The double early Melrose tulip stimulates the senses with several layers of the soft, lily-pink petals with white edgings. Its round flowers possess a certain romantic flair. The rather compact, bicolour perianths nicely contrast with cold green leaves. The irregularly frizzled petal edges add lightness to the blooms. The strong stems whose height does not exceed 30 cm withstand the spring rain without any problems. The double flowers of this tulip group are exceptionally durable. Their beauty lasts much longer than the flowering of the single tulips, both in the garden and in a bouquet. The Melrose tulip is suited like no other for creating a spring decoration in a pot. The densely planted tulips of this variety will form a light, pink-white cloud. Their double flowers are suited for decorating of lower borders, flower beds and lawns. They create unforgettable, charmingly vibrating ribbons alongside paths and driveways.

Tulips do not belong to flowering plants that require any special growing conditions. You only need to follow some basic rules in order to enjoy flowers grown on your own. The plants in question are rather undemanding in regard to the soil, provided it is not to moist and not to loamy. Tulips prefer soft, fertile, properly cultivated and fertilized soils. The compost proves to be the most effective tulip food, as the plants will pay you back for it with large flowers. Should a site not meet tulip expectations, you may try to improve the soil. Loosen heavy soils with an admixture of sand and enhance the sandy ones with humus and compost. Tulips require sunlight, but a few hours of shade per day will not hurt them. The water requirements of tulips are considered moderate. Do not let the soil, in which they grow, dry out though. Start fertilizing tulips when their shoots reach a height of about 5 cm. This moment usually falls on March. Apply nitrogen-rich agents, because plants will use this element as a building block.

Tulip bulbs must be planted in autumn only, when the soil temperature drops to 10 to 12°C. Make sure during planting that the planting depth equals two times the height of a bulb - usually it is from 8 to 15 cm. Pour some sand, then compost and high quality soil into the hole before putting the bulb in. Place the bulb tip up, cover with soil, press it gently and water. We recommend to spread some mulch over the planting site before the winter. It will protect the bulbs from the frost and limit weed development and drying of the soil. This treatment is not absolutely necessary, yet highly recommended. Tulips may grow 3 to 4 years on the same site. After that time we recommend to dig the bulbs out, divide them and transfer to another place. This cultivation method ensures that the vigorous healthy plants will bloom exuberantly.

Each package contains 5 bulbs of the Melrose tulip. The basic plant facts and growing instructions are printed on the packaging label.

• Variety: Melrose
• Use: ornamental - garden, pots
• Flower colour: lily-pink
• Vegetation form: perennial
• Flower type: double
• Site: sunny or partial shade; soft, fertile, properly cultivated and fertilized soil
• Bulbs: 5
• Height: 30 cm
• Planting period: autumn
• Planting depth (cm): 8 - 15 cm
• Wintering in the ground?: yes