How wind in the netherlands can affect flowers worldwide

We have really amped up our wholesale offerings at Little Farmhouse Flowers this year. We are importing shipping containers from The Netherlands packed full of daffodils, tulips, peonies, and trays for hydroponic growing. With this new venture, we are learning lots of new information- We’re learning about international permits and regulations, how to design and source cardboard shipping materials, the ins and outs of freight shipping, and a lot of logistics. But one of the most difficult things to learn in this business is the volatility of the bulb industry as a whole. No matter how much homework and logistical work we do on our end, Mother Nature calls the shots- and she sure has a way of humbling us. 

Tulip bulbs are farmed in a very similiar way to tulip flowers. A variety of factors must be “just right” for the bulbs to grow correctly. So far, 2023 is set to be the worst tulip bulb farming year in modern history. Initial harvests of certain varieties are only proving to yield about 65% of what the bulb farmers were hoping. Essentially we are learning that extreme temperatures, wind direction, and a lack of water are the main contributing factors to this less-than-stellar bulb forecast.

Now, extreme temperatures and a lack of water make complete sense to me- but how does wind direction affect tulip bulbs? Specifically, our bulb representative informed us that an Easterly wind caused the tulips to stay very green. Huh? What does that actually mean?

The direction of the wind, whether it is coming from the East or the West, can significantly influence a number of factors that can contribute to the production of tulip bulbs. 

Easterly winds in The Netherlands bring fluctuation-prone continental weather rather than temperate and steady maritime weather created from winds traveling over the Atlantic Ocean. In April and May, this can mean that The Netherlands get much colder weather than they’re accustomed to, while Eastern winds in June can mean extra hot temperatures. Tulips require relatively specific constant cool temperatures and will not develop as anticipated when subjected to constant Eastern winds and extreme hot and cold temperature fluctuations.

Western winds coming from over the Atlantic Ocean bring fresh humid air free of disease and pests. Wind coming from the Continental East bears the potential to harbor disease and pests from other parts of Europe. Tulip crops are happier with the fresh oceanic Westerly wind.

Winds from the West tend to be moderate and steady. Winds from the East tend to have intense fluctuations, which can be detrimental to tulip bulb crops. Tulips do not appreciate great fluctuations that could cause stems and foliage to be more easily damaged.

Most tulip bulbs (among many other tubers, roots, and bulbs) grown in the Northern Hemisphere come from The Netherlands- so it will be interesting to see how the bulb and flower-growing industry will be impacted as a whole.

While we have had this initial communication from The Netherlands, we still have no idea what the end numbers will actually be. We won’t have any additional specifics until the bulbs are actually harvested from the fields. Oof. I’ll make sure to provide an update once we know more.

Have any questions or comments about tulip bulb farming? We’d love to hear them below!

-Karissa