Large tulip bulbs from small tulip bulbs

by Phil
(Orinda, CA)

After blooming in San Francisco Bay Area my large tulip bulbs have become much smaller. If I plant them for the next year, is there a way to make a larger bulb from a smaller bulb?

Doug says that large bulbs come from small bulbs naturally - but you have to feed them and give them the conditions they want (allowing the leaves to stay on the plant till yellowing, lots of summer heat, no water in the summer, a solid 112-14 weeks of dormancy, and above all, good compost so the bulbs can feed)

Not sure why you dug them up. But those conditions are what a plant requires - if you can provide those, the bulbs will get larger. If not, they'll wither away. (if they're getting smaller - you have a problem) I haven't gardened in SF region so can't guarantee the conditions you have one way or the other.