Tulip bulbs - what to do with last year’s

They ll come up for sure some I leave in the garden some I take up they ll all do ok

I leave mine in the garden where I planted them. They return every year, no probs!

They don’t flower as well after the first year, I saw Monty on Gardeners World a few weeks ago saying as it was hit and miss he now moves his to an area of the garden where it doesn’t matter if they flower again each year or not. They will come up in pots but your display won’t be anywhere near as good as in year 1.

I have the same experience as you Casdon I have actually heard advice on tv from the dutch growers that Tulips aren't reliable after the first year.
Two thirds will come back in the 2nd year, then one third the next, and less as time goes on.

I have found this to be the case, but maybe you will feed and mulch at the correct times (unlike me!) and have better results.

That’s a bit disheartening to read ? I spent a lot of money last year with Sarah Raven on the exotic tulips.
Mine will be coming out of my shed very soon. They have been stored in straw and sawdust.

I’ve never had much success with a second year of tulips in pots. In fact, I didn’t have any success with tulips in pots at all last spring! I think I may have had two flowers, all told. I don’t know if I planted them too early, or what. When I emptied the pots out, all that was left were the outer skins. There were no ‘innards’ to the bulbs.

I was going to say this was featured on Gardeners world a few weeks ago, maybe you could get it on iplayer?

Darwin and species tulips usually come back each year but others start to peter out after the first season. We have Darwin tulips in the garden which were here when we moved in in 1982. They have maintained vigour.

Squirrels are my problem ! They seem to be able to get them even with chicken wire covers . They only seem to go for tulips . But I still attempt every year but not expensive ones like Sarah Raven’s .

Can't comment about Sarah Raven bulbs sorry but I do love spring bulbs and grow a lot. I use Farmer Gracy and only grow tulips in pots and after that I put them in the ground and leave them to it. Very hit and miss results - mostly miss. Not sure if it's squirrels or mice causing the misses. Probably both.

Most of my tulips were replaced with walnuts from our tree, blasted squirrels.
I’ve put mesh netting over this years, let’s see what leaves pop up next Spring.
Maybe I’ll start selling Walnut trees.

Very helpful, thank you all. Think I will just invest in a couple of pots of new bulbs and trust to luck with the others.

I usually buy new for a few pots and plant old ones in the borders.
Usually put pots in the greenhouse until shoots appear - stops squirrels getting them !

Very useful advice. Thank you.