Tommymoo's Garden
Tulip; Princess Irene
Genus: Tulipa.
Species: tulipa.
27 Aug 2010. Diss market. 7 bulbs for 1 pound. orange/purple flamed.
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light
Height: 35cm
Time to plant: November
Prinses Irene' is a real eyecatcher, thanks to its unusual orange bloms that are veined with purple. The Royal Horticultural Society were so impressed with it that they have given it their prestigious Award of Garden Merit. Tulips are best planted in November as this minimises the risk of attack from the fungal disease, tulip fire, which causes the foliage to become distorted and covered with fuzzy, grey fungal growth and the flowers to either fail to open or to be marked with bleached spots. Any bulbs that become infected with this disease are best thrown away and the ground they were planted in should not be used to grow any tulips for several years. Remove the flowers as they fade to prevent plants wasting energy setting seed.
