Starting tulips in pots? (flower, growing, tree, backyard)

[NYCtotheATL]

My wife and I are just getting into flower gardening and our first project is her favorite flower... tulips. We want to plant them in the front of our house but it's shaded by a large tree.

Here are my questions for all you experienced gardeners out there:

1. Our backyard gets 4-6 hours of sun. Could we start in the backyard in small plastic pots in flats now then transplant to the front in the spring? If so, what size pots is recommended?

2. Since the leaves will all fall off the tree in the front, there will be a good amount of sun over the winter. We live in Atlanta and winters are relatively mild but temps can fall into the teens. Will they be okay if we just planted them into the ground in the front of the house where we'd like them? Once the leaves come back on the tree in the spring, they'll only get about two hours maximum sun.

Any advice or other recommendations you might be able to help us with would be very much appreciated. Thank you!!!

[kcam213]

I am insterested in hearing the answer to this and also my question.

I want to plant tulips in the spring as well. I know you are suppose to plant them in the fall.... but I don't have my flower garden in yet... it will be a project for next spring. Can I start tulip bulbs inside in pots and transplant in the spring or am I out for the next year spring garden?

[North Beach Person]

If the tree is decidous (loses the leaves) they will be ok in the yard shaded by the tree (oops I re-read). I've never transplanted out of pots into the ground but force them for color inside in Jan/Feb.

Tulips do need a certain number of hours below freezing to be their best. They should be planted now into Dec. Waiting until Spring doesn't work with tulips and most Spring bulbs.

http://www.americanmeadows.com/Quick...ringBulbs.aspx

[NYCtotheATL]

North Beach Person,

Should we just plant the bulbs into the ground now?

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

If the tree is decidous (loses the leaves) they will be ok in the yard shaded by the tree (oops I re-read). I've never transplanted out of pots into the ground but force them for color inside in Jan/Feb.

Tulips do need a certain number of hours below freezing to be their best. They should be planted now into Dec. Waiting until Spring doesn't work with tulips and most Spring bulbs.

What bulbs grow in my region? (US Map) - About Planting Bulbs in Fall - Guide to Flower Bulbs

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by NYCtotheATL

North Beach Person,

Should we just plant the bulbs into the ground now?

Plant tulips, daffodils, crocuses now. I imagine there are Atlanta zone specific ones that I'd never see.

[azoria]

Tulips are fairly easy, the one thing they will not tolerate is heat during their growing season. They like it cold. Tulips fare poorly in warm climates.

Don't mess with pots or flats, just put the tulip bulbs in the ground. The next spring they will either thrive and bloom or not.

If they fail to thrive, plant something else. Gardening is easy.....dump plants that perform poorly and replace them with something else till you get something that makes you happy.

Worth a try, but I suspect that springs and winters in Atlanta may may be too warm for tulips. Shade/sun is really not an issue with tulip bulbs.

[DubbleT]

I never had too much luck with Tulips in Memphis. Could have been the heat or could have been the poor drainage, probably a combination of both.
Pre chilling bulbs is supposed to help. COLORBLENDS | Prechilling
Or you can buy them already chilled Brent And Becky's Bulbs: Pre-Cooled Bulbs