Bulb supply issues complicate preparations for Orange City tulip planting

Orange City is preparing for its annual fall tulip planting, but problems affecting some bulbs have organizers searching for replacements and adjusting plans for next spring’s displays.

Planting organizer John Buntsma says the bulb problems trace back to the Netherlands. “There’s a disease called Fusarium, and apparently that was a fungal issue that hit all the late-blooming bulbs. And we always utilize late-blooming bulbs.”

Along with contacting their current supplier, Buntsma says they are looking elsewhere. “We go to a vendor that we’ve utilized in the past and see what they’ve got available. We check with tulip growers in Washington state to see what they’ve got available. And then the fallback thing is last year’s tulips.”

Read more at: Sioux County Radio