Discovering Tulip Fire in Your Garden: Strategies to Combat and Prevent This Destructive Disease in Your Flower Bed
Wanna Keep Your Tulips Swell? Here's the Lowdown on Tulip Fire and How to Beat It
When the spring unfurls your garden's tulips, or when autumn comes, it's essential to give a wary eye to your bulbs, watchin’ for signs of tulip fire. This piece’ll tell ya what to look out for, plus give ya advice on avoidin' the disease.
The Tea on Tulip Fire
Tulip fire is a fungal baddie, Botrytis tulipae, that catches tulips unawares. It messes with 'em by causin' brown holes in leaves and funky growth deformations. In severe cases, leaves can take on a scorched look. You might catch fuzzy grey mold around the dead parts of the foliage and black fungal spores on the bulbs themselves. Tulip fire seems to thrive in warm and wet springs, and the spores can lurk in the soil for a few years, and even hitch a ride on the bulbs themselves.
Some gardens ain't got tulips no more, thanks to the disease. For example, Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent gave up on their spring tulip shows after a 2023 outbreak around the garden. The head gardener, Troy Scott Smith, and his team dug up all infected tulip bulbs, even some species varieties, and haven't planted any new ones for a while.
Spot That Fire
The leaves'll have small holes, and ya might see burn-like marks on the petals. The foliage might look twisted and gnarled too. There may also be black lumps (sclerotia) on the bulbs.
Whoa, That's My Tulip on Fire!
If ya spot the signs, ya gotta act swift to stop the baddie from spreadin' more. Use a spade or a long trowel to dig up the infected bulb, and chuck it in the bin – don't toss it into the compost bin. Also, gather up any fallen petals. Disinfect yer tools to stop the disease from hoppin’ onto other bulbs. Don't plant bulbs in the same area of the ground for at least three years, as the spores can linger in the soil. Keep in mind that tulip fire may be mistaken for other tulip issues, like grey mold.
No Treatment Needed…Yet
There ain't no current treatment for tulip fire – prevention is the way to go.
How to Beat Tulip Fire
Buy Bulbs from Reputable Sources
"Growers got a trickle of fungicides to control tulip fire, includin' some suitable for organic farming," explains Guy Barter, chief horticulturalist at the RHS.
In autumn, examine the bulbs for fungal spores' signs.
Chill Out
Check that ya have the right conditions for growin' tulips – they're happiest in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Jacqueline de Kloet, a plantswoman and bulb ace, points out that tulips are high-maintenance bulbs. "They need perfect circumstances to perform well. They should be planted in November when the soil has cooled down a bit, they should be planted deep (at least at 15cm depth) in a well-drained, not too poor soil in a sunny spot. They need a lotta sunlight and warmth. And they're greedy, so I use organic fertilizers when they start to grow, in February-March."
Spread 'Em Out
Plant tulips less densely in borders to let 'em breathe and prevent infection among 'em.
Rotate Your Tulips
Many gardens rotate the areas where they grow tulips to stop the disease from buildin' up in the soil. Polly Nicholson, an expert tulip and cut flower grower, operates a four-year rotation in her cut flower field.
Delay Autumn Planting
Plant tulips as late as possible in autumn, ideally in November after a frost. Low temperatures can kill the fungal spores. Plant 'em deep – at least 15cm and up to 30cm deep.
Dig 'Em Up and Store 'Em
"Always dig up yer hybrid tulips bulbs and store 'em dry in summer," advises Carien van Boxtel. "There ain't no guarantee that they'll perform as well as the first year, but at least ya can keep 'em for next year. Deadhead yer tulips before diggin' 'em up and dispose of the petals." Do not leave petals on the ground.
Pot ‘Em
If yer garden's been hit by tulip fire, it's still fine to plant fresh tulips in sterilized pots with fresh potting compost. Ya can still get visual impact around the garden, even if tulip fire has been an issue. Arundel Castle usually plants about 400 pots of tulips with fresh organic potting compost and good drainage.
Grow ‘Em in Grass
Growin' bulbs in grass seems to lower the risk of tulip fire. "We've had really good success with growin' species varieties in grass," says bulb expert Sarah Raven. "In grass, ya don't get the fungal spores droppin' down on the leaves like ya do with soil. We had no tulip fire at all on various species varieties such as 'Little Beauty' or on the Tulipa clusiana types."
- Planting tulips in grass, rather than soil, may help reduce the risk of tulip fire.
- To prevent the spread of tulip fire, it's crucial to dig up and discard infected bulbs, and disinfect gardening tools after handling them.
- Maintaining the right lifestyle and home-and-garden conditions for tulips, such as good sunlight, well-drained soil, and proper spacing between plants, can help avoid tulip fire.
