Tulip Bulbs, Silverstream” SPRING FLOWERS, fall PLANTING CARIBBEAN GARDEN SEED

TULIPS
Did you know that there are over 3,000 unique varieties of tulips?! Tulips were first introduced to Europe in 1559 and over the next 100 years led to a speculative craze in which single tulip bulbs were sold for over 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman.
Today tulips are loved for their beautiful, upright flowers and gorgeous array of colors.
Tulip Silverstream
This very lovely and unusual tulip is soft creamy yellow, sometimes streaked with red and white. The color varies over time and may start with a delicate chartreuse edge. The leaves have a fine pinkish yellow edge and are attractive in their own right.

When to Plant Your Tulip Bulbs:
If you want to fill your garden with color next spring, plant bulbs from October to December; Tulip bulbs can actually be planted right up until Christmas and still flower perfectly well in the following spring because they only need a short season of growth.
How to Plant Your Tulip Bulbs:
Prepare the site by removing any weeds or stones and use a fork or trowel to loosen and aerate the soil. Use a trowel to dig a hole large enough to fit all of the bulbs that you are planting. For large quantities, you may also dig a large bed. The depth of the hole should be twice the length of the bulb itself. Make sure the pointed end of the bulb is up in the ground.
In warmer climates plant bulbs deeper than 10 inches; the deeper you plant a tulip, the tougher it will be. Tulips planted deeper have thicker stems and fall over less often.
When planting tulips, it is nice to place them close to one another to avoid having them standing by themselves in the spring. This is one flower that always looks better in groups. You can place bulbs as close as six inches away from each other in the ground.
A great tip is to alternate rows of early, mid and late blooming tulips so you may enjoy tulips throughout the entire season!
Tulip as perennial:
Strictly speaking, tulip bulbs cannot be guaranteed to flower for more than one season. Tulips hail from the rugged and windy mountains of Central Asia and need conditions that are not usually found in American gardens. However, to encourage your tulips to bloom for several years in a row, we recommend that you do the following:
• Plant your bulbs deep (8-10 inches). Deep planting helps to prevent the bulb from splitting up into many small, non-flowering bulbs.
Fertilize the bulbs when the foliage pushes through the soil in spring. We recommend a general low-nitrogen organic fertilizer.
 Remove spent flowers as soon as the bulbs finish blooming. Snapping off the top of the flower stem encourages the plant to send energy into bulb growth rather than seed production.
Allow the foliage to wither completely before you remove it.
 Avoid summer irrigation. Tulips prefer to be dry during their dormancy.
Almost all Darwin Hybrid Tulips have proven to be good perennial so they would be your best bet if you are looking for years of colorful blooms.
Where to Plant Your Tulip Bulbs:
Tulips perform best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. Tulips dislike wetness and require well-drained soil.They grow in most soils but if the soil is very dry, plant the bulbs a day after it has rained.
Planting Idea
Outdoor Beds
Find a location where the soil drains well. If there are still puddles of water 5-6 hours after a hard rain, scout out another site. Or amend the soil with the addition of organic material to raise the level 2 – 3 inches to improve the drainage. Peat moss, compost, ground bark or decomposed manure all work well and are widely available.
Plant your tulips where they will get full sun to light shade. Keep in mind that for tulips to return in subsequent springs they will need a period of winter cooling. This happens easily in northern areas and will occur to the cooler parts of zone 8. (Some bulb sellers suggest that tulips will return after growing the year round warmth of zone 9. Sadly, it’s just wishful thinking.)
Plant tulips 5″ apart and 6″ to 7″ deep at the base. Deeper planting depths are better in colder regions. Position the bulbs with the pointy end facing up.
After planting, water well once, gently soaking the soil to settle it around the roots. Roots will form in the autumn. Foliage and flowers will develop in the spring.
When in bloom, feel free to cut tulips for striking bouquets.
After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don’t cut it off. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulb for the future. Water as needed during active growth periods; about 1″ of moisture per week is a good estimate.
By the early summer the leaves will yellow and die back. The dried foliage may be removed at this point. Your bulbs will rest until next spring when they’ll beginning the next growing cycle. When leaves are absent and the bulbs are dormant, withhold water.
Pots, Barrels, Tubs & Urns
Start with containers of good quality, well-drained soil. Tulips that sit in water logged soil will rot. Shorter varieties usually perform better in all but the largest containers.
Plant your tulips where they will get full sun to light shade. Keep in mind that for tulips to return in subsequent springs they will need a period of winter cooling. This happens easily in northern areas and will occur to the cooler parts of zone 8. (Some bulb sellers suggest that tulips will return after growing the year round warmth of zone 9. Sadly, it’s just wishful thinking.)
Plant tulips 4″ apart and 6″ to 7″ deep at the base. Deeper planting depths are better in colder regions. Position the bulbs with the pointy end facing up.
After planting, water well once, gently soaking the soil to settle it around the roots. Roots will form in the autumn. Foliage and flowers will develop in the spring.
When in bloom, feel free to cut tulips for striking bouquets.
After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don’t cut it off. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulb for the future. Water as needed during active growth periods; about 1″ of moisture per week is a good estimate.
By the early summer the leaves will yellow and die back. The dried foliage may be removed at this point. Your bulbs will rest until next spring when they’ll beginning the next growing cycle. When leaves are absent and the bulbs are dormant, withhold water.