How to Harvest Tulips

Co-authored by Lauren Kurtz

Last Updated: February 17, 2023 References

There's nothing quite like a beautiful tulip in spring. Tulips should be harvested in the early spring, just as they begin to grow. If you want to decorate a table or vase with tulips, simply cut the flower from the stems. Bulbs can also be harvested if you want to transplant or give them away. Once you've harvested the flowers, keep them in a vase or dry them to preserve their beauty for longer.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Harvesting at the Right Time

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Watch for tulip growth in early spring. Tulips usually start to grow in early spring. When you notice the bulbs of tulips poking through the ground, it's time to prepare for harvest. As soon as tulips begin to emerge, care for them to encourage a quality harvest.^{[1]
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Water the tulips when you see new growth. Once tulips begin to poke through the ground, start watering them more regularly. This encourages them to mature into strong plants, giving you a strong harvest. Water tulips with about two inches of water a week. This will keep the soil wet enough to provide you with quality tulips.^{[2]
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- Sunlight is also important, especially if you're keeping tulips indoors. As they start to bloom, tulips need exposure to direct sunlight for six to eight hours a day.
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Watch for the advanced bud stage. For best results, tulips should be harvested during what is called the advanced bud stage. At this point, blossoms should still be closed. However, the stems should have risen sufficiently out of the ground and the blossoms should be a dark, strong color.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Picking Your Tulips

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Cut tulips up by the stem if you are harvesting the flowers. Grasp the stem of the flower. Cut the main stem, but let the leaves remain in the ground. Do not try to remove the bulb or the leaves if you want flowers next year.
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Pull tulips out if you want to harvest the bulb. If you are harvesting the bulbs to sell or giveaway, pull the tulip upward from the soil. The bulb should come out of the ground. You can cut off the bulb using a pair of garden shears. Do not do this if you want to produce tulips the next year.
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Wrap the tulips in paper. Use floral paper wrapped into a funnel shape to secure the upper two thirds of the flower. Stems can sometimes bend after tulips are picked, so wrapping the tulips in paper can keep the stems straight. After wrapping your tulips in paper, place the stems in water and leave them for a few hours to encourage proper stem growth.^{[4]
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Trim the tulips. After bringing your tulips home, take a pair of garden shears. Use these to cut about one quarter of an inch (about .6 centimeters) from the tips of each tulip.^{[5]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Storing Your Tulips

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Place your tulips in water. Just after trimming your tulip stems, immerse the stems in water. You do not need to add any fertilizer or other additives to the water. Simple tap water should be enough to keep tulips strong.^{[6]
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Dry your tulips in the microwave. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with about 1–2 inches (25–51 mm) of silica gel beads. Place the tulips blossom side up and cover them with more gel beads. Microwave on low heat for 2 to 5 minutes. Cover the bowl as soon as it is done for 24 hours.^{[7]
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Replace the water and trim the tulips daily. Each day, pour out the old water and replace it with fresh water. Trim another half inch off the tulip's stem during this time. This will help the tulips stay strong longer.^{[8]
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Keep tulips in a cool room. Tulips thrive in colder temperatures. To keep your tulips fresh longer, store them in a cold room in your home. Keep them away from sources of heat, such as ovens.^{[9]
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Discard tulips after three to seven days. Once tulips bloom, they have a shelf life even with proper care. Tulips will begin to wilt in three to seven days. After this time has passed, discard your tulips.^{[10]
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Community Q&A

Question

Can I store tulips in the refrigerator?

Ninox

Top Answerer

You can store tulip bulbs in the refrigerator to speed up the germination, but you have to stock them in a separate tray to avoid vegetables killing the germinative power of the bulbs.