Content
Tulips are one of the first flowers to appear in spring gardens. Autumn planting allows you to ensure 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 you get a richly blooming flower bed in the spring.
An important feature of tulips is the need to replant 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 spring, bulbs of tulips and other primroses appear in the assortment of garden stores. When planting in spring, the probability of seedlings appearing is very high. However, the appearance of a flower takes time, so flowering may never happen.
Planting tulips in autumn has a number of advantages:
- the bulbs get time to adapt in the soil;
- early flowering is ensured.
When the temperature rises, the bulbs planted in the ground awaken and sprout. In spring, seedlings appear even when snow remains in shady places.
The above-ground part of tulips develops during April - June, which depends on the region and variety.The bulbs are dug up after flowering in June/July, when most of the plant leaves have turned yellow.
Tulips grow in one place for up to 4 years, after which they need to be replanted. For certain varieties, the location is changed more often.
Replanting tulips is necessary in the following cases:
- 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 bulbs plants. Tulips need to go through a cooling period, after which they begin to actively grow and bloom. When planting, you need to take into account that plants need to develop a root system and receive nutrients before the onset of cold weather. However, the bulbs should not sprout in the fall.
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 soil temperature first. At a depth of 10 cm, its value should be within 6-9 degrees. At such 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 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 possible to shift the dates by one or two weeks.
If planting dates are observed, the root system of tulips begins to develop.As a result, the plant actively absorbs nutrients from the soil.
Choosing a landing site
Tulips are preferred in areas that meet certain conditions:
- are located on a hill;
- have wind protection;
- well lit by the sun;
- contain drainage;
- characterized by low groundwater levels.
With insufficient lighting, plants become excessively elongated, and their stems become bent and thin. As a result, the decorative qualities of the flower bed suffer.
If tulips are constantly exposed to 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 tulip roots reaches less than 0.5 m. With constant exposure to moisture, the process of plant rotting begins. Harmful microorganisms can penetrate 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 the predecessors are bulbous plants, then it is recommended to choose a different location. It is allowed to plant in soil where herbaceous plants previously grew.
Fertilizers for tulips
Tulips prefer medium-density soil, alkaline or neutral. The plant responds well to fertilizer content in the soil.
To feed plants, lime and ash are added to the ground. To make the soil lighter and more nutritious, add river sand, humus and minerals.
When planting in sandy soil, you can add last year's manure. It is not recommended to use fresh fertilizers for tulips.
The soil is dug up to a depth of 20 cm. If the weather is dry, then two days before planting tulips in the fall, the future bed needs to be watered.
The following fertilizers are applied to tulips:
- Urea – a substance that provides plants with nitrogen supply. Due to nitrogen, the green mass of tulips increases. Urea is embedded in the soil to a depth of 3 cm. For one square meter of flower bed, 20 g of urea is required.
- Potassium nitrate – complex fertilizer containing nitrogen and potassium. This combination has a positive effect on the development of bulbs: nitrogen accelerates their growth, and potassium increases the ability to extract nutrients from the soil.
- Wood ash – a natural fertilizer obtained by burning wood and plant residues. Ash contains an increased amount of calcium necessary for the growth of above-ground parts of plants.
Preparing the bulbs
Preparing the bulbs is a mandatory stage of planting work. Planting material is carefully inspected and sorted. If there are damage, soft areas, signs of rotting and disease, the bulb is not used for planting.
Be sure to remove the husk, under which sources of infection may remain. Tulips prepared in this way quickly absorb nutritional components from the soil.
The material is then sorted by diameter. Large bulbs take root best, however, smaller specimens can also be used.
The selected material is immersed for several minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a growth stimulator. After this, you need to immediately begin planting work. In one area you can plant several varieties of tulips or create a monochrome flower bed.
Boarding order
Planting depth directly depends on the size of the bulbs. When the depth is chosen correctly, the plants will not die during winter frosts and will receive the required amount of moisture.
If you plant the bulbs too close to the surface, they may be washed away by spring floods. Tulips planted deeply develop babies slowly.
Medium and large planting material is planted 10 cm deep, smaller specimens - 8 cm. If the soil is light, then the bulbs can be planted deeper. In heavy soil it is better to place them closer to the surface.
Holes or furrows are made in the garden bed. Leave 10 cm between tulips (if the bulbs are large) or 8 cm (for smaller specimens). Leave 25 cm between 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 (no more than 2 cm) is poured onto the bottom of the furrow. A sand cushion will help the root system strengthen faster. Tall tulips should be planted in such a way that their shadow does not fall on lower varieties.
The tulips are carefully placed in the holes so as not to damage the roots. Then the soil is leveled so that no depressions remain on the surface. Water accumulates in such holes, which turns into ice when it gets colder.
After planting, the flowerbed 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 approximate time for carrying out the work is the end of September. Before planting, the air and soil temperatures are analyzed. The flower garden should be located in an open place, preferably on a hill.
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 fertilizer. Tulips are planted in rows or in a checkerboard pattern. The final stage is watering and mulching the soil.
