How to Grow Tulips in Pots when you Live in the Country

Today I’m sharing how to grow tulips in pots when you live in the country.

In my humble opinion, growing tulips in pots is the best way to prevent deer from eating your tulips. A few years ago, I gave up on planting tulips anywhere on our property that the deer could reach (which is almost everywhere) and began growing tulips in pots.

Today I’m sharing the steps I use to grow tulips in pots, as well as my inspiration for all things container gardening: Claus Dalby.

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A Pot of Gorgeous Pink Tulips Grown by Me

Do Deer Eat Tulips?

Yes, deer eat tulips. Actually, I think they must love tulips!

For some, deer are adorable creatures reminiscent of sweet Bambi. But for gardeners, deer can quickly destroy the garden which is not so cute.

Several seasons ago, I added 500 beautiful tulip bulbs to my garden beds.

The deer ate 499 of them.

Literally!

Only one tulip bloomed that season. I had accidentally mixed the tulip bulb into a basket of daffodil bulbs and since deer don’t like daffodils, the single tulip managed to survive. And the other 499 tulips never had a chance.

One single tulip amongst the daffodils. The deer ate 499 of 500 tulips planted in my garden beds.

So, the following season, I sought out a solution to my tulip problem. The answer was container gardening: growing tulips in pots.

Claus Dalby: My Inspiration for Growing Tulips in Pots

My inspiration for growing tulips in pots was and remains Claus Dalby. I have followed Claus Dalby on Instagram for years and his containers of tulips are incredible.

However, I never thought to grow tulips in pots until I experienced several seasons of the deer destroying the tulips planted in my garden beds.

Determined to learn how to successfully grow tulips in pots, I ordered Containers in the Garden by Claus Dalby. The book was exactly what I needed to make the shift from attempting to grow tulips in garden beds to successfully growing tulips in containers.

The book is filled with beautiful photos of flower-filled containers. Claus Dalby’s ‘s displays of tulips are incredible! I love how he groups densely planted pots of tulips together in beautiful color-coordinated displays.

Pink Tulips in Pots by Claus Dalby (photo from @clausdalby on Instagram)

Purple Tulips in Pots by Claus Dalby (photo from @clausdalby on Instagram)

The book also included the tips I needed to begin growing tulips in pots. And to top it off, Claus Dalby has a YouTube channel where he shares his knowledge with us that includes an instructional video: How to Grow Tulips in Pots.

Beautiful Containers of Color-Coodinated Flowers by Claus Dalby (photo from @clausdalby on Instagram)

I don’t think any gardener can peruse the pages of Containers in the Garden or Claus Dalby’s Instagram without dreaming of replicating pots and pots of tulips in their own home garden.

How to Grow Tulips in Pots

So, are you ready to create a container garden of your own filled with beautiful tulips?

Let’s get started!

Grow Tulips in Pots — Growing Tulips in Pots is the Perfect Way to Avoid Pesky Deer

What materials do I need to grow tulips?

Tulip Bulbs
Pots to Plant your Tulip Bulbs
Potting Mix

Where can I buy tulip bulbs?

Gardening centers begin selling tulip bulbs in the fall. I have found a few larger gardening centers that carry a great selection of tulip bulbs. My favorite local spot is Southwood Garden Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Tulip Bulbs at Southwood Garden Center in Tulsa

However, more often than not, tulip selection is limited at gardening centers, so I tend to order my tulip bulbs from online vendors. The selection is amazing and love the details provided for each variety (color, height, planting instructions, etc.).

I have had success with the following online vendors and feel comfortable ordering tulip bulbs from any of those listed below:

What kind of pots should I use to grow tulips?

I recommend large terra cotta pots with drainage holes for tulips. Terra cotta pots are the perfect pot for planting tulips.

Look for large (wide and deep) pots for your tulip container garden. My favorite tulip pots (the large pots pictured below) are about 14″ wide and 14″ deep. Each holds 20-25 tulip bulbs.

The terra cotta is porous and allows your tulip bulbs to breath which is especially important if you prefer a dense planting of bulbs.

When should I plant tulip bulbs in pots?

Tulips are a spring flowering bulb and are planted in the fall or early winter.

Tulip bulbs should be planted when it’s cold outside and need about 14 weeks of cold temperatures (about 40 degrees F or colder) to grow. Tulip bulbs are typically planted as early as October (in colder climates) and as late as January (in warmer climates).

Timing of planting depends upon your gardening zone. You can look up your USDA plant hardiness zone here. Tulips typically do well in USDA gardening zones 3-8.

We are in zone 7a and I typically plant my tulip bulbs in pots sometime in November or December.

What steps do I follow to grow tulips in pots?

Tulips Bulbs should be Planted Pointy Side Up and Root Side Down

Start by adding potting mix to your bulb pot. Be sure to leave enough room in the pot so that you can cover the bulbs with an additional 6 inches of potting mix after you’ve planted the bulbs.
Add your tulip bulbs to the pot pressing each bulb into the soil. Pointy side should be facing up and root side should be facing down. Bulbs should be planted close together but need room to breathe. Make sure the bulbs are not touching one another.
Cover the bulbs with 6″ of potting mix.
Deeply water your potted bulbs so that all of the potting mix is damp. Do not overwater, you do not want the bulbs standing in water. (Note: You will not water the bulbs again until tulip leaves begin to emerge next spring.)
Overwinter your bulbs in a cold location, ideally around 40 degrees F but not freezing. I overwinter my pots in the barn. A garage or potting shed works as well if the temperature is cold but not freezing.
Depending upon where you have decided to overwinter your pots you may need to cover them with wire screen and or plastic. If needed, cover the tulip pots with wire screen to protect from rodents. And if storing your pots outside, you need to also cover them with plastic to help prevent snow and rain from causing your bulbs to rot.
Next spring, after plants begin to emerge move the containers outside to a sunny location. Be sure to choose a location safe from deer. My front porch steps work great!
Begin watering your tulips as needed. Enjoy!

Move Tulip Containers outside in the Spring when the Leaves Burst through the Soil

Pots of Tulips Blooming on my Front Porch

Cheers to retired life, and as always, happy gardening!

x Penny Pennington Weeks

Do Deer Eat Tulips?

Claus Dalby: My Inspiration for Growing Tulips in Pots