It’s time for tulips to bloom

SALT LAKE CITY – Tulips are getting ready to bloom. If you planted these in the fall, your garden will soon be filled with bright and colorful bulbs.

Last week on the KSL Greenhouse show, Hosts Taun and Maria highlighted some of the best features of tulips as part of their plant of the week discussion.

Tulips are bulbs that you plant in the fall so they can be ready in the spring. There aren’t any varieties that work the other way around. They typically come out between February and May, when the weather’s cooler and there’s still moisture.

Tulips are relatively easy to grow. They don’t need that much water, making them great for water-wise landscaping. They also rarely require irrigation and fertilizer.

“When the flowers have died back, just cut the flower heads off—not the whole plant. Let them go dormant so the leaves will turn yellow. When they’ve turned yellow you can just cut them back, and you’re done for the year,” Taun said.

The lifespan of tulip bulbs depends on the type. Most of them will last around 3 to 4 years before they start to decline. The older varieties tend to last longer due to less hybridization.

“The two types of tulips that are going to last a lot longer are what are called Species tulips… And then you have what are called the Darwin tulips,” Taun said.

These two will last around 20 to 25 years.

The KSL Greenhouse is on every Saturday from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. You can follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and on our website.