Tulip fire

josusa47

I know not to plant tulip bulbs before November because they are prone to this disease if planted too early.  I'm curious to know why; I don't know of any other plant/disease combo which is dependent on planting time.  Since I'm a tight wad who likes to get value for money, I only plant species tulips, and once planted, they stay there.  Are they also vulnerable to tulip fire?

Obelixx

Dunno @josusa47 but I never had a problem with species tulips left in the ground in my Belgian garden and, in the end, that was all I planted as the fancier hybrids couldn't cope with the soil or the winters.   

Here I have both kinds, having put the species and the fancier ones in the ground and in pots because the soil here is generally lighter, warmer and better drained.   Again, no problems with the species and even some of the taller hybrids have come back for a second year when they are in big pots with shrubs.

I still wait till November to plant new ones tho.   

Palustris

It is all to do with soil temperature and dampness. Tulip Fire spreads more easily when it is warm and damp.

However it has to be either in the garden in the first place or on the bulbs. In which case they will get it no matter when they are planted.