There’s a fantastic tulip combination on my patio which I thought I’d share as it not only looks lovely but is long lasting.
I was given a rather lovely second hand basket which I’m using as a planter. It’s about 1 meter squared in size and was probably a log basket before I got my hands on it. Anyway, last year I planted it up with a small tree fern which I hope one day will be a rather handsome addition to my patio. But while I wait for that to happen (which I know will be some time) I wanted to ensure there’s plenty of colour and interest in the planter.
Tulip Combination
So I planted alongside the tree fern some tulips and heuchera Fire Chief. To be honest the heuchera gets a bit swamped by the tulips in Spring, but enjoys life once the tulip leaves die back. I went for a tulip combination – a sumptious fragrant purple called Blue Diamond and a hot pink variety called Doll’s Minuet. Blue Diamond is 40 cm tall and produces double flowers in April and May. Doll’s Minuet is taller and more unusually, flame-flowered. It theoretically flowers in May, but has flowered in April too for the past 2 years. It’s a big basket so I planted 32 bulbs in total – the majority being the Doll’s Minuet.
The Result
Last year was the first year of flowering for the tulips and the colour combination was an absolute triumph. However, this year I was fully prepared for the colours to be a little less stellar. That’s because I left the bulbs in situ over winter and expected some of them to rot as a result – especially given all the rain we’ve had. It’s also a commonly held view that tulips aren’t brilliant at lasting the course, if planted out in the garden. They lose their ‘oomph’ over time. So I expected the same to be true if left out in my massive planter.
Well, I have to say that so far my little beauties are proving this theory wrong. The tulip combination this year looks just as good as last year. And all of my bulbs have survived the very wet Winter.
Reasons for Lasting Success
I’m going to take a little of the credit for this as I think I definitely gave them the best fighting chance of surviving. I left the leaves untouched so that they continued to feed the bulbs long after blooming had finished. The tulips were planted quite deep, which I’ve read can help with their longevity. I also regularly fed the basket with some tomato feed, whilst feeding the other pots on my patio. (I have no idea if tulips like or need tomato feed but it didn’t kill them and this year they look stunning).
I’m going to do the same this year and keep a very watchful eye on next year’s display to see how the tulips perform. If they start dying off, or their colour, diminishes I will certainly replenish the bulbs during the Autumn next year.
Interested in other tulip ideas? Checkout my top five tulips and combinations which I’ve planted up this year.