Tulip
Tulipa spp
An ornamental plant, planted March to May or September to November.
In September: nothing to do. It can be planted now. Wear gloves to handle the bulbs if they give you a skin allergy.
Your first month is free. No card. Then £4.99 a month or £39.99 a year. You sign in with a link we email you, with no password.
Tulip, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown tulip. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Plant tulip bulbs. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Deadhead the tulip. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Feed the tulip. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Clear away the dead tulip stems and leaves. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Lift and store the tulip. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Mulch the tulip. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Handle it with care
Wear gloves to handle the bulbs if they give you a skin allergy.
Strong source: RHS.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown tulip March to May. Strong source: RHS.
Plant tulip bulbs September to November, 20cm deep, 5cm apart. Strong sources: RHS, Gardeners’ World and Sarah Raven.
Deadhead the tulip
Usually March to May. Moderate source: Sarah Raven.
Feed the tulip
Once growing, give a potassium-rich liquid feed such as tomato feed every week.
Usually March. Strong source: RHS.
Clear away the dead tulip stems and leaves
Wait until they turn straw-coloured; the stems usually come away without needing to be cut.
Usually June to August. Strong source: RHS.
Lift and store the tulip
Keep the dried bulbs in trays or net or paper bags, somewhere warm, dark and airy, 18 to 20°C.
Usually June to August. Strong source: RHS.
Mulch the tulip
Rake up the dead leaves, then spread 5-8cm of compost or well-rotted manure.
Usually June. Moderate source: Sarah Raven.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
What not to do
Don’t cut tulip leaves off too soon
Wait six weeks after flowering finishes before you cut off the dead leaves.
Strong source: RHS.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Tulip” comes from.