Germinating a Tulip Flower

Tulips add color to your flower garden.

Though tulips are most commonly propagated from bulbs, you may also choose to propagate these erect, single flowers from seeds. In the fall, tulips may produce a dry brown seed pod. When the seed pod is completely dry, it splits open to reveal many small black seeds. Germinate these seeds after a three-month cold period and then sow them in your garden just as you would any other seed.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bag
• Vermiculite
• Pot
• Peat-based potting soil

Instructions

1. Fill a plastic bag with about 1/2 cup of heavily dampened vermiculite.

2. Place the tulip seeds into the bag with the vermiculite.

3. Place the bag in the crisper drawer in the refrigerator for three months. This cold period increases the number of seeds that will germinate.

4. Fill a pot with peat-based potting soil.

5. Space each seed so that it is 1/2-inch apart from other seeds on the surface of the soil.

6. Cover the seeds with about 1/4-inch of potting soil. Keep them at room temperature or slightly warmer.

7. Water the seeds generously with warm water. Once the seedlings sprout, gradually introduce them to full sun.

Tips & Warnings

• Transplant the tulips to their permanent location when the small plants have two leaves.

References

• Doug Green's Flower Garden Bulbs: Tulip Seed
• North Dakota State University; Questions on Tulips; Ron Smith