Gardening News

Tulips in the Office

My office is currently home to more than 10,000 tulips waiting to be planted, a sure sign that preparations for our spring shows are under way.

However carefully we plan, there is always one thing beyond our control. I remember Mr Sellick of Pashley Manor remarking, on a cold, wet day in late April, that even he could do nothing about the weather. How true that is. Over the past 30 years, our preparations have faced everything from cold snaps to heatwaves.

For our marquee displays, we want the tulips to flower as late as possible. The less time they spend in the cold stores after picking, the better. Helping my father as a youngster, I learned that storing tulip bulbs in the warmth during autumn delays flowering the following spring. That explains the unusual occupants of my office.

If spring arrives late, we have the fallback of our old Dutch light greenhouse. Brought over from Holland by my grandfather in 1947, it consists of a metal frame to which we add glass as growing conditions dictate. Normally, we only cover the roof once the tulips start flowering, protecting their petals from the weather. The sides remain open unless the tulips need a helping hand with gentle forcing.

This is different from growing tulips in a fully enclosed greenhouse, which I would advise against, even without heating. Temperature fluctuations when the sun comes out are just too great. In the garden, cold nights send tulips back to sleep, helping the flowers last longer. The weather may frustrate our plans for the shows, but a cool spring can be a gift in the garden.