Disappointing Tulips

[EmmaBridgewater20]

I planted a trough of mixed Tulips from a collection from Sarah Raven. I used the lasagna method to layer the different bulb varieties. Well what a disappointment. Two thirds have come up and out of these only half have come into flower. There's a couple with no buds then a couple where the growth seems to have arrested and the stem is short and the bud small, then in a few of these ones the bud looks as if it's going brown and drying. The ones that have come into flower look strong and tall though.

I used to have tulips in here prev (but didn't much like the colour) so I know they do ok in this trough and this particular position in the garden.

Any thoughts. Should I the bulbs again next year?

The one and only time I ordered seeds from Sarah raven not a single one germinated, not one!
Haven’t bought from them since.

Are they at the right depth?

I've had plenty from Sarah Raven and all been fine 🤷‍♀️

Thanks for replying.

Mmmm well at @GuyFawkesDay I suspect this may be an issue, I looked the Sarah Raven blog where she recommended planting in layers - the lasagna method, so naturally some will be deeper than others. But my googling seemed to say depth could be the issue.

Should I just take them all up when they die back and start again. Would you just plant all the varieties in one layer?

Their tulip bulbs get very mixed reviews I’ve noticed before. Lots of reports of non opening.

Mine are lovely, and fir the second year running.

I would email a s ask for a refund. Sarah Raven is very good in this respect.

Wow hers are so expensive too! I bought cheap and cheerful ones ( the range and Wilkos) and threw them in and they are lovely.

I bought some from Sarah Raven and they are really fantastic - gorgeous colours and all of them have come up. Give it a bit more time to see if they do anything - if not, complain! I was annoyed that some Cosmos I ordered last year came up a completely different colour from what I was expecting. I complained and was sent a whole new pack of them!

Just one thing - unless you are using new compost for this year's batch, I have read that you shouldn't plant tulips in the same place two years running for some reason!!

Just one thing - unless you are using new compost for this year's batch, I have read that you shouldn't plant tulips in the same place two years running for some reason!!

I must have a really good batch then, they are sitting in the same pot as last year and came up just as lovely. I think they might have been one of Waitrose's boxed collections though.

I know @dingit I was seduced by the lovely pictures in her brochures!

So it does look like it's probably the bulbs and will definitely complain. I don't think it's the depth, as two of the ones that look the best were the only ones to flower out of that variety and each variety was planted at the same depth.

Completely new compost, although it was from a bag bought at the start of last spring - would that have caused a problem.

I'll ask for a refund and will try these in a less showpiece planter in the autmn.

I think I'm going to take them out the ones which have flowered and vase them for the Easter table, cut my losses.