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Tulip Valentine Blend

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Tulip ‘Valentine’ (Tulipa hybrid)—a gift of beauty for your garden, much like a heartfelt valentine. These exquisite blooms set your garden ablaze with rich, velvety reds, some delicately kissed with hints of orange and yellow along their petal edges. Designed to capture the season’s romance, these breathtaking tulips make a striking statement in garden beds, borders, and pots, creating an atmosphere of warmth, charm, and timeless beauty. As cut flowers, they bring their captivating hues indoors, perfect for stunning arrangements that last beyond the garden. Easy to grow in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade, they flourish in climates with cold winters and dry summers. Plant in autumn and let your spring garden bloom with love.

SKU: TCTULVBL008 Category: Tags: ,

Description

What is Tulip ‘Valentine Blend’?

Tulip ‘Valentine Blend’ is a curated selection of red-hued tulips from the Liliaceae family, featuring a mix of bulbous perennials native to Central Asia. These stunning blooms appear in varying shades of red, with some kissed by hints of orange or yellow along their petal edges, creating a rich and romantic display in spring. Thriving in sunny, well-drained conditions, they are perfect for garden beds, borders, pots, and cut flower arrangements. Well-suited to regions with cold winters, mild springs, and dry summers, these tulips bring elegance to any space.

Uses

This versatile blend thrives in beds, borders, pathways, pots, and containers, offering a seasonal burst of colour. Their striking blooms make excellent cut flowers, allowing you to bring the beauty of spring indoors. Whether planted in small urban spaces or larger landscapes, Tulip ‘Valentine Blend’ delivers an easy-to-grow, vibrant display.

Growing Tulips in Your Climate

Tulips can be grown in cool to subtropical climates but are best treated as annuals in warmer, humid regions. For best results, plant from March onwards, ideally around Mother’s Day in May when the soil is cooler. Tulips can be stored in a cool, dry place in cool climates, but in warmer climates, refrigeration (2–5°C) is essential to provide the winter chill needed for flowering. Keep bulbs away from ethylene-producing fruits.

Should I Naturalise or Replant Tulips Each Year?

The choice depends on your climate and soil conditions. Tulips can naturalise and rebloom in regions with cold winters, thriving in dry, shaded spots beneath deciduous trees, perennials, or mulch. In humid regions with wet summers, they are best treated as annuals. Where winters lack consistent chill, but summers are hot and dry, lift and store bulbs after dormancy, chilling them for 6–8 weeks before replanting.

Potted tulips are typically replaced yearly, as containers limit their ability to store enough energy for strong flowering. However, if you wish to save them, they can be planted in the ground the following year in cool to arid climates, where conditions allow them to regenerate. This is not recommended in humid regions, as the bulbs are unlikely to thrive.

Planting Tulips

  • Location & Soil: Choose a sunny to partially shaded area with well-draining soil. Loosen soil to 20 cm and enrich with compost or well-rotted manure.
  • Depth & Spacing: Plant 10 cm deep in cooler climates, or 15 cm (three times their height) in warmer regions, spaced 10–15 cm apart.
  • Watering & Mulching: Water after planting to settle soil and encourage root growth. Maintain moist (not soggy) soil and mulch to retain moisture and regulate temperature.
  • Fertilising: Add compost when preparing soil. Use a liquid fertiliser as leaves emerge and a complete fertiliser, such as blood and bone, after flowering.

Note: Unseasonably warm weather or heavy rain may shorten the flowering period.

Pots & Containers

Tulips thrive in pots and containers, making them ideal for patios and balconies. Use a high-quality potting mix with compost in a container with drainage holes. Plant bulbs close together but not touching for a full display. Water regularly to maintain moist but well-drained soil.

Aftercare

  • Foliage: Allow to die back naturally before cutting.
  • Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to redirect energy to the bulb.
  • Watering: Reduce as foliage yellows and bulbs enter dormancy.
  • Annual Use in Pots: Discard bulbs after flowering and refresh pots with new bulbs for the next season.

Division

To prevent overcrowding, divide bulbs every 3–5 years. Lift bulbs after foliage dies back, separate offsets, and store in a cool, dry place until replanting. Potted tulips are typically treated as annuals and don’t require division.

Pests & Diseases

  • Pests: Protect against slugs, snails, and aphids with barriers or traps.
  • Diseases: Prevent rot by planting in well-drained soil and removing infected plants.

Safety

Tulip bulbs are harmful if eaten. Keep out of reach of pets and children. Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.

Supplied as dormant bulbs.

