Caring for tulip bulbs

Last Fall I planted tulip and daffodile bulbs, and they have finished blooming. They occupy a large part of my flower bed and I would like to move them in order to make room for summer flowers plants.

I know one must allow the leaves to turn yellow before lifting the bulbs. This allows the bulb to get all the energy it will need for next spring's flowering. But, would it be possible to transfer them to a container fill with peat moss and let the leaves wither?. Afterwards I would clean them, and store them in a cool place until this coming Fall.

 

I'd say yes. Use a multi-purpose compost, at least there is some fertilizer mixed in.

 

I agree, it might work, because my mom did it with irises and they were fine the following year! She just popped them into a pot of some rich compost, and fertilized them well, giving them lots of sun. The leaves were allowed to die back, naturally.

Some months later, after they had died back, she planted them in the earth again, and they resumed flowering like usual! Just wanted to point this out, for people reading this thread in the future.

: )

 

And in the fall when you put the bulbs back, you could plant over the bulb area. My peonies and azaleas come in just in time to hide the bulbs' fading foliage. (I am not willing to put the work into lifting and storing my bulbs.)

 

Yeah really! Who has time for that chore?!!!

I heard that tip too, about tulip leaves that are dying back - to fill in between the groups with flowering annuals that will quickly grow in and hide the yellowing tulip leaves! What a great idea. Thanks for pointing it out.

I have 320 tulip leaves I need to hide!

: O

 

yea I just took out my tulips not knowing about the leaves so now will replant them URGENT tonight :-) bugger but I planted them under my conifers that looked exciting but now I want other perennials there so.. had to give it a good stirr to prepart the earth ..especially I wanted them by groups of colors so now must take care . Once the leaves are dead ..HOW TO STORE THEM ?
Same as Dahlias ?
I guess 12hrs in the shadow OUT of the soil will not affect them much or will it ? Mother on earth with this weather and 30C for tomorrow I haven't been online in days such great gardening weather. 320 tulips mmmh sounds wonderfull!

 

I think bulbs need to be stored in a cool, dark place.

Here's some pics of my tulips when they were blooming...