Content
Tulips are one of the first flowers to appear in spring beds. Autumn planting allows for early flowering of the flower bed. The timing of the work largely depends on the region. Planting tulips in the fall in the Moscow region has its own characteristics. Compliance with a number of conditions will help to get a profusely blooming flower bed in the spring.
An important feature of tulips is the need to transplant them. If you do not change the location of these plants, they will begin to degenerate and lose their decorative properties. Particular attention is paid to the planting site, fertilization and material preparation.
Benefits of autumn planting
In the spring, tulip and other primrose bulbs appear in the assortment of garden shops. When planted in the spring, the likelihood of seedlings emergence is very high. However, the appearance of a flower takes time, so you can never wait for flowering.
Planting tulips in the fall has several advantages:
- bulbs get time to adapt to the soil;
- early flowering is provided.
When the temperature rises, the bulbs planted in the ground wake up and sprout. In spring, shoots appear even when there is snow in shady places.
The aerial part of tulips develops during April - June, which depends on the region and variety. The bulbs are dug up after flowering is complete in June / July, when most of the plant leaves turn yellow.
Tulips grow in one place for up to 4 years, after which they need to be transplanted. For certain varieties, the location is changed more often.
Transplanting tulips is necessary in the following cases:
- the plants do not produce flowers;
- deformation of leaves or buds;
- active growth of the flower garden;
- disease prevention.
Landing dates
Autumn is considered the best time for planting bulbous plants. Tulips need to go through a cooling period, after which their active growth and flowering begins. When planting, it must be borne in mind that plants need to develop a root system and receive nutrients before the onset of cold weather. However, bulbs should not sprout in autumn.
It takes at least a month for the bulbs to take root. In this case, the ambient temperature should be from 3 to 10 degrees.
It is recommended to measure the temperature of the soil beforehand. At a depth of 10 cm, its value should be within 6-9 degrees. At these values, the development of the tulip root system is stimulated. Deviations of 3-4 degrees are allowed, however, the plants will develop less intensively.
When to plant tulips in the fall in the Moscow region depends on the weather conditions. In this region, the optimal time for planting is the end of September. In the absence of frost, this period can be extended until mid-October. Depending on weather conditions, it is allowed to shift the dates by one or two weeks.
If the planting dates are met, the root system of tulips begins to develop. As a result, the plant is actively absorbed nutrients from the soil.
Choosing a landing site
Tulips are preferred areas that meet certain conditions:
- are on a dais;
- are protected from the wind;
- well lit by the sun;
- contain drainage;
- are characterized by low groundwater levels.
With a lack of lighting, the plants are unnecessarily stretched, and their stems bend and become thin. As a result, the decorative qualities of the flower bed suffer.
If tulips are constantly exposed to the wind, then over time they will begin to bend to the ground. Low-growing varieties are less susceptible to wind.
If the groundwater is too high, then an artificial elevation is made. The length of the roots of tulips does not reach up to 0.5 m. With constant exposure to moisture, the process of plant decay begins. Harmful microorganisms can enter the bulbs, leading to the death of the plant.
When choosing a place for a flower bed, you need to take into account what plants grew here. If bulbous plants are the predecessors, then it is recommended to choose another place. It is allowed to plant in the soil where herbaceous plants grew before.
Fertilizers for tulips
Tulips prefer medium-dense soil, alkaline or neutral. The plant responds well to fertilizer content in the soil.
To feed the plants, lime and ash are added to the ground. To make the soil lighter and more nutritious, river sand, humus and minerals are added.
When planting in sandy soil, you can add last year's manure. When fresh, it is not recommended to use tulip fertilizers.
The soil is dug to a depth of 20 cm. If the weather is dry, then two days before the tulips are planted in the fall, the future garden should be watered.
The following fertilizers are applied for tulips:
- Urea - a substance that provides plants with nitrogen. Due to nitrogen, the green mass of tulips grows. Urea is embedded in the soil to a depth of 3 cm. One square meter of a flower bed requires 20 g of urea.
- Potassium nitrate - complex fertilizer containing nitrogen and potassium. This combination has a positive effect on the development of the bulbs: nitrogen accelerates their growth, and potassium increases the ability to extract nutrients from the soil.
- Wood ash - natural fertilizer obtained by burning wood and plant residues. Ash contains an increased amount of calcium, which is necessary for the growth of the terrestrial part of plants.
Preparing the bulbs
Bulb preparation is a mandatory step in planting. The planting material is carefully examined and sorted. In the presence of damage, soft areas, signs of rotting and disease, the bulb is not used for planting.
The husk must be removed, under which sources of infection may remain. Tulips prepared in this way quickly absorb nutrients from the soil.
Then the material is sorted by diameter. Large bulbs take root best, but smaller bulbs can also be used.
The selected material is immersed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a growth stimulator for several minutes. After that, you need to immediately start planting work. On one site, you can plant several varieties of tulips or create a monochrome flower bed.
Landing order
The planting depth is directly related to the size of the bulbs. When the depth is chosen correctly, the plants will not die during the winter frosts and will receive the required amount of moisture.
If the bulbs are planted too close to the surface, then in the spring they can be washed away by the spring flood. Deep-planted tulips develop babies slowly.
Medium and large planting material is planted 10 cm deep, smaller specimens - 8 cm. If the soil is light, then you can plant the bulbs deeper. In heavy soil, it is better to place them closer to the surface.
Holes or furrows are made in the garden.10 cm (if the bulbs are large) or 8 cm (for smaller specimens) are left between the tulips. 25 cm are left between the rows of flowers. Tulips can be planted in a checkerboard pattern. The size of each cell is 10 by 10 cm.
A layer of sand is poured onto the bottom of the furrow (no more than 2 cm). The sand cushion will help the root system to harden faster. Tall tulips should be planted in such a way that their shadow does not fall on lower varieties.
Tulips are carefully laid out in the holes so as not to damage the roots. Then the soil is leveled so that no depressions remain on the surface. In such pits, water accumulates, which turns into ice when it gets cold.
After planting, the flower bed is watered and covered with a layer of straw, humus, peat or sawdust. This insulation promotes the development of tulips and protects them from frost.
Conclusion
The timing of planting tulips in the Moscow region is adjusted taking into account weather conditions. The estimated time for the work is the end of September. Before planting, the temperature of the air and soil is analyzed. The flower garden should be located in an open area, preferably on a dais.
For preventive purposes, tulips are transplanted. This will preserve the decorative properties of the flowers. Before starting work, you need to prepare the soil, disinfect the bulbs and apply fertilizers. Tulips are planted in rows or staggered. The final stage is watering and mulching the soil.
