So i'm planning on planting tulips for the first time, and there is a lot of information online about it, but I would like to know if i need to pre-cool them for this zone? i know we're in 7, and you need to pre-cool for zone 8, but will be pre-cooling here give me a better result? Has anyone had any experience with this either way?

I'd also like to know if the bulbs planted in this zone will need just as much light (full light) as other zones? Can I plant "full sun" bulbs in partial shade here?

Any other tips would be greatly appriciated!

Thanks!

10/3/2007 12:35:26 PM

10/3/2007 12:38:26 PM

I think in this region you'd be fine to plant as is, thats what I do with bulbs and have no problem

pre cooling won't hurt

cause there is no guarantee how cold our winters will be


I've lost raspberries before because they didn't get enough chilling hours during the winter here

I think it depends on how much "partial shade" you're talking about

10/3/2007 12:45:39 PM

yeah i precooled mine and had great success with the ones that weren't dug up by squirrels

10/3/2007 1:19:53 PM

I planted 100 bulbs few years ago, and after 2 years they're all gone. Damn squirrels (and possibly rabbits too)

10/3/2007 2:23:50 PM

As long as the bulbs get ~10 weeks of cold weather, they should be fine. For this reason it is good to plant in this zone around the end of october or early november. I planted several containers last fall like this, just remember that some are early vs. late spring flowers

10/3/2007 7:31:10 PM

the bulbs might still be there, but too weak to bloom now. it gets hot too fast for tulips to make enough energy to rebloom in most cases. there are a few varieties that do well here

10/4/2007 8:57:20 AM

okay, i found a site that will pre-chill them for me, so i'm probably going to get those and plant them at the end of november.

just a tip, what do you guys consider a good price per bulb? i'm seeing anywhere from 30 cents to a dollar, i realize that it depends on the species and size of bulb, but what are the avarage prices like?

10/4/2007 12:04:07 PM

wait for them goin on sale, I bought 400 bulbs for $25 just last year.

10/4/2007 12:20:30 PM

even with all the stuff you are doing most (if not all) of the bulbs will die in a few years. most varieties of tulips won't last long in our weather. The same is true for most daffodils. Some exotic tulips will survive and naturalize, but they can be $$$

10/4/2007 1:01:04 PM

Logans trading company usually has great deals on bulbs

10/4/2007 2:14:56 PM

Bulbs that were planted in the ground will possibly grow back the following years.. A general rule for bulbs - the bigger the better. Go for the biggest/fattest looking bulbs if you buy from a garden center. As for price, most garden centers will sell them in packages (10-15 bulbs for $5-$6).

10/4/2007 4:41:01 PM

does anyone know a lot about this pre-cool stuff

my girlfriend converted my chest freezer kegerator into a tulip farm. she doesnt know what she is doing and has been looking for some good resources. i got it set on 35degrees at the moment.

10/4/2007 7:23:24 PM

i love tulips

10/4/2007 8:25:37 PM