Tulip ‘Paradise Purple’ Mix
There’s no getting away from it now. Autumn has well and truly arrived…
By October, the garden we enjoyed through summer can look very different. Leaves are beginning to tumble, the evenings are drawing in, growth is slowing down and those colder mornings are a fairly convincing reminder that winter isn’t far away.
But this is one of the things we enjoy most about gardening. While one season is coming to an end, you can already be quietly preparing for the next.
And October is a brilliant month for doing exactly that.
A bag of rather unremarkable-looking bulbs might not seem terribly exciting now, but bury them beneath the soil this autumn and they’ll be waiting there ready to put on a show when the garden wakes up again.
Which brings us nicely to our October Plant of the Month, Tulip ‘Paradise Purple’ Mix.
It’s always a favourite – if you haven’t grown it before, it’s about time you did…
Why Tulips Deserve A Place In Every Spring Garden
There are certain flowers that really announce a new season, and tulips are right up there with the best of them.
Once their distinctive flowers start appearing above fresh spring foliage, you know winter is finally losing its grip.
‘Paradise Purple’ is particularly effective because you’re not planting one flat block of identical colour. Instead, the mix brings together different purple tones, giving your display more depth and interest when the flowers open.
And tulips have another useful trick. They add height just when many other spring plants are still sitting relatively close to the ground.
Plant a good group together and the effect can be superb.
Where To Plant Tulip ‘Paradise Purple’ Mix
A sunny position with reasonably well-drained soil will keep them happy, and they’re equally useful in beds, borders and containers.
If you’re planting them in the garden, try to be generous. A couple of tulips dotted here and there can easily disappear visually. Groups and drifts have much more impact.
They’re excellent in pots too. In fact, if you have a patio or smaller garden, a generously planted container of tulips is one of the easiest ways to create a proper spring spectacle.
And don’t worry if you’re not an experienced gardener. Getting a great display from tulip bulbs really doesn’t require years of horticultural know-how.
Plant In Autumn And Let Nature Do The Work
Plant your bulbs during autumn and, for the most part, there isn’t much else to do.
Through winter, while the garden appears to be sleeping, those bulbs are preparing themselves below ground. Then, as temperatures begin to rise and days lengthen, up they come!
It’s one of gardening’s great rewards for a little forward planning.
By spring, you may even have forgotten exactly where you planted them. Seeing those first shoots emerge makes the display all the more satisfying.
Ready To Plant Your Bulbs For Spring Blooms? Here’s 5 Tips For Guaranteed Success!
Get the drainage right
Tulips cope brilliantly with winter cold, but they’re much less keen on sitting in permanently wet soil. If your ground is heavy, improve the drainage before planting.
Don’t plant them too shallowly
Aim for roughly three times the depth of the bulb. A good planting depth helps protect the bulbs and keeps them securely anchored.
Pointy end upwards
It sounds obvious, but when you’re planting a large batch it’s surprisingly easy to stop paying attention! Put the pointed end towards the surface.
Be bold with numbers
Tulips usually look their best planted in groups rather than spaced individually. If you’re planting a container, don’t be afraid to create a nice full display.
Remember where you planted them
A small plant marker can save a lot of head-scratching later, particularly if you’re an enthusiastic winter gardener who might otherwise accidentally dig the same spot again!
That really is all there is to it. A little work this October, a quiet wait through winter and then, come spring, Tulip ‘Paradise Purple’ Mix can provide one of those displays that reminds you exactly why autumn bulb planting is worth the effort.
