius around the base of the stem. Remove any loose earth after digging up the bulb, and then remove all the dead foliage with pruning scissors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curing bulbs is no challenge. All you need is box or container filled with dry sand. Pack your bulbs into the sand, covering them about three-quarters of the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ensure that none of your bulbs touch each other and that none of them are wet \u2013 we don\u2019t recommend that you rinse the earth from the roots before curing. Store the box at 66F till the fall, and then remove the bulbs and start the planting process again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n13. Harvesting Tulips <\/h3>\n\n\n\n After a productive and successful growing season, you should have a flower bed full of tulips ready for harvest. Start your harvest from one end of the flowerbed to the other, and only cut the tulips that are ready, you may have to harvest in stages over the course of a few days to get all of the flowers as they mature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cut your tulips at the stem in a 45-degree manner. This technique allows the cut stem to absorb nutrients and water when you put the flowers in the water later on after harvesting. After cutting, pull the bulb from the ground and store it separately away from the flowers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, the stems of harvested tulips may start to bend after cutting. You can prevent this from happening by wrapping your tulips tightly in a newspaper and secure the top two-thirds of the flowers. Place the stems in water to keep the flower fresh and ready for sale or display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n14. Storing Tulips <\/h3>\n\n\n\n After harvesting your tulips, it’s best if you get them into some water as soon as possible. If you leave harvested tulips out of water for more than a few hours, the flowers will no longer be able to absorb nutrients from the water when you go to display the plant, resulting in premature wilting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We recommend you add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when displaying the plants. The baking soda drops the pH of the water to alkaline levels, helping you to preserve the tulips. Replace the water in the vase every day, and trim away any dead petals to keep your display looking fresh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If displayed correctly, your tulips may last for up to 2-weeks before you have to throw them on the compost heap. Keep your tulip display in a cool room, and away from any sources of heat, like a fireplace. This strategy helps to increase the longevity of the flowers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n