Tiptoe Through the Tulips

My grandmother used to say of certain foods, "I like it, but it doesn't like me." The same can be said of Tulips and the South. We like Tulips, but Tulips do not like us.

Ideal conditions for growing Tulips include:

- dry summers
- cold winters
- sandy soil (all Tulips dislike excessive moisture)

In the South, bulbs must be pre-chilled for 12 weeks before planting; they also require shade or only morning sun.

Tulips originated in southern Russian climate, which is vastly different from our hot, humid southeastern U.S. climate. If grown in the South, they are best treated as annuals. You will plant, replant, and replant. Why do this when daffodils easily flourish?

If you want Tulips without inordinate time, labor, and expense, consider fresh container plantings placed in strategic locations. Or, consider a move to the U.S. western mountain regions, which comes closest to southern Russian climate. As for me and my household, we don't plan on moving north of the Mason-Dixon line. (I've learned never to say never.) "Get the containers!"

Caveat: you can't tiptoe through the Tulips when you plant them in containers.

[Carolyn Fjeran, reflective writer with a colloquial twist; former writer for Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners, and The Newnan Times-Herald]