Question: Why is it that my tulips produce just two leaves and no flowers? The leaves are large and healthy, and though the soil is poor, I dig the bulbs every other year and work fertilizer into the bed. SM, Illinois.
Answer: After the blooming season, the tulip bulb has the task of producing a good fat bulb and storing in its, base a bloom for the following spring. It has to do all this in the short period from late spring until time for it to become dormant in June.
It is obvious that it must have ideal growing conditions during this period. The soil should contain an abundance of organic matter in the area below the bulb. It should be well drained, yet kept constantly moist. An application of complete commercial fertilizer at the surface should help. All foliage should be left on the plant until it is dead, all seed pods should be removed as soon as the bloom fades, and the plants should have plenty of light during this period. Starting with new, top size bulbs, under such conditions, the bulbs will almost certainly bloom nicely for several years with no need for disturbing.
