How should you harvest tulip bulbs?

In order to harvest tulip bulbs for the upcoming planting season, you need to harvest them at the right time of year, carefully extract them from the soil, store them properly and maintain them until planting. You need a hand trowel, a cloth, a box and peat moss.

1. Wait until the right time

   Harvest tulip bulbs well after they bloom, around early fall. This allows them plenty of time to absorb nutrients.

2. Extract the bulbs from the ground

   Remove the bulbs from the soil by using a hand trowel. Dig a trench between 6 and 8 inches deep until you can see the bulbs. Remove them, and wipe off the dirt with a rag. Clip away any dead foliage.

3. Store the bulbs

   Store the bulbs in a plastic or cardboard box. Cover the bottom of the box with a mixture of sand and peat moss. Place the bulbs partway into the mixture, just deep enough so that only the top one-fourth is visible. Spread the bulbs out so they are not touching. Store the bulbs in a sunless facility with a temperature between 60 and 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Maintain the bulbs

   Check on the bulbs regularly. If any bulbs show signs of disease, discard both the bulb and the sand mixture.