My Tulips in pots, barrels and all sorts of containers are in fine health at the start of March. The pointed shoots are looking particularly good with red and lime green sprouting varieties showing through. You may remember, I planted some tulips in pots that I then buried in the garden so when they are finished flowering they can be dug up, put to one side and allowed to die back, whilst other plants go in the space. So far these pots look the part keeping the plants in a neater circle than I would have achieved with normal planting.

Container Tulip Problems

• Tulips do not like small containers. They like the right conditions for roots and bulbs and containers do not do the business
• Two other problems have arisen firstly with mice eating some bulbs in greenhouse pots. They also took many of my broad bean seeds. I didn’t try the old trick of soaking them in paraffin, perhaps next year but my losses aren’t too serious.
• The other problem may be worse with Tulip Fire damaging one pot and disfiguring most of the leaves. see below

Tulip Fire

• Tulip fire is caused by a fungus Tulip Botrytis
• All diseased plants must be removed immediately to prevent rapid spread of the disease.
• Do not replant infested soil with tulips for at least two years.
• When planting, reject and dispose of bulbs showing any signs of decay, or bearing sclerotia.
• At the end of every season lift bulbs and discard, or treat with yellow sulphur  and dry before storing.

Botanic Tulips in pots