Six tips for planting tulips

While perennial, most are treated as annuals as they won't reliably return year after year. You can get around this by growing species tulips like Tulipa linifolia that self-seed and improve in flowering performance year after year.

The benefit of planting each year is that you can grow different varieties each time, from flamboyant parrot and fringed tulips, to the short-stemmed early-flowering varieties.

Tulips enjoy light, well-drained soils in full sun, but there are ways you can get them to flower in heavier soils too – find out how to grow tulips in problem places.

Check out these handy tips on planting tulips.

Re-plant each year

Plant new tulips every year for the best displays – as a rule performance declines the older the tulips become. You could also have a go at lifting and storing tulips, to plant again next year.

Plant at the right depth

Bury tulips in a hole three times the height of the bulb. Plant tulips together to create a colourful display. To make them look natural, try scattering the bulbs in the area you want to plant them, then bury them where they fall.

Planting at the right depth — Planting tulip bulbs in at a depth three times their height

Plant at the right time

Wait until we've had a couple of frosts before planting (although don't plant into frozen ground). This will help to avoid the fungal disease tulip fire.

Tulip fire symptom on a leaf — A tulip leaf scarred by tulip fire

Pick the best bulbs

Choose large, firm bulbs avoiding any that are showing signs of rot. Some people will experience skin irritation when handling tulips, so avoid this by wearing gloves.