Tulipmania!

Tulips, paragons of spring, are beloved by gardeners throughout the country.  But, their popularity here and now can’t compare to the frenzied obsession of Tulipmania of the past.

Tulips have a long and interesting history.  They were probably one of the first flowers cultivated solely for their beauty and tulip designs are found on pottery jars dating back to 2000 B.C.  It wasn’t until the 16th century that European explorers found tulips growing in the gardens of Turkish sultans and brought them back, first to Austria and then to Holland.

By 1634, Tulipmania had overtaken Holland.  Enthusiasm over the flowers reached fever pitch and their price per pound was more than that of gold.  Breeders soon developed striped, feathered and marbled varieties which brought higher prices.  One bulb of the variety ‘Semper Augustus’ was said to have sold for a record price of (today’s equivalent) $2500.

Not surprisingly, farmers began planting tulips as crops instead of food, hoping to cash in on the frenzy.  Also, not surprisingly, the tulip bubble burst, leaving economic depression, hunger and poverty.

The moral of the story?  Enjoy tulips, love their stunning beauty, their intricate details, their gorgeous colors, but don’t quit your day job to grow them!

Tulip bulbs should be planted in the fall after the temperatures have cooled.  Unfortunately, growing tulips in the South is a short term investment.  For recurring bloom year after year, tulips need three months of cool weather and bright sunshine after they bloom in March. Here, in Georgia, temperatures begin to warm considerably in May, which only provides one month of the necessary cool temperatures.  There are exceptions, of course, and some gardeners with perfect, well drained soils may have had great results with tulips coming back year after year.  For the rest of us, though, who live in the sunny South, it’s best to treat tulips as annuals and dig up and discard the bulbs after they bloom and move on to something else like…..Irismania, or Rosemania!

So, go out and tiptoe through the tulips while you can!

Happy Gardening,   Laura