The Lowdown on Eco-Tulips.Now enter to win a dozen.

UPDATE:  We have a winner!  And it's Angela Treadwell-Palmer.  Randomly done by someone else.  I promise.

Like so many garden writers, I'm curious about this new product.  Like, what's "eco" about it exactly? Is it legit or just eco-marketing BS?

Well, look who I ran into at DC's Green Festival - some Eco-Tulips and the nice young women who sell them. That led to lots of emails with owner Jeroen Koeman, who answered all my questions and agreed to come play with the blogs!  Raised in a "real Dutch Tulip Family", Jeroen has worked for growers in Holland and the U.S. and recently struck out on his own by bringing organically grown tulips to the U.S.  He also married his sweetheart a couple of weeks ago - a pretty good excuse for not attending the GreenFest himself.  (Here's the story of their romance on their wedding website.  Hint: It all started on Craigslist.)

IS ORGANIC BETTER? 

Here's Jeroen's answer to that question: 

The organic bulbs are stronger and have better pest resistance because they haven’t been in contact with pesticides. Pesticides make plants weaker and less pest-resistant. The bulbs are grown in organic soil. Plants grown in organic soil can absorb a wider variety of nutrients, which makes them stronger and more pest resistant.

And he helpfully sent me this study showing that organically grown tulips stay fresh in the vase two days longer than conventionally grown, but my Dutch is kinda rusty.

As for environmental benefits, Jeroen wrote:

Conventional tulip growers use about 50-100lbs pesticides per acre.

The biggest advantage for the environment is that gardeners and especially farm workers don’t get exposed to pesticides. Plus, bees and beneficial insects do get a chance to survive with organic tulips.

WIN A DOZEN

Wanna give them a try?  The selection is here, and the winner gets a dozen of their choice tulips shipped to them pronto, with instructions.  To enter, just tell us in a comment which variety you'd like and I'll choose randomly.  Deadline:  Tuesday, October a20 at 9 pm Eastern. 

Dear FTC:  No one at GardenRant is getting anything for writing this. Except if they have another Pick Your own Tulips day next spring, I'll be there and hoping to snag some freebies.  

Comments

[Ginny Stibolt]

I love tulips, but they don't grow at all here in Florida where the soil doesn't freeze. I do miss them, but then we have a whole selection of amazing bulbs that the rest of you can only dream about. A case of learning to love where you are...

[Marte]

I just planted 90 tulips on Saturday and would love more, but I'm afraid it would be too late to plant them here in zone 4 by the time they would arrive. If not, I like "silver dollar." Organic tulips are probably better for the squirrels and rabbits anyway. :)

[Jo Ann]

I would like to give "Soft Design" a try.

[Angela Treadwell-Palmer]

Hi Susan,

I'd love to try Sevila.

[Roby]

I think the Roussilion is a handsome tulip.

[GenYgardener]

Sevilla would be nice.

I do wish he would grow some heirloom varieties. They're supposed to be hardier to begin with.

[Becca]

Yellow Flight! I try for a yellow/blue/white spring scheme and these would go lovely. I've gone away from using tulips(need to try species) due to the deer and their short life but I'd love to have them back.

[greg draiss]

Do the ships that carry these bulbs to the US burn bio-deisel?

And tulips are not native species in the U.S.

If we are complaing about how far our food travels to reach our plates shouldn't we do the same with things that are not necessary to sustain life including plants in our gardens?

The TROLL

[Nell Jean]

Every year I used to chill and plant tulips, to prove that I could successfully bring them to bloom in a warm climate. In the spring, I would write in my journal, "No more tulips." A subsequent entry would read, "If you must, then plant purple."

Purple Prince is my choice, always purple. They will need aa period of refrigeration, but will have time to bloom after chill.

[Eva]

How about some of those Lilystar? I don't know how they'll do in my garden, but I'm willing to try! :)

Thanks for posting about these guys. I've been wondering about them.

[Jeroen Koeman]

Hi Marte,

I read you are afraid that it is too cold to plant more tulips. You can plant tulips as long the soil isnt’t frozen. Even in the cold zones planting is possible in December. Plant 8 inch deep and apply a 2 inch layer of mulch, this will help protect the bulbs from freezing and give them time to make roots.

The Tulipman

[Pat]

Roussilion would make my garden glow next spring.

[Jeroen Koeman]

Hi Nell,

Actually Purple Prince is our strongest variety! Were you already succesfull or do you need some tips of the Tulipman? Sounds like you have a touch of Tilpomania in your blood....any Dutch descent?

[Helen at Toronto Gardens]

Lily-flowered tulips are not only elegant, they are performers in the garden. I mean that in the theatrical sense. At different times of day, their opening and closing petals become balletic in form. I'll take 'Lilystar', please and thanks.

[Diana]

Silver Dollar it is.

But truth to tell, I'm really in love with the almost black purple varieties.

Diana

[Jeroen Koeman]

For all gardeners in warmer climates. When day temperatures in January don't exceed 70 degrees, you can have blooming tulips in early spring! Use pre-cooled bulbs and plant mid January. Enjoy!

The Tulipman

[Jenn]

All are beautiful! I'd go for Soft Design, if you please, just gorgeous!

[Kate]

I'd love to try Ninja. I just got a bunch of daffodils, my first bulbs, but no tulips, yet. I read somewhere that daffodils multiply while tulips dwindle over the years. Since I'm just starting my gardens, I had to go with the daffodils first.

[Hap]

Hey Susan,
Thanks for finding this supplier! We have never carried tulips, since we couldn't find organic or sustainably grown, now perhaps we can. And you have to admire them for only shipping late and pre-chilled to warm climates, so that their customers have success. I look forward to dong business with them.

[Shannon Currey]

Soft Design gets my vote. Very happy to hear about this company. Will definitely check them out on the next bulb order.

[Lisa, Ontario]

Ohhhhh...Lilystar please. I love that shape. I am tulip-less at the moment. I moved this summer and have been very busy buying up discount shrubs so I have something to look at come the spring. It would be lovely to have some flowers too.

[gardenmentor]

For once my reaction was akin to the Troll's...

I have to wonder: does it make more sense for me to buy traditional bulbs grown in the Skagit Valley, less than an hour from my own garden. Or buy organic bulbs grown in Holland and transported by train, plane, automobile, boat or whatever all the way to Washington state?

My hope: Skagit growers jump on the eco-tulip wave so I can get local, organic bulbs soon.

Thanks for sharing. This is a good beginning :)

[Benjamin]

Purple Prince (because I used to live just down the road from Prince's compound, Dutch windmill, and recording studio).

[Jeroen Koeman]

Hi Hap, you are definetely right!In warm climates (also DC aera) you will have more succes when you plant late and use pre-cooled bulbs. I advice to plant not before mid November in the DC area. It is still way too warm, tomorrow 75 degrees! When you are more South wait till mid January. Be sure you buy Pre-cooled bulbs when you plant this late!

The Tulipman

[Ellen Frost]

Rose of Apeldoorn please...