Experienced grower's notes on Tulip

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Tulip remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is leaving foliage to die back naturally after flowering. Everything else follows from that.

narcissus fly larvae tunnelling into the base of the bulb is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a mixed border with later-emerging perennials to hide dying foliage for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. some of the earliest colour in the garden after winter is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. planting new bulbs in autumn for next year's display is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.