Tulips are plants, the flowering of which tells us that the long-awaited warm spring has finally come! However, take care of bright colors in advance. And autumn is the best time.
The plant, the birthplace of which is Persia, was brought to Turkey a thousand years ago, and today this symbol of luxury, splendor and love can be seen in every dacha section, on urban flower beds, in squares and parks. In the tulip, the life cycle consists of two main stages. The first is the planting of tulip bulbs in autumn, so that the development of the root system begins, and the second - the growth of the plant itself, its flowering and death in the spring.
Preparing the soil
To plant a tulip autumn was crowned with success, it is necessary to prepare the soil in advance. These colors like smooth, well-lit areas, where there is no draft and strong wind. Pits on the site - a place of accumulation of stagnant waters, which are fatal for bulbs. In the summer they can get wet and rot, and in winter they can freeze. The lack of light will make the stems elongated, curved, and the flowers themselves will not please bright colors. Concerning the soil, it should not be acidic, otherwise the buds will be "blind."
Before planting tulips in autumn, the soil should be dug to a depth of 30 centimeters and fertilized with compost, with manure, wood ash, potassium nitrate or double superphosphate . Top dressing should be carried out no later than two months before the bulbs are planted, otherwise outbreaks of fungal diseases can not be avoided. If you do not know the correct ratio of fertilizer proportions, it is better to purchase a special complex fertilizer for bulbs.
Bulb Processing
First, you need to determine the optimal timing of planting tulips in the fall, so that bulbs can take root before the onset of the first frost. If the soil is wet, and the air temperature is not lower than 5 degrees, then there will be enough month. Remember, both early and late planting are dangerous. Planting early, you risk getting sprouted this year, and this is a guarantee that the plant will freeze. The late planting will lead to the fact that in the spring your tulips will lag behind in development, the flowers will be pale, and the bulbs will be small. If to generalize, the end of September and the first days of October - the time when planting tulips in the fall is the safest. Bulbs before planting must necessarily be inspected to select sick and damaged. The fact is that the only infected bulb will infect both neighboring plants and the soil itself.
After examining the bulb, etch. To do this, a 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate (sufficient hours of soaking) is suitable. You can also use a special growth stimulant. Slightly drying the bulbs in a natural way, you can plant them on the plot.
After planting carefully level the soil, and before frosting, cover it with straw, peat or dry foliage. In severe frosts, it is recommended to cover the ground with a film, so that in spring the flowers are large, and the plants themselves are stronger.
To facilitate the autumn care of tulips, you can buy special pallets. With the help of these pallets-baskets you can get the bulbs from the ground without digging out - just pull this pallet and the bulbs will be on the surface.