Tulipa sprengeri

Certainly slowing down for the holidays but still been getting through some jobs in the garden. I’m experimenting with growing bulbous plants from seed, which is great way for raise straight species (generally not for cultivars as they usually don’t come true or can be infertile). This tulip apparently is native to Turkey, although no longer found in the wild, but produces lovely red flowers which can have a golden outer appearance. Hoping it will self seed too 😊

Tulip species are much more reliable at coming back year on year, than many of the hybrid cultivars. Although there are some exceptions (Darwin Hybrids are quite reliable - I think almost everyone has seen those classic red or yellow tulips that no one remembers planting in their gardens that come back every year!!)

These Tulipa sprengeri seeds require a period of coldness to promote germination so they have been sown now before winter and will be in polytunnel to experience the cold over the next few months. They also dislike disturbance so I’ve sown in a shallow pot (rather than a tray) in a well draining seed compost mixed with a bit of perlite, that way they can stay longer in this pot before I transplant them.

#seed #seedsowing #tulipa #tulipa-sprengeri #tulip #bulbsfromseed

I’ve got some Dutch tulip bulbs that were given to many years ago, they are red and yellow, have never failed me. Completely cleared a bed they were in and hopefully have managed to save some 🤞🏻

Yep, those are the ones! Bound to be Darwin hybrids. Good ol’reliable 😄 , possible Apeldoorn or Yellow Apeldoorn I reckon. I’m sure they will be fine Kathy in the cleared bed, I have a few scattered through the garden that previous owners must have planted, has a nice natural look now @kathy

You have the patience of a saint! 😅 I can barely wait for the flowers when I plant tulips as bulbs. I actually got some mixed species tulips this year but I think they will mostly be tulipa tarda. 👍👍 These look quite delicate 😍😍 I saw a lovely mix of narcissus 'Thalia' and species tulips in an old episode of GW but I've yet to identify the variety of the tulip.

The joy of planting seeds! Definitely takes patience 😉 Hope they do well for you!

They really look pretty Richard I hope they grow well for you 🤗

tarda is on my wish list, should have got some this year but forgot. It def needs patience, although I often do balance up costs vs time. This was a random opportunity but at a plant fair but I looked up the bulbs were and they are expensive. These were £2 for 30 seeds, some places are asking between £5-10 just for one bulb. If it were a snowdrop I’d probably wouldn’t mind paying that but having not much experience yet with these I thought this was the cheaper option 😁 @ublaszko

And ‘Thalia’ is lovely, classic heritage narcissus 👌🏼 @ublaszko

Thanks Theresa 😊 - yep, patience def needed. I think it’s about 3-4 years before they reach flowering size, so hope I can get a couple to stay alive that long 😂 @treefrog44