Gardening Ideas Gardening Flowers Bulbs How To Store Tulip Bulbs For Next Spring Learn how to properly remove and store tulip bulbs for beautiful blooms in the spring. By Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry’s most highly regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping and textile conservation. She is also a master gardener and an apple orchard owner with more than 50+ years of experience in vegetables, annuals, and perennials in the home garden as well as commercial crops. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on August 19, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article When To Store Tulip Bulbs Digging Up Tulip Bulbs Cleaning And Drying Tulip Bulbs Storing Tulip Bulbs Tips For Successful Bulb Storage Frequently Asked Questions Close Photo: Getty Images If you live in the South, or anywhere with mild winters, and your garden looks like spring in Rotterdam every year, then you must know how to handle tulip bulbs correctly. If your fall-planted bulbs produced meager or no blooms, then it’s time to learn how to store tulip bulbs correctly. Tulip bulbs need a period of cold weather to produce spring blooms. While in some areas gardeners leave the bulbs in the ground to rebloom every spring, to get profuse and reliable blooms, especially in the South, tulips should be treated as annuals. Removing the bulbs from the ground after flowering and the foliage has yellowed and withered then storing them properly for replanting between Halloween and Christmas will give you year after year of beautiful spring blooms. When To Store Tulip Bulbs If you are saving tulip bulbs from year to year, remove the flower stalk once the bloom has faded to prevent a seed pod from forming. Leave the foliage in place for around six weeks or until it has yellowed and withered to continue gathering and storing nutrients essential for reblooming in the bulb. Once the foliage has withered, the bulbs should be removed from the garden. The timing depends on your USDA hardiness zone and weather patterns. If you don’t like the look of yellowing leaves, consider planting shallow-rooted annuals or perennials to hide the foliage. Getty Images Digging Up Tulip Bulbs When it’s time to dig up the bulbs, use a garden fork to help loosen the soil. This tool works much better than a shovel or spade that could accidentally cut the bulb in half. Slowly work your way through the garden and gently lift the bulbs to the top of the soil. Tap away loose soil clinging to the bulbs and place them in a bucket or basket. If the tulip bulbs are near the roots of trees or shrubs, it may be best to leave them and hope for the best for next year. You don’t want to risk damaging the roots of a healthy plant just to get the bulbs. Cleaning And Drying Tulip Bulbs The cardinal rule for cleaning tulip bulbs: Do not wash the bulbs. Take the freshly dug tulip bulbs to a work area for inspection. Discard any damaged, soft, or decaying bulbs. Use clean garden shears to remove any roots and dried foliage still attached. Spread the bulbs out on a wire rack so they are not touching each other. Good air circulation all around the bulb is essential. Place the rack in a cool, dry, dark area like a garage, closet, or basement. Allow the bulbs to air dry for 48 to 72 hours. When the bulbs feel dry and papery, it’s time to move them to their summer storage spot. When To Plant Bulbs, According To Garden Experts Storing Tulip Bulbs How and where you store tulip bulbs will depend on how many you have and how much space you’ll need. The most important consideration is to make sure they stay in a cool, dark, dry spot. Ideally, the bulbs should be stored at temperatures no higher than 65 degrees F. and no lower than 39 degrees F. Flat Storage in Dry Substrate Tulip bulbs can be stored flat on a tray or in a shallow box in a thin layer of dry moss, vermiculite, shredded paper, or sand. Be sure the bulbs are not touching. You also wrap each bulb in a small sheet of newsprint and store them flat on a tray or shallow box. Hanging Storage Dried bulbs can be stored in a net bag like those used for grocery store onions. Hang so there is good air circulation all around the bag. You can use old tights or pantyhose to store the bulbs too. Drop them into the hose and tie a knot between each bulb. Hang for good air circulation. You can also store the bulbs in paper bags suspended with twine. Refrigerated Storage If you have the space, the bulbs can be wrapped in newsprint or placed in a net bag in a refrigerator drawer. This 12 to 16-week chilling period at around 40 degrees F. will help ensure a good bloom. Do not store the bulbs with fruit, especially apples, which give off ethylene gas which may damage the bulbs. Tips For Successful Bulb Storage Be sure to label stored bulbs to keep colors and varieties separate. Most tulip bulbs look very similar!Keeping the bulbs separated from each other with paper, fabric, or dry, loose material is the best way to prevent rot.Check the bulbs a couple of times over the summer and early fall to be sure they are dry. Discard any bulbs that show signs of mold or softening.Plant the bulbs immediately after removal from cold storage. Frequently Asked Questions How long can tulip bulbs be stored? Tulips can be stored successfully for up to 12 months if kept in a dark, dry location between 40 and 65 degrees. Can I store tulip bulbs in the refrigerator? A vegetable crisper drawer is a good place to store tulip bulbs for 12 to 16 weeks before planting. However, you should not store fruits in the same drawer. The ripening fruits emit ethylene gas that can damage the bulbs. Should I remove the foliage before storing tulip bulbs? Once the foliage on tulips has yellowed and withered, the bulbs should be removed from the garden. Before storing the bulbs, use clean garden shears to remove the foliage and any visible roots. Can I store tulip bulbs in plastic bags? Plastic bags are not ideal for storing tulip bulbs because they trap moisture and prevent good air circulation. Opt for paper or mesh net bags instead, or cut holes in a heavy plastic bag for good airflow. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit