Planting Tulips in January

by Sheri
(Grayslake, IL USA)

I just brought tulip bulbs back to Chicago from Amsterdam. It is the beginning of January and the ground is frozen here. The man that I bought them from said that I would have to plant them in planters and store them in my garage until spring. Is this true? If so how deep should I bury them and should I water the containers? Can the containers be placed outside or should they remain in the garage?

Doug says the man in Amsterdam is right. Plant them in containers - depth doesn't matter - they'll come up from any depth so you can put some at bottom, some at middle-depth to get as many into each pot as possible.

Yes, soak the container after planting. Do not water again until spring and growth starts and then water regularly.

You can't freeze these bulbs solid or they'll likely die. Cold is good - freezing is bad. So if outside is going to freeze, put them in garage.

Good luck - let us know how you did.