Planting Groups 2021/22

The first map is of the 40 sites so that you can take the Ada Tulip Walk to visit them all. The other map you've already seen, is where everyone said they would plant their own bulbs. Below is the list of the larger groups who took part and here is a link to the Ada Tulip Walk map for those groups whose bulbs are visible to the public. Here is the photo of our map board which everyone marked where they'd be planting their own little bag of bulbs. Don't forget to take a selfie with your own tulips and if you do take the tulip walk do send photos (selfies are always cool) tagging us on social media as well as using the #Ada100 hashtag.

PLANTING GROUPS 2020/21

In spite of Covid and this latest national lockdown, it was a great atmosphere with people of all ages masked, gloved and distanced. Sites were visited by the Mayor of Southwark, local Councillors and a few Bermondsey celebs. Have you planted your bulbs yet? If so did you take your photos? Please do send them to us by e-mail. If you haven't signed up yet also go to the Get Involved page. Otherwise do go to the Gallery to see some photos from the day.

Planting tips by Isobel and Anna

There will be plenty of you who have gardened a long time, but we had many people coming to the markets to collect bulb packs who were new to it. Here are some things to keep in mind:

For those of you with bulb packs to plant, I’m sure you’ll be getting organised to plant your tulips and, if needed, getting compost and pots or planters ready to go – and also tools like a trowel or a small shovel --or a proper bulb planter if planting into grassy areas - you can get these online for about £3.

I plant tulips in pots on a patio garden every year myself. Because we have a lot of squirrels ready to dig up any pot looking like it might have buried treasure, I buy garden netting (with about 1 cm wide squares), cut a piece about 5-6cm bigger all round than the top of the pot or planter, and tie it really securely over the top of the pot so the squirrels cannot dig in it. When the tulips start coming up (Dec/Jan) and reach the net I snip little holes in the net so the tulips grow through but they’re still not dig-able. Then only when the stems are 5-6cm high do I remove the netting altogether.

Planting in a garden can be trickier. Sometimes you don’t need anything to protect the bulbs and they then bloom for you year after year (you just leave them in the ground). This worked for me years ago when I had no large trees nearby at all. If you are near trees, apparently mixing used coffee grounds into the last bit of topsoil when you plant tulips puts the squirrels off as they hate the smell. I’m also told cayenne pepper works. There are many ‘solutions’ online, even as simple as putting some dry leaves and twigs on top of the planting place so the squirrels don’t spot it. I am saving coffee grounds for our estate planting this year so will try that for the first time. Be very interested to hear what works for you!

Also a reminder that though you should expect the tulips to bloom in late March/early April (depending on the weather), you’ll likely start to see growth above the ground as early as Dec/Jan. They come up very slowly and are pretty hardy. Mine sit in pots on my patio even under snowfall in some years but come up absolutely fine. Don’t let them get soggy (or they rot) : if you’re using a saucer under a pot, turn it upside down for the time being, so any excess water drains away. If it’s very dry weather or if they don’t get rained on, water them a bit every couple of weeks. Then when they get 5-6cm high, turn the saucer back over again and water more often.