Tulips: A Simple Guide to Growing Them! Four Easy Steps to Follow
Plan - Start by selecting a well-draining spot in your garden and measure the area you want to plant. A helpful rule of thumb is to place 5 to 9 bulbs per square foot. The closer they are, the more stunning the display will appear!
Dig - Create a hole that is 4 to 6 inches deep.
Drop - Place your bulbs in the hole, ensuring the pointed end is facing upwards.
Cover the hole, and you’re all set!
DIG, DROP, COVER. It’s that easy!
Next spring, you'll enjoy a stunning display of tulips! Once the flowers have finished blooming, remember to deadhead them (remove the faded blooms) to ensure they have the best opportunity to return beautifully the following year.
Planting Tulip Bulbs in Containers (Pots)
Yes! Tulips are perfect for pots—great for renters or anyone short on garden space. For best results, we recommend treating tulips in containers as annuals and replanting fresh bulbs each fall.
How many bulbs per pot?
In containers, you can plant bulbs a bit closer than in the landscape. While we recommend 9 bulbs per square foot in beds, you can plant 12 bulbs per square foot in pots—about 2–3 inches between bulbs.
Quick Bulb Count Cheat-Sheet (round pots)
• ~12" diameter pot: 9–10 bulbs
• ~16" diameter pot: 17–18 bulbs
• ~20" diameter pot: 25–26 bulbs
Tip: To estimate for any pot, multiply surface area (in square feet) by 12 to get the bulb count.
Step-by-step
Check drainage: Make sure the drainage hole at the bottom works—excess moisture isn’t ideal for bulbs.
Make space for bulbs: If your pot already has soil, carefully remove the top 4–6 inches and set it aside.
Place bulbs: Set bulbs snugly with about 2–3 inches between each one.
Backfill and water: Refill with the soil you removed and give a light watering.
Winter watering
• Covered pots (under a porch): water about once a month through winter.
• Uncovered pots (out in the open): no extra care needed—just enjoy the blooms next April.
After bloom
• Enjoy the display, then compost the spent bulbs and replant new bulbs in fall for the best results next spring.
Variety suggestions for containers
All the carefully selected tulip varieties in our Bulb Shop thrive in pots (https://www.burnsidefarms.com/bulb-shop).
• For a dramatic look in larger pots, plant shorter “Prince” tulips around the outside and taller “Impression” tulips in the center.
• Our mixes like “Flaming Purple” and “Emperor” also make excellent container displays.
Have fun planting, and we wish you a beautiful bloom next spring!