The weather is getting colder, Christmas is nearly here and the allotment is slowly being tucked up for the Winter. However, now is the perfect time to get planning for next year and you can start by sowing broad beans and planting out garlic and bulbs ready for next Spring. I spent yesterday desperately trying to dig the vegetables beds over ready for winter so I could sow some broad beans and another job I wanted to do was plant out those tulips!
The tulips bloomed beautifully in Spring and they were by far the best thing I managed to grow, I loved walking up to my allotment and seeing all those pretty tulips in the trough. Because I was so impressed with the blooms I wanted to fill the entire trough this time round and I managed to do that by splitting some of the bulbs that I had purchased last year. I dug all the bulbs up in the Summer after they had all died back and stored them in the shed, a majority of the bulbs had split off so I was left with triple the amount I had originally purchased! I had just enough to fill the trough to the brim with all the varieties I had so next year I think I’ll leave the bulbs in the trough all year round. The reason for digging them up was so I could plant a squash in the trough (which didn’t grow anyway!) but I’ve realised that the bulbs could be left safe and sound at a depth of 8 inches with a squash plant growing above them. Overall there are 92 tulip bulbs planted in the trough so I’m hoping for a beautiful display next Spring!
I’m growing the same varieties as last year and they are all from Sarah Raven. The varieties are the Brandy Snap Mix (Belle Epoque, Bruine Wimpel, Cairo and Ronaldo tulips), Spring Green, Mistress Grey, Groenland and Apricot Beauty. I’ve also added a new variety called ‘Black Hero’, it’s a very dark maroon colour and a double tulip like the beautiful Belle ‘Epoque’ that I fell in love with last Spring.
How to plant Tulips bulbs:
I plant my bulbs at a depth of 8 inches, they shouldn’t need staking next year and have a prolonged flowering period. Each bulb is 3 inches apart and they are planted with the pointy end up. You can plant tulip bulbs from October to November, however it’s best to plant them in the Winter as the cold temperatures will rid the soil of any viral or fungal diseases.
8 thoughts on “The Tulip Trough”
I am so looking forward to seeing your display in the spring. I never seem to have any luck when I have sown broad beans in the Autumn nor onion sets come to that, so I hope you have better success with yours. I have not got an allotment but do have a large back garden where I grow all my veg. and can’t wait for spring to come so I can make a start out there. I will be sowing tomato seeds and various bedding plant seeds during the beginning of February in one of my two greenhouses. Anyway Katie, good luck with your beans and tulips. David.
Me too, I actually missed the tulips when they stopped blooming, they were so pretty! I usually sow broad beans in the Autumn and tend to have a really good crop (except this year!) the year before last was exceptionally good. I tend to grow the broad beans now and then my Dad sows a crop in Spring, he has a much bigger plot. Lucky you to have a big back garden, I would love to have the room to grow fruit and veg on my doorstep. Thank you and happy gardening!
Beautiful bulbs , they look very healthy . Did you store them covered or open in a box?
I was actually meant to store them in brown paper bags but never got round to doing it! So they just sat in my shed in those terracotta pots..
Tulips are so lovely. What a wonderful gift to look forward to in the Spring. You have the cutest shed and your plot and your Dad’s are an inspiration. I hope you will continue to make new Youtube video’s in the coming year. That’s how I found your blog originally. Just love your creative ideas. The archway where you grow your tiny pumpkins and beans or flowers is so pretty. And the pond is so nice.
They are aren’t they? I only really grew them for the first time last Spring and now I am hooked! Thank you so much and I am so glad you love the videos and blog. I will definitely be filming more videos, we’ll see what the year brings
Hi Katie,
I am so looking forward to your tulip video this coming spring. I have watched all your youtube videos more than once. I especially love the video about the ‘pumpkin competion’ with your dad. You sure have created beautiful memories with your dad in that video.
I wish you a wonderful holidays in Wales this December!
Hi Julie and thank you so much, I do feel blessed to be able to share my allotment adventure with my Dad and we sure have some great memories! I cannot wait to see the tulips bloom either, I missed them terribly once they stopped blooming Thank you again