How To Save Tulips For Second Year Blooms
Although tulip bulbs won’t return at 100% to your garden, for savings and a garden challenge, it is possible to harvest and replant your tulip bulbs. Give it a try!
To care for harvested tulip bulbs in Washington, dig them up only after the foliage yellows. Gently brush off soil and lay the bulbs out in a dry, shaded, and well-ventilated space. Store them in mesh bags or shallow cardboard boxes in a cool, dark, and dry area (60°F to 65°F).
1. Digging and Curing
Timing: Wait about 6 weeks after the tulips finish blooming—typically in late June or July—until the foliage has withered and turned yellow. Digging too early deprives the bulb of energy needed for next year. (Sorry – for tulip giveaways from the Heritage Garden, our foliage was green but the tulips have good-sized bulbs in the 2026 season.)
Digging: Carefully dig a few inches around and beneath each bulb to lift them out. (This has already been done for you if you received HG tulips.)
Curing: Shake off excess dirt and dry the bulbs out of direct sunlight in a well-ventilated spot (such as a garage or shed) for a few days to harden their skins.
2. Cleaning and Sorting
Cleaning: Once completely dry, brush off the remaining soil and gently remove the old, dried foliage and roots.
Sorting: Inspect the bulbs and discard any that are soft, moldy, or diseased. Separate any large bulbs from smaller bulblets, which will take a few years to bloom.
3. Summer Storage
Ventilation: Place the cleaned bulbs in breathable containers, such as brown paper bags (with punched air holes) or mesh onion bags. Alternatively, lay them in a single layer in shallow cardboard boxes separated by sawdust or shredded newspaper.
Conditions: Keep the bags in a dark, cool, and dry location with good air circulation—ideally between 60°F and 65°F.
Monthly Checks: Periodically check on the stored bulbs over the summer to remove any that show signs of rot or mold.
4. Fall Replanting
Timing: In western Washington, replant your cured bulbs outdoors in late autumn (October to early December). This ensures the soil has cooled down (below 55°F), preventing early foliage sprouting and reducing the risk of fungal issues.
Planting Method: Plant the bulbs roughly 6 to 8 inches deep (or three times the height of the bulb) with the pointy end facing up.
Protect from pests: Squirrels, voles, slugs and deer love tulips as much as we do.
