Starting Tulip Seed Pods

by Carolyn
(Illinois)

I brought the tulip seed pod in the house not knowing what to do with the seeds. The seed pod has cracked open some, but not much. Is it OK to break open the seed pod and sprinkle the seed on the ground. I live in Illinois and I would like to start them outside in the garden if it is OK to do so now.

Doug says that a far easier way is to sink a pot in the ground first. Excavate a bit of soil and sink a 6-inch flower pot in the soil. Fill the pot with the soil excavated from the hole.

Soak the soil *thoroughly* with boiling water to sterilize the soil and kill off weed seeds.

Sow the tulip seed in the pot and barely cover the seed with soil (about 1/4 inch deep - no more)

Water the pot.

Leave alone until spring.

You should see small hair like leaves emerging (like very tiny tulip leaves) in late spring. Grow in pot until they all go yellow and die back in early summer.

Dig up and transplant the baby bulbs to the garden area you want.

It takes 3 years to get a bloom from seed.

Good luck.