Tulips - should they have buds on yet?

[UpToonGirl]

Planted some tulip bulbs last year, a mixture of border and pots. I was pleasantly surprised to see the leaves sprouting up last month and they are now about 6inches plus, however I've just picked my kids up and noticed the planters at school have tulips with stems and buds which mine definitely don't have.

I'm not an experienced gardener, in fact this was my first time planting bulbs. What have I done wrong, a quick Google suggests I may need to dig them up and plant them deeper, does that sound like it's the case? I hope not as there's rather a lot!

The ones in pots in my garden are almost flowering but the ones in the border are no where near flowering. I guess the temperature in the pots is warmer?

I’d give them more time, mine are in a spot where they only get sun on really sunny days. It’s a bit cold and dull at the moment. Both tulip and daffodils can flower at different times in spring. Don’t plant them any deeper. The usual depth is twice the size of the bulb.

Thanks, I'll try and be a bit more patient. They are in a sunny spot but there's not been many sunny days so far...we are also up north so a bit cooler any way.

Depends on the variety, they are literally classed as 'early' and 'late'

Depends. My early white doubles are flowering while the later ones are just leaves.

Some of mine have stems and buds, others just leaves.

Depends on the variety and the location.
Have patience young grasshopper.

(they'll sort themselves out for depth if not happy)

My early ones have just finished flowering.
East Midlands.

Mine are just leaves at the moment. But my tiny Tulipa ?sylvestris in the lawn have been out a week.

Where are you? I'm in Cornwall so mine have been out for a few weeks.

It's still pretty cold. Mind are all leaves and no buds yet.

Some don't flower till May. Next time you plant tulips, get a selection of early and late flowering types.

as pp have said, depends on variety and on your garden (sheltered/soil etc).
My mum lives 10 miles away from me, with a very sheltered garden. My garden is more exposed and drier.
Her garden is always about 3 weeks ahead of mine.

But do NOT dig them up once they are growing and have leaves.
Tulips do like to be planted deep, but they are pretty flexible and will grow anyway.

Mine are at various stages (depending on variety and when I planted them) but none are quite in flower yet.

You might have late flowering ones

South east. I've got a corner of the garden where some are in full bloom. On the other side they are barely out of the soil. Same for the daffodils.

In the north, mine have leaves and some have buds but no flowers yet. It's been too cold for them (and for me).

My early ones in pots are at different stages, some in bud, some blooming but since lots of tulips are designed to come as late as May I am not worried about the ones that aren’t showing yet.

TBF, I’m a shit gardener! I usually see the leaves starting to emerge and think “great, they’ve survived another year” 🤣.

Am now in my fourth year of this approach and a couple of buds are now appearing. Give them time, my method says they’ll be fine (and are probably late-flowering variety).