Tulips in March

[tonyg]

Tulipa cretica raised from seed took a while to flower but it is well worth the wait!

And in the garden Tulipa pulchella is lovely.

[fermi de Sousa]

I'm with Armin - where can we get seed of this fascinating tulip! (T regellii).
cheers
fermi

[biodiversite]

Hello Bio!
beautiful pictures. What happend to your Tulipa heweri?

Bulbs disappear but I don't know why. It's a pitty as I had to different strains which made seeds, but I did not collect the seeds the first year...

[Armin]

Fermi,
with regards to T.regelii the "unaffordable" I would like to comment:
"Kind the sparrow in the hand as the pigeon on the roof.", would like to say "look at my small beauties" opened today.

[Armin]

one more tiny T. biflora (not 100%sure)

[Armin]

Hello Bio!
beautiful pictures. What happend to your Tulipa heweri?

Bulbs disappear but I don't know why. It's a pitty as I had to different strains which made seeds, but I did not collect the seeds the first year...

Bio, it's a pity. Some bulbs are difficult to please and they suffered on late frost, burned by too much fertilizer, moist, root, insects, slugs, ect...

[Kirsten]

Thank you, Maggi and Armin.
I got a bulb from Henrik Zetterlund in 1996 and the same year I bought some (very few) seeds from the Archibalds. I have not seen it offered anywhere since then. This year it is on the list from Janis Ruksans. I repot it in July every year. I start watering about 1. December and place it in the unheated part of my greenhouse. The picture is from 17. February.

[Hans J]

Hi all ,

I have a problem with Tulipa saxatilis from Crete -they grows free in my borders since many years without any protection .
They grows like a weed but they flowering more or less never .
Has anybody expierience with this species ?
Should I maybe also dig it out replant late in fall ? ( also on 1. December )
Or is it better to grow in a bulbframe ?

Any advices are welcome - Thanks

Greetings
Hans

[Maggi Young]

We are having a similiar problem with Tulipa urumiensis, Hans. They are growing well but fewer flowers... I think we should be giving them more food!

[Hans J]

Maggi ,

Which kind of fertilizer ?
N or P or K or Patentkali ?

[Armin]

Hans,
T.saxatilis is sensitive for to much rainfall during winter. I grows but does not set flowers.
I have planted my T.saxatilis at the most dry place under a spruce in full sun. The branches give some protection. That helps.
They flower every year - now still in buds. Will post when open.
brgds

[Armin]

Patentkali is always helpful. But don't spread over the leaves. Saxatilis leaves easily get burned and root.
You can also try with "Urgesteinsmehl = Basaltmehl" to improve soil conditions.

[Maggi Young]

Which kind of fertilizer ?

Hans, I think it is the Patentkali type which is the nearest one to that which we use here. A potassium (Kalium) rich feed. Our T. urumiensis are doing a little better since we spread them out a year or two ago, to give them more room, so it seems that overcrowding was one of their problems, but I believe that some food when they are well inot growth will be a great benefit.  We will feed ours soon, in a nice warm day, I hope... it is easier to enjoy a meal in the sunshine, don't you think?
T. saxatilis will need somewhere in your garden that is warm and quite dry, I think.

[Hans J]

Maggi +Armin ,

Many thanks for your ideas and advices .
I will try following :
Some of this Tulips I will plant in pots and take in my bulbframe -beside my other tulips .
The other I will give a extra portion of patentkali - before some days I have start with watering of a solution with patentkali -until now all looks well .
My T. saxatilis grows on sunny spots -but I have not a possibility to plant it on drier places .
Of course Maggi - we like it too to make our meal on sunshine .....special if it is cake !

Greetings
Hans

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Not all that special, but you don't find them any redder than this do you ?

Tulipa Wilsoniana