Good plant #126 - Tulipa 'Humilis Persian Pearl'

I love dwarf species tulips and this is probably my favourite. This tulip is very compact and ideal for growing in pots.

Squirrels love freshly planted bulbs but by soaking the bulbs in tonic water (which contains quinine) deters them. The new shoots are a slug favourite so use deterrents if you are inclined to do so.

You can ensure abundant blooms year after year by applying a liquid general purpose fertilizer to the leaves after flowering when the foliage is still green. All the foliage should be cut off and removed as soon as it has tuned yellow.

I always plant tulip bulbs in very well-drained soil by adding plenty of grit. I plant these bulbs 2 inches deep in the soil and 3 inches apart. I always put them in a sunny-ish spot.

Healthy bulbs will produce additional offset bulbs which will flower eventually. If you want more in a different location, lift the bulbs in late summer and remove and re-plant the offsets.

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