Diseased Tulip bulbs? - Ask Extension
Can anyone tell me what I’m looking at on these bulbs? First picture contains bulbs with dark brown raised blisters on the white flesh. Is that bas...
Knowledgebase
Diseased Tulip bulbs? #850977
Asked September 23, 2023, 9:25 AM EDT
Can anyone tell me what I’m looking at on these bulbs? First picture contains bulbs with dark brown raised blisters on the white flesh. Is that basal rot, and should I trash them? Also, is this problem contagious to the other bulbs in the package with these? It seems like the whole package was pretty diseased.
Second picture contains bulbs that I think may have bulb nematode. They have large scarred looking tan and sometimes grayish areas on the white bulb surface. The bulbs are all firm and fairly heavy. If they’re infected, should I not bother planting these? I’m concerned about infecting nearby bulbs.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
While firm and heavy bulbs suggest they are in decent condition (at least currently), we can't say with certainty that they are or are not carrying a pest or pathogen based on their appearance. If you are skeptical of their health, it would be safest not to plant them, especially for the sake of bulbs growing near where they would be planted. Nematodes would be hard to detect without a lab or microscope (though tend to be associated with soft bulb tissues, which sounds like these don't have) and bulb mites would similarly be not readily visible as a means of confirming a diagnosis. If you want to experiment and aren't sure you want to discard them yet, you might be able to try growing them in a container, though winter hardiness is always more risky when keeping perennial plants above-ground since the roots are less insulated from temperature fluctuations.
Miri
Miri