Marathon Mix Tulip Bulbs

Tulips are a fantastic addition to the garden and landscape: they are low-maintenance, rarely need to be watered, and they bloom very early in the season with gorgeous, vase-shaped blooms on strong stems. They would be the perfect flower if not for their one weakness: a limited bloom time. Well, this carefully crafted Marathon Mix of tulips solves this problem by staggering early-, mid-, and late-season tulips together so that the color show can last all spring, adding gorgeous blooms for months. As one bloom fades, another rises to take its place. The Marathon Mix Tulip bulbs includes bright whites, pinks, and yellows punctuated with more dramatic violets, reds, and bicolors. The color composition is sure to dazzle garden guests and passers by, and all these blooms are borne on plants selected for their strong stems and great performance.

Plant Marathon Mix of tulips in a sunny spot with a neutral pH (6-6.5) and excellent drainage. Compacted or heavy clay soils tend to hold standing water, so amend these with grit, compost, or soil conditioner. Most tulips are natives of Southern Russia which have subsequently been bred for generations by the Dutch bulb market, and this means that tulips are adapted to serious winters: these cold-hardy bulbs actually thrive best when they get plenty of chill hours.

Plant tulip bulbs in the fall, about 8 inches deep. Dig the hole even deeper so that you can add some grit like kitty litter or crushed gravel. This grit will help you achieve the drainage that is vital for tulip beds, and will also deter pests like rodents, which love to eat the bulbs. Water the bulbs in after planting, to help them break out of dormancy, but afterwards don't worry about watering; tulips thrive happily in dry conditions.