Additional information

Price Code

D – Purple Pack

Botanical Name

Tulipa hybrid

Quantity in Pack

8 Bulbs

Flowering Time

Spring

Planting Time

Plant from March onwards, when the ground has cooled. Late autumn, such as May or around Mother’s Day, is an ideal time to plant in all climates, ensuring the bulbs establish roots before winter and store energy for healthy growth.

Growing Height

20-60 cm

Planting Depth

Plant bulbs 10–15 cm deep to protect them from temperature fluctuations and provide the stability needed for growth. This depth supports strong root development, anchors taller varieties against wind or rain, and helps prevent bulbs from drying out. Proper depth also ensures the bulbs have enough soil coverage for insulation, contributing to a vibrant and resilient spring display.

Soil

Loosen soil to a depth of 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) and mix in compost or well-rotted manure. Aim for a neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0-7.0). The nutrients from the manure or compost provide a good start for the tulips, reducing the immediate need for additional fertiliser. If compost or manure isn't available, you can alternatively apply a complete organic fertiliser before planting.
For pots, use a high-quality potting mix enriched with compost or a complete organic fertiliser.

How to Plant

Choose a full sun location with at least six hours of sunlight daily. In warmer climates, provide afternoon shade to protect tulips from excessive heat. Loosen the soil to 20-25 cm and enrich it with compost or well-rotted manure for nutrients—avoid fresh manure, as it can harm developing plants. Plant bulbs 10 cm deep in cooler climates or 15 cm in warmer climates—roughly three times their height—with the pointed side up. For pots, use a high-quality potting mix enriched with compost or a complete organic fertiliser. Ensure pots are deep enough; a 15 cm pot can hold about four tulips spaced slightly closer but with room for growth. Cover with soil and apply mulch to conserve moisture, insulate against extreme cold, and protect bulbs from early frost in cooler climates. In warmer climates, mulch helps retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and prevent bulbs from drying out. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil and maintain consistent moisture as tulips grow, ensuring the soil stays moist but not waterlogged.

Watering

After planting, water tulips thoroughly. Once growth emerges, water every 7-10 days, adjusting based on weather conditions, as tulips thrive in cool, moist soil. In warmer and drier regions, regular watering is essential to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Keep the soil moist but avoid waterlogging; in cooler climates, natural rainfall is often sufficient. For potted tulips, water regularly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings to prevent bulb rot, while maintaining enough moisture to support growth and flowering. Keep bulbs relatively dry during dormancy to avoid rot.

Fertilise

If not using compost, enrich the soil with a complete organic fertiliser. Apply a liquid fertiliser when the leaves emerge to support active growth and replenish the bulbs' energy. After flowering, top-dress with a complete organic fertiliser, like blood and bone, to further strengthen the bulbs for future blooms. These steps are essential for those intending to replant bulbs in the ground to naturalise. If treating tulips as annuals, skip the top-dressing step after flowering but still apply liquid fertiliser when the leaves emerge to support active growth.

Pruning

For tulips grown in pots or humid regions, it’s often more reliable to treat them as annuals, focusing on consistent seasonal displays without concern for post-bloom care. However, in climates where tulips can return, they should be planted in the ground rather than back in pots, as the ground provides more stable temperatures, better insulation, and improved moisture control to support the cool dormancy period needed for regrowth. Tulips do not require extensive pruning, but spent flowers should be removed after blooming to prevent seed production, which can drain energy from the bulb. This simple step helps the plant focus on storing energy for the next season. However, it’s important to leave the foliage intact until it naturally yellows and dies back, as it plays a crucial role in photosynthesis and energy storage. Avoid cutting green leaves, as this can weaken the bulb and reduce future flowering potential. In regions with wet summers or where it’s hard to maintain a cool spot, tulip bulbs should be lifted and stored each year after flowering. After lifting, allow the bulbs to dry in a shaded, well-ventilated area until they feel dry and firm on the outside. Once ready, store them in open brown paper bags or orange mesh bags. If a naturally cool, dry, well-ventilated space isn't available, bulbs can be stored in the refrigerator. Keep them away from fruits like apples to prevent ethylene gas damage.
For successful replanting, bulbs should undergo a 6–8 week chilling period prior to planting to replicate the cold conditions required for future growth and flowering.

Please Note: Offsets—small bulbs that grow alongside mature tulip bulbs—take a couple of seasons to mature and bloom. Dry them after separation, store in a cool, dry place, and replant at the right time. Use mature bulbs for next-season blooms and mark offset locations to avoid disturbance.

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