I think that this process has a lot to do with producing an even display of flowers, (matching stem heights, flower size...), rather than simply growing the varieties. "Perfection of form", rather than "According to character". Peter (UK) On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 at 16:47, mark akimoff via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > Hi Randy, > > I grow hundreds of different tulips to recreate a historic garden display > in Salem, Oregon every year. We have a pretty elaborate process for dealing > with the tulips in the garden, after they are finished blooming, usually > around May, but before the leaves die back they are dug up, dipped in a > sulfur or copper solution to deal with fungal issues and bundled up by > variety, wrapped in burlap and then healed in a dry bed until the leaves > die back in mid summer.... > > This is done because the summer beds that display the tulips are irrigated > for the summer perennial and annual display and most tulips don't want any > summer water, but you have to let the leaves die back attached to the bulbs > so they set flowers for the next season. After the leaves have all died > back the bulbs are graded out with the largest and healthiest saved for > next years display, these are stored in paper bags, after a sulfur dusting, > and stored in a cool garage until the fall rains return. > > In October or November the Tulips are planted back into the beds and the > whole process starts over, .... > > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>