Tulips will be more expensive next year because persistent rain forced growers to delay planting their bulbs, creating a shortage.

The expected shortage of tulip bulbs is “unprecedented”, Mark-Jan Terwindt director of tulip trader organisation Royal Anthos, told press agency ANP.

Tulip growers plant small bulbs in the autumn so they can grow into bigger bulbs fit for trade. This year’s copious and persistent rain made it impossible to plant the bulblets in time and some growers did not bother at all, he said.

This means traders will have to buy in bulbs at twice or three times the price. That will also affect availability and drive up the price of a bunch of tulips at flower stalls.

Stall holders determine their own prices but three bunches for the price of one will probably be a thing of the past, Terwindt said.