Expert: Long Island Gardener - 1/1/2008

Question
I'm planning a wedding for June 28, 2008.  I would love to plant my own potted tulips for the occasion - but need to know SPECIFICS on how to do it right!  How can I be sure they are in bloom on the wedding day - and what is the correct timing to plant, etc.?  ANY advice would be appreciated.

Answer
Wishing for Potted Tulips in June is asking for a lot, Teryl, and if you want to do this yourself, well, it's a very risky project.  With the odds against you.

Reason:  When it gets too warm -- I don't mean 100 degrees in the shade, Teryl, I mean when it gets around 75 or 80 degrees Fahrenheit -- or it warms up too quickly, Tulip buds 'blast'.  They look for all the world like they are going to bloom.  Then -- poof!  They are kaput.

Sometimes, if temps are not steady and perfect (something you DO NOT HAVE in June unless you live in Alaska or far far South of the Equator, where it is Autumn), Tulip stems don't elongate.  And you have beautiful green leaves, and a big beautiful Tulip, and a stem as long as your thumb.  Yep, that's right.  YOUR THUMB.

Imagine the worst case scenario.  You have invested several hundred dollars (or more depending) on pre-chilled Tulip bulbs, you have bought pots and soil, you have them up and growing, and they are just not fast enough.  What are you going to do?  What can you do?

NOTHING!

There is so much that can go wrong here, Teryl, it is not something you want to deal with.  Just the fretting alone will ruin your mood.  Trust me, I have scheduled outdoor Birthday parties ONCE in my life for my adorable little girl and that was enough for me.  Worrying that it would rain on her Special Day in June put the fear factor over the top.  And I was alone.  No one else worried like I did.

And that was a Child's Birthday Party.  You're getting Married!

Don't go there, Teryl.  Yes, I know Tulips are GORGEOUS.  Order them by the stem.  Or do something else.  I'm filled with ideas and I can guide you in the right direction, realistically and honestly.  For free.  Just say the word.  Which, for Tulips, unfortunately is going to be NO.