Tulip Time Some Advice Please.

[grandpajoe]

I put lots of tulips in a raised bed I have but I need to get them out at least next weekend. I dont have the space not to use the raised bed 'till the stems rot away. Can I dig them out and let them rot back out of the soil. Will they flourish next year?? The reason is that I surrounded 10 or so winter flowering shrubs ( Hellibores)and they need to be able to grow and flourish this Summer .. But am a bit stumped this year!  Cheers Chris

[DDIL]

I found this on the internet 

 

No, pulling tulip bulbs early and letting them dry out above ground can hinder their ability to bloom the following year. It's best to wait until the foliage has yellowed and died back naturally, allowing the bulb to replenish its nutrient reserves. Digging them up too early deprives them of the energy they need to develop for the next season

[grandpajoe]

I was  thinking that might be an option. IE  wait one month before lifting them until bedding plants come on stream ????? Cheers

[newmodarmy]

I'm not a gardening expert but I just cut tulips and daffodil stems right down to ground level and leave the bulbs in the ground. I then plant any new spring summer  autumn plants or just wait for the perennials already there to flower. The daffodils definitely and  tulips usually then pop back up again the following Spring.

[perseverer]

The usual advice is to cut off the seed heads after flowering finishes, then leave the leaves to die down, daffodils especially, for up to 6 weeks after flowering. Daffodils bulbs left in the ground usually come back next year, tulips are more erratic depending on the variety.

[Smowball]

I suppose if you absolutely HAVE to dig them up then you could put them in a bag with soil in and put it away somewhere dark?? Just a thought.