Daffodil Depot

Questions? Comments. The COLORBLENDS Help Desk is just what you need. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Ordering Bulbs for Fall Planting

When should I order my bulbs?

Please order now as some selections do sell out. We will reserve the bulbs and deliver at planting time. Planting time is in the Fall when soil temperatures in your area approach 55 degrees Fahrenheit. We will charge your credit card in the Fall when the bulbs are delivered.

Can I have flowerbulbs for Fall planting delivered from January till August?

No. The 2003 tulip, daffodil, crocus etc flowerbulb crop is dug from the ground in late July and arrives in the United States in September for Fall planting. We feel late August and early September temperatures are still too warm for shipping and planting.Planting time is in the Fall(Sep.-Dec.) when soil temperatures in your area approach 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

I'm getting married in the period from January through August and would like to use Colorblends bulbs as favors. Can you deliver from January through August?

Sorry, No. The earliest we can deliver tulip, daffodil and other flowerbulbs for Fall planting or wedding favors is early September. Please call 1 888 847 8637 if you need some bulbs for favors. The bulbs must then be planted in the Fall(Sep.-Dec.) before the onset of winter. You cannot store flowerbulbs indefinitely.

Can I order additional bulbs in the Fall?

Yes. Turnaround time on Fall orders is very fast but we recommend ordering early as some selections sell out.

How many bulbs per square foot should I order?

Please refer to the chart below. To calculate the square footage of your flowerbed simply multiply the length times the width. For instance if the bed was 20 feet long by 2 feet wide the square footage would be 40. If you used tulips for this bed you would need 5 per square foot for a total of 200 tulip bulbs.

Number of bulbs per square foot

Fall Bulb Delivery Times

When will my order be delivered?

At planting time in the Fall(Sep.-Dec.), when soil temperatures in your area approach 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The first deliveries for Fall planting start September 18th.

General

What is your minimum order?

$50

What are your shipping charges?

Go to HOW TO ORDER to see our shipping charges.

Do you ship to homeowners?

Yes. We have $50 minimum and you need to order in the multiples we pack in.

Why should I try Colorblends?

Colorblends is now three generations in the flowerbulb industry. We are not another startup company. We know how to properly select, handle and deliver your flowerbulbs from the field to your doorstep. We want you to have a great Spring garden.

Do you have gift certificates?

Yes. Call us at 1 888 847 8637 for details.

Do you only sell in blends?

For the most part yes, except where otherwise stated. This is what our customers want. If you are interested in individual colors please call and we can help you out.

Guarantee

What is Colorblends guarantee?

Our first priority is to insure your success with flowerbulbs. We exercise the greatest care and GUARANTEE to deliver the highest quality, stated size, disease free, commercially propagated flowerbulbs available. If there is problem please contact us(1 888 847 8637) within seven (7) days of delivery. We will straighten things out in a courteous and prompt manner. We GUARANTEE that none of our flowerbulbs have been collected from the wild. All flowerbulbs have a certificate of health issued by the United States and Dutch Departments of Agriculture. After safe delivery we cannot assume responsibility for losses due to factors beyond our control (extreme weather conditions, improper storage, delayed planting time.) If you have any further questions please call us at 1 888 847 8637.

Growing

What does Early, Mid, and Late blooming mean?

These are relative blooming times according to your area of the country. An Early flowering selection planted in the warmer area of Memphis may flower 4 weeks earlier than the same Early selection planted in Chicago. You can select from each category to create a longer blooming season.

I live in a hot climate.(Florida, southern California, Arizona, southern Louisiana, etc) Can I grow tulips here?

Yes you can but you must know two things.

1. Bulbs will have to be chilled for 8-10 weeks before planting in late December.

2. They will probably only bloom once. Your climate is so warm that the foliage doesn't have time to charge the bulb up again. We suggest daffodils in warm southern climates.

My tulips just finished blooming. What should I do now?

First try to remove the faded flower petals(the blossom) and discard in a compost pile or the garbage. Then snap the pistil(top three inches of the stem) off. Snapping off the pistil sends energy back down into bulb growth. Allow the green foliage/leaves to yellow. The period may last several weeks. You must be patient. After they start to yellow you can cut the foliage off at ground level. Cutting the foliage/leaves down while they are still green is like stripping a tree of its leaves.

The first spring after I planted my tulips they were perfect. How come the second spring they didn't grow as strong?

In general tulips are not strong regenerative growers. Many horticultural magazines and garden writers say to treat tulips as annuals. That being said we have all seen tulips come up in the same spot for 10 years. First off the bulbs are a crop. Many things affect the regenerative process. The first is the flower. The blossom takes alot of energy away from the bulb. That is why bulbgrowers in The Netherlands only let the tulips bloom for about 7 days before chopping the flower off. Remember they are bulbgrowers. They want large bulbs. If you plant them in your garden you want large and long-lasting flowers. The weather affects bulb growth. After blooming in the Spring was the weather cool for a long period of time. Cool weather allows the foliage/leaves to stay around for a long time which helps bulb growth. If you have a heat wave shortly after blooming the foliage will dieback too quickly which hurts bulb growth. In The Netherlands if there is a heat wave during Spring, the bulb prices will start to go up because there will be expectations of a smaller crop. Other things like how good is the soil and how much moisture are also important. These are a few of the factors that affect bulb growth.

Are there things I can do to help the Tulips return?

See PERENNIAL TULIPS in our How to Plant section to select varieties that tend to be stronger return growers. Plant tulips in an area that has good drainage. Make sure the soil is healthy. Make sure the area gets 4 hours of afternnoon Spring sun. After the flowers fade snap off the top two inches of the stems (the pistil). Snapping off the pistil prevents the bulb from starting seed production and instead sends energy back down into bulb production. Never cut the green foliage in the Spring. Always allow the foliage to die back. We have seen that an area that gets enough moisture in the Spring, yet stays dry in the Summer can help tulips return year after year. These are some things but there is no guarantee. If you want something that is more perennial, plant daffodils and some of the specialty bulbs.

Storage

I just received my bulbs this fall. I can't plant right away. How do I store them before I plant?

First open all crates and boxes. Then place in a cool, dry area with good air circulation. Temperatures between 38 and 70 are fine. The cooler the better.

It's late December and I wasn't able to plant all my bulbs. Can I save them till next year?

No, No, No. The bulbs must be planted in the ground before the onset of winter to establish a root system and go into dormancy. You have to somehow get them in the ground.