Tom's tips for whopper pots, by Sarah Raven on YouTube. 1 min 19 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 19 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a pot at least 30 cm wide with drainage holes. Shade tolerant tulips like the Light up the Shade collection suit a north facing path or patio.
Put a layer of crocks or grit in the base so water drains freely. Tulip bulbs rot in soggy compost.
Fill the pot two thirds full with peat free multipurpose compost and firm it gently.
Press bulbs into the compost with the pointed tip up, spaced about 10 cm apart. Don't let bulbs touch each other or the pot wall.
Cover the bulbs with compost to about three times their own depth, roughly 10 to 15 cm. Leave a 2 cm gap below the rim for watering.
Water well until it runs out of the drainage holes, then let the pot drain.
Place the pot in its shady spot and leave it outdoors through autumn and winter. Check the compost monthly and water only if it feels dry.
Move the pot somewhere visible when shoots appear in late winter. Water when the soil dries and deadhead spent flowers after they fade.
Tips and common mistakes
Plant in October or November, as cold weather helps prevent tulip fire disease.
Never let pots sit in a saucer of water over winter, as bulbs will rot.
Squirrels dig up bulbs, so cover the pot with mesh or chicken wire until shoots show.
Feed with a potash rich fertiliser when shoots appear for stronger flowers.
Questions
Can I plant tulip bulbs in pots in shade?
Yes. Many tulips flower well in partial or full shade, especially along a north facing path. Choose varieties sold as shade tolerant and keep the compost from staying wet.
How deep do I plant tulip bulbs in a pot?
Cover them with compost to about three times the bulb's height, usually 10 to 15 cm. Plant closer together than in open ground, about 10 cm apart, for a fuller display.
When will potted tulips flower?
Most tulips planted in autumn flower from March to May, depending on the variety. Early varieties bloom first, so mix a few types for a longer show.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
