London Cottage Garden

Blogging about cottage garden style in a town garden

  • Subscribe to London Cottage Garden

    • Home
    • About
    • Spring gardening
    • Summer gardening
    • Autumn gardening
    • Winter gardening
    • Tips/Inspiration

    Small tulips for pots in the cottage garden style


    December 1st, 2020 - Autumn gardening, Spring gardening

    Share this post:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Email

    How can you grow tulips in a small pot?

    You might think you don’t have room for pots and pots of tulips as they take up a lot of room.

    By small tulips I don’t mean short ones, I mean small dainty species tulips.

    Species tulips in a pot

    These tulips like a hot sunny spot

    Not all tulip bulbs are apricot-sized.  Some are the size of a grape.

    species tulip bulbs for a cottage garden

    A typical tulip bulb, this one is Ballerina, next to two species bulbs.

     

    or even a cashew nut

    Small tulips for pots

    Clusiana Chrysantha – one of the species tulips

    They are called species tulips and are perfect not only for small spaces but also for being perennial.  Left in the ground they will multiply and flower for many years.

    My species tulips are from bloms.co.uk 

    species tulips

    So different from the usual big bags of onion sized tulip bulbs. Little bags of loveliness.

    This pink and white one is called Peppermint Stick. Look at its slivers of leaves and pencil thin stems.

    tulips in the cottage garden style

    Species tulips give an informal cottage garden feel

    How to plant small tulips for pots

     

    I cram 20 or more bulbs into a pot with a diameter of 20/25 cms.

    I add lots of grit and put the pots in a hot sunny place.  These below flowered in April and May. When they were over I emptied the pot and kept them dry in the shed till now when I replanted them.

    species tulips for pots in the cottage garden style

    Tulipa clusiana variety Chrysantha

    So not all tulips look like these below.

    In some years I’ve had a fantastic display of tulips, some better than others and you can see those in a previous blog here

    Tulips for colour in pots and borders

    So don’t think it’s too late to plant some late spring beauties – there are still bulbs available online and with some compost, some grit or sand for drainage and a pot or two there is still so much time to plant them up.

    One of the joys of caring about a patch of garden is that we can always be thinking ahead if we want to.  It’s not wishing your life to pass faster, it’s an opportunity to lift thoughts out of a dark dull day into a different season.  It can be by pottering out there or sitting indoors reading a gardening book or catalogue.

    Here’s to 2121 and a chance to create something nice.

    If you like tips and ideas for the cottage garden style you might like to follow me by email.  My blogs, about one a month, will pop into your inbox.  Just put your email into the box at the top of the page.

     

    Share this post:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Email

    8 comments on "Small tulips for pots in the cottage garden style"

    1. Hazel says:
      1st December 2020 at 6:47 pm

      Lovely post, the species Tulips look beautiful. I planted tulips in pots today, then struggled to bend mesh wire to cover them, hopefully to keep them safe from the many squirrels which run rampant in our garden!

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        1st December 2020 at 10:14 pm

        I spent the day doing the same!! Grappling with a huge roll of chicken wire trying to make my pot squirrel proof. What a battle! thanks for your comment Hazel.

        Reply
    2. Gill says:
      1st December 2020 at 8:56 pm

      Love these very cheering pictures – perfect for a gloomy December day

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        1st December 2020 at 10:15 pm

        Thankyou Pal, xx

        Reply
    3. Barbara Lofgren says:
      1st December 2020 at 11:43 pm

      I have been wondering about tulips in pots for next year – you have convinced me to try.

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        2nd December 2020 at 12:47 pm

        Oh that’s great to hear Barbara. Frankly any tulips at all are such a joy in April and May. You won’t regret it. best wishes, Julie

        Reply
    4. Torrington Tina says:
      3rd December 2020 at 7:43 pm

      I have already planted up 8 large pots of tulips and now I am definitely tempted to see what I can plant in my smaller pots. Thank you, beautiful pictures to inspire me!

