Planting Tulips

1. When choosing a spot to plant Tulips pick a sunny or partly shaded location.

2. Build up the garden beds if necessary to make sure the area doesn’t get water logged throughout winter.

3. Prior to planting is the best time to add some fertilizer to the ground and Tulips love a combination of. Tulips prefer to grow in cool soil so plant them about 20cm deep.

4. How far apart is up to personal taste. Personally I think clumps of at least 10 bulbs planted about 12cm apart look stunning in flower. Between 7 and 20cm apart is normal.

5. When should I plant tulips?
Most modern gardening requires extensive watering during the summer months. Unlike daffodils for instance, tulips don’t root until later in the year when the weather turns colder. The ideal planting time is from October until December (provided the soil is still workable).

6. How deep should I plant my bulbs?
Generally tulips should be planted 10-15cm deep depending on your soil type and 12-15cm apart. The key to success is good soil preparation. Although tulips like lots of moisture during the growing season they cannot tolerate having their roots standing in water.
http://tulips.blomsbulbs.com/faq.cfm

Tulip
Family Name:	Liliaceous
Common Name:	Tulip
Type:	True bulb
Origin:	100 Species mostly from South-west central Asia. Also from temperate Europe, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and across Asia Minor to China.
Planting time:	Late Autumn
Bloom time:	Flowers in early spring.
Position:	Shade or morning sun
How to plant:	Untreated tulip bulbs need to be stored at room temperature until late autumn before they are planted. The best time to plant is the last week of April and first week of May. The tulip bulb has the embryo of the flower to come already fully formed inside it, just waiting to start its growth in cool or cold, moist soil. If the ground is too warm or it has been stored for too long it will abort its embryo bloom. Plant bulbs point upward 8-12cm apart and with about 6cm of well loosened, humus-rich and well drained soil covering the top. Plenty of compost should be used to improve water retention and coarse sand or grit will help aeration and drainage.
Care:	Tulips can be successfully grown in our climate if a few 'rules' are followed. • The bulbs must be planted at the right time of year • Plant only in a spot with cool soil conditions • Never let the soil dry out. http://www.lifestyle.co.za/51_Garden_Plant_Autumn_bulbs.php