This is my fourth post in a series of blogs about the tulip growing trial I carried out last winter. A huge thank you to the New Zealand mail order bulbs supplier Bulbs Direct, whose generosity made it possible for me to carry out such an extensive growing trial spanning 49 different varieties. If you haven’t already ordered your tulip bulbs and are keen to try growing them, Bulbs Direct still have a great range available on their website. If you happen to have missed out on any popular varieties (and some do sell out very quickly), be sure to keep an eye out on their website around mid-January, when their spring bulbs first go on sale. Alternatively, you can sign up to their free newsletters by email, so you know exactly when the catalogue launch will take place. If you live in a region with mild winters like Auckland, where I live, Bulbs Direct are happy to pre-chill your tulip bulbs for the correct length of time, free of charge. They also dispatch your order at the correct time for planting them, so it’s really convenient. Single flowering red tulips Red tulips are a classic in the winter garden. They are extremely elegant and bring much cheer in the cooler months when it can often be grey and miserable. I grew the following varieties of single red tulips last winter.
I will describe each of these varieties in detail below, along with photos. Lalibella Lalibella is an early flowering red single tulip. This is known as a Darwin tulip. This variety fares well in climates with mild winters, like Auckland, where I live and as the name suggests. I’m not sure if they will grow in Darwin though! It is a more orange-red than pure red in colour. Lalibella has really long stems, making them perfect for cutting. I recommend inserting the flowers in a plastic floral sleeve when picked, so they sit upright as they can tend to droop otherwise. Ile de France This is another early flowering red single tulip, but it is what I would describe as a pure red rather than an orange red in colour. It has medium stems and looks great in a vase. Red Rover This is an early flowering variety, but not as pure red in colour as Ile de France. It has medium to long stems. London This is another early flowering red tulip and is also a Darwin variety. It is orange-red in colour rather than pure red. The stems are not as long as Lalibella. Strong Love
This is a beautiful deep red tulip that flowered mid-season. It has shorter stems than the other varieties. This was a popular tulip variety sold at the flower auction when I attended last spring. Its sister is called Strong Gold, a yellow colour.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|