These easy-to-grow flowers will bloom in gardens by spring 2026 if planted nowThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Tulips are easy to grow in pots and borders(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The cheerful colours of the garden may be dying off as autumn settles in and the temperatures begin to fall – but there’s still work you can be doing at this time of year to make sure your outside space looks particularly beautiful next year. And one planting job this month will lead to a spectacular spring display in 2026.
Experts at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommend planting tulip bulbs this November to see your garden blanketed in a kaleidoscope of colours when spring arrives. These beloved flowers are a favourite among gardeners thanks to their abundance of different varieties and colours, as well as their versatility when it comes to where they can be planted.
The RHS advised: “Tulips are popular bulbs, valued for their brilliant flower colours and shapes. Plant in autumn for a colourful spring show. Choose from short varieties for pots, taller stems for borders or small-bloomed species for naturalising in lawns.”
Easy to grow in both borders and pots, tulips do best in full sun, although some will tolerate light shade. There are several varieties to choose from, some of which will flower year after year, and will typically flower fine as long as the ground isn’t waterlogged – making them a low-maintenance choice for gardeners of all abilities.
Whether you’re planting your tulips in the ground or containers, bulbs should be placed at least twice their width apart, and at a depth of two to three times their height, although if you live somewhere with very cold winters you may want to plant them deeper to protect them from frosts. The pointed end of the bulb should be at the top.
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There are different colours and varieties of tulip to choose from(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Tulips planted in November will usually flower between March and May the following year. Gardeners World has a list of different tulip varieties to choose from depending on what colour and style you’re after and when you want the most colour in your garden.
Tulip bulbs will be available to buy in any garden centre and many supermarkets, as well as to order online. One of the top-rated options on Amazon is the Triumph Tulip Mixed x 50 Flower Bulbs for £19.95, which has sold in its hundreds over the last month, while B&Q has Tulip Majestic Mix 50 Spring Flowering Bulbs available for home delivery for £13.99.
You can make the spring colours in your garden even more dramatic by mixing your tulips with other spring-flowering plants. “For impact use lower-growing plants that flower at a similar time to tulips including forget-me-not, wallflowers, primroses an pansies,” the RHS suggests.
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