Tulip bulbs ......after blooming.

[bali]

Is anyone familiar with what to do with tulip bulbs after the leaves dry off? Do you dig yours up each year or not..? I never did, and I am wondering if it is a mistake.
Also.....How would they get the new baby bulbs if we dig them uP??

You see I arent educated in bulbs.
Thanks for your time......Let me know how you do yours.
bali

[Pushin-up-Daisies]

Hey Bali i"m in zone 7 I leave mine planted in ground, they do just fine & bloom again each spring.I"m not sure about ur zone.

[gardeningmom]

I'm in zone 6a and leave mine in all year - never dig. The only problem I have is that the squirrels love to dig them up so sometimes they don't make it.

[bali]

Yes they are zone 5 hardy.....SOme folks say they dig them up each year?
I had some before and never did.. But DOnt they get smaller each Year?

thanks

[gardeningmom]

they don't get smaller they multiply and then you have to dig and seperate.

[bali]

Glad to hear that .

Thanks.
I love red ones and yellow ones......Pink doesnt turn me on .

[Tatyana]

As mentioned in the previous posts, you want to dig them up, divide, and replant them once every several years (3-4). If you leave them in the same spot longer, you'll notice less blooms, and eventually they'll stop blooming.
Tulip bulbs have a tendency to go deeper into the grond every year.

[Tatyana]

Eventually, they get too deep for blooms to come up.

Also, if you have some special varieties planted next to old fashion reds, by cross polinating your special tulips will eventually start reversing to the original reds....my mom had a great collection of specialty tulips years ago, but they were planted next to Holland Reds (as we called them in russia) - your typical very strong gene red tulips... she only has about 10 different varieties left, the rest reversed to reds.

[muggyruggy]

I have heard that if you leave your tulips in the ground and dont cut off the foliage after blooming, they will do better the following spring. So I leave my foliage on unless I plant anuals on top of them. Plus, I let my tulips grow until I notice them not blooming very well, which is an indication they need to be dug up. Then that Fall I dig them up and move them. They will multiply and give you more tulips! Yippie!

[muggyruggy]

Oh I forgot, after blooming, cut off the seed pod that is left, this will let the plant use its energy for the bulb underground, instead of using its energy to develop seeds. This is supposed to improve the bloom the following yr.

[angmf2233]

I am pretty much a newbie but I have planted abot 1000 bulbs in past 2 yrs. and I just let them go. They will bloom again for ya next year, I have heard the foliage is like food, cause I used to cut that off. I have no problems with the blooms in spring.I have red, yellow, pink,and lots of daffodils, I leave them all in the groung. Heck I gotta dig up cannas, dahlias, and now caladiums, lots of work!

[bali]

You are doing what I do..........The leaves are supposed to absorb the sun and nourishment....Till they brown and fall off..