1. Origin and history

There are about 5,000 kinds of tulips in the world. When people hear the word "tulip," they often think of Holland. However, tulips originally came from the region stretching from Turkey to the central parts of Asia. The Austrian ambassador to Turkey, A. G. Busbequius , is thought to have introduced tulips to Europe in the middle of the sixteenth century. When he asked about the flower, an interpreter described a "t lbent" (turban) because he thought it resembled a turban's shape. The ambassador incorrectly thought this was the flower's name, and perhaps this is how the tulip was named. From 1634 to 1637, the notorious tulip crisis took place in Holland, greatly increasing the tulip's popularity. The tulip and hyacinth were brought to Japan from France in 1863. In 1918, Mr. Toyozo Mizuno began cultivating tulips in Toyama Prefecture, in an area now known as Tonami City.

2. Tulip cultivation in Toyama Prefecture (Tonami)

Why are so many tulips produced in a cold district like Tonami? The Shogawa alluvial plain has sandy soil and is well drained. These conditions are suitable for tulip cultivation. Snowfall during the winter keeps the underground temperature and humidity constant, free from the influence of aboveground weather conditions. This area has long daylight hours from late April to May, the season in which bulbs start to grow in size. Advanced irrigation and draining channels provide water during the growing season and drain off water during harvesting time. The above natural conditions are highly suitable for tulip cultivation. What's more, it seems that farming families have always loved tulips and cultivate them with great enthusiasm.

3. The tulip life cycle

There are many stages in the production of tulip bulbs. These stages can be broadly categorized as follows: Planting Early to late October After planting, we sprinkle weed killer and add fertilizer before the first snowfall. Germination and growth check From mid-March We inspect the tulips on the farm one by one, and remove any that are unhealthy. Deflowering Mid-April to early May We perform deflowering three or four days after the tulips bloom in order to enlarge the bulbs and remove all the petals. This prevents harmful insects from gathering. Harvesting Early to late June The bulbs are dug up by a machine and then picked up by hand. The bulbs are then washed with water, soaked in a disinfectant, and completely dried. Storage of bulbs From July to planting time Bulbs are stored in a dark cool place with good ventilation. Because the bulbs are sensitive to humidity and sudden changes in temperature, we use a ventilating fan and handle the bulbs very carefully during this stage.

4. Variety

Tulips are classified into 15 families (including the original varieties) according to their flowering season, flower pattern, and leaf shape. Here are some typical members of the tulip family.