Tulip Bulbs For Planting - Why I Am Picky

Tulip bulb

Tulip bulbs are those one items that you always seem to have to buy from a store and they are almost always the same exact color or even worse are older bulbs that never really seem to provide you with the color you want to have. To that end, I have been burnt by these bulbs so much that I have started to become very selective in the tulip bulbs that I am buying from the store and often will go directly to a tulip grower. The problem is so many people are not even aware of why I am so picky about these bulbs and this often means they do not understand what I am doing by looking at the different bulbs that are available. Here is why I am so picky with my tulip bulbs for gardening purposes and why I am going to continue to be picky, even if it means having to go to Amsterdam to get the tulip bulbs that I need to have. 

Bulbs Can Grow Different

The bulbs that are available is the first thing that I have noticed. As you can see in the picture above, this bulb has started to come out with its root systems and the plant part is coming out of the top of the plant. I know that is a very basic description of the plant and the growing stage, but it is what the picture is showing. When I have done some experiments, the bulbs have had a tendency to grow at different rates than what I want. This is because of the way the bulbs are handled, but also because of the way they are all just shoved into the packages without a care being given in the world. I quickly discovered that when I am super picky, it ends up getting to the point the plants are all growing at the same exact rate and will keep themselves healthier than what I thought. This also means they are going to bloom about the same rate as well, which will help me in getting to enjoy the colors at the right time. 

Color Of The Tulip

Red and orange tulips

When you have tulip bulbs, you may notice that some of them are going to claim the tulips will be coming up in the bright pink color, but when it comes up and blooms you find out it is white. I know this is very disappointing for me and this is not something which I want to deal with. However, by being very picky about the bulbs, I have found that I am able to get the right bulb and color that is going to come up for what I want to look at. So the bulbs that I am buying have to be up to the color standard and if the color is not what is is supposed to be I can always ask for a refund from the company that sent me out the bulbs. 

Guaranteed Growth

Photo credit: CopyrightOWNER'S Kelly Huntder. Photo used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Use of the image does not constitute the image owner's support of this site or its material.

A lot of times, when you want to get your flower bulbs to grow, you will find it is quite a challenge. The reason for this challenge is the fact the bulbs are going to have no growth at times, but at other times they will grow tremendously. Since this is the case, I have opted to be picky because I want to have bulbs that are actually going to grow. I mean seriously, how many times do I need to emphasize to companies that I want the bulbs to grow. If they are not going to grow, they are not doing me any good. So I have to get the bulbs that grow like the dickens and if I am lucky enough, will actually grow until they bloom. 

Tulip bulbs for planting are something you can pick up at the store, I agree with that statement. What I do not agree with is the fact that all two bulbs are the same. Hell, light bulbs are not even the same anymore. I mean look at the light bulbs that are on the CFL lights, then you have the regular light bulbs. With that being said, it is easy to think that tulip bulbs will be the same as well because they produce a flower, but this is not the case. I hope that I have made my case as to why I am so picky with some of the selection I make with the tulip bulbs that I am buying for my flower garden.