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        3rd December 2020 at 9:59 pm

        That’s great to hear that you’ve been inspired to try some tiny tulips as well. I hope they do well for you, thanks for your comment, best wishes, Julie

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    − 3 = 6

    London Cottage Garden
  • Subscribe to London Cottage Garden


  • Popular Posts

    Cottage garden alstroemerias for a vase

    Alstroemerias as cut flowers [caption id="attachment_3347" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pink and white in a Victorian cranberry vase[/caption] Do you buy cut flowers for the house or…


    Real flowers and artificial flowers – both fabulous

    I've recently discovered some online artificial flowers from Alex James that I think are beautiful and look wonderful either on their own or mixed with…


    How to introduce a new colour in a cottage garden

    A new colour in early Spring Here's a way to introduce a new colour in a cottage garden in early Spring. Plants can't always provide…


    How to use colour in the cottage garden style

    How to have colour in the cottage garden style town garden without it being too much work for one person to manage.  Well I would…


    Daffodils in a small garden – tips on how to grow them.

    If you have a small garden like a town garden and want to grow daffodils, here are my tips on how best to do it,…




    londoncottagegarden

    Fresh from @alstroemeriaben half a bunch in a vint Fresh from @alstroemeriaben half a bunch in a vintage vase #alstroemeria #britishflowers #cottagegardenflowers #londoncottagegarden
    Mr Feral Cat doing his bit for Nature. Dispersing Mr Feral Cat doing his bit for Nature.  Dispersing seeds. #feralcat #mrgreycat #seeds
    New blog about alstroemerias see link in bio @alst New blog about alstroemerias see link in bio @alstroemeriaben #cottagegardenflowers #cottagegarden #londoncottagegarden #flowersinavase #vintagevase #britishflowersweek
    @alstroemeriaben flowers mail order and now in a v @alstroemeriaben flowers mail order and now in a vintage vase (1930s?) #alstroemeria #britishflowersweek #alstroemeriaben
    @alstroemeriaben delivery from arrival to the vint @alstroemeriaben delivery from arrival to the vintage vase  delivered all year round #alstroemeria #britishflowerweek #londoncottagegarden #vintagevases
    Gorgeous fresh flowers from @alstroemeriaben in @b Gorgeous fresh flowers from @alstroemeriaben in @britishflowersweek
    Just one stem from @alstroemeriaben - from a deliv Just one stem from @alstroemeriaben - from a delivery of 40 beautiful #alstroemerias by post
    Erythrosora fern really is this colour. In a pot i Erythrosora fern really is this colour. In a pot it looks fab for 10 months of the year.  #londoncottagegarden #japanesefern #ferns #containergardening
    Fabulous delivery today from @alstroemeriaben of 4 Fabulous delivery today from @alstroemeriaben of 4 big bunches of alstroemerias.  Here are just 4 stems. #alstroemeriaben  #cottagegardenflowers #alstroemerias  #londoncottagegarden
    Nearly snapped but supported, bees can still go in Nearly snapped but supported, bees can still go in and out. #foxgloves #londoncottagegarden
    Does her bum look big in this pic? Yes it does. # Does her bum look big in this pic? Yes it does.  #tortiecat #tortiegirl
    Perennial Strawberry foxgloves are taller than me. Perennial Strawberry foxgloves are taller than me.  Apricot/pink/cream coloured. Bee magnets.  #londoncottagegarden #foxgloves #cottagegardenplants
    Splitting a hardy geranium from pic 1 to 2. So ea Splitting a hardy geranium from pic 1 to 2.  So easy.  Now is the time to do it #londoncottagegarden #hardygeraniums #cottagegarden
    Little posy from the garden picked for a friend. I Little posy from the garden picked for a friend. It may not last long but it’s lovely anyway. #londoncottagegarden #springflowers
    Good morning beautiful lady #foxes #londoncottageg Good morning beautiful lady #foxes #londoncottagegarden
    Tottering-by-gently, my first rose to come out. Ju Tottering-by-gently, my first rose to come out. Just how I feel today. #londoncottagegarden #davidaustinroses
    A new blog about the beautiful garden at Dedham Ha A new blog about the beautiful garden at Dedham Hall Hotel - see link in bio #londoncottagegarden #cottaegarden #hotel
    Mariette tulip after the rain - still looking love Mariette tulip after the rain - still looking lovely #londoncottagegarden #tulips #springbulbs
    Some tulips fall open and others curl up in the ra Some tulips fall open and others curl up in the rain. Unknown pale tulip and lily flowered Mariette.
    Up for World Dawn Chorus day. Coat on. Pot of tea. Up for World Dawn Chorus day. Coat on. Pot of tea.  Just wonderful. #dawnchorus #londoncottagegarden #citygarden #birdsong
    Load More… Follow on Instagram

    UK Gardening Blogs

    © 2022 London Cottage Garden - The London Cottage Garden Blog

    Website Design www.beamtwenty3.co.uk

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.