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Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Plant tulip bulbs in fall, from about 4 weeks before your first fall frost to 2 weeks after it, once the soil has cooled below about 55°F. Keep planting until roughly 2 weeks before the ground freezes, so the bulbs can grow roots before winter. In the warm South, tulips need pre-chilled bulbs.
- Frost tolerance
- Hardy bulb
- Soil temperature
- Plant when soil is below about 55°F
- Bloom time
- Blooms next spring
The rule we use
- Plant bulbs: 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost
Why tulips go in during fall
Tulips need a long cold spell to bloom. Planted in fall, the bulbs grow roots while the soil is still cool but not frozen, then sit through winter and flower in spring. Plant too early, while the soil is warm, and bulbs may rot or sprout leaves too soon. Plant too late and they can't root before the ground freezes.
The practical sign is soil temperature: below about 55°F at planting depth. In northern states that's usually late September to October; in the Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest, October to November; further south, later still. Our window above is counted from your first fall frost, which tracks this cooling well.
How to plant
Choose a sunny spot with soil that drains well; tulips rot in soggy ground. Plant each bulb pointed end up, about three times as deep as the bulb is tall, usually 6–8 inches to the base. Space them 4–6 inches apart, or in groups for more impact. Water once after planting to settle the soil.
If squirrels or voles dig up bulbs in your area, cover the bed with wire mesh or plant daffodils nearby, which animals avoid.
Warm-winter areas
Where winters are mild, such as the Gulf Coast, Florida and southern California, the soil doesn't stay cold long enough. Buy pre-chilled bulbs, or chill them yourself in a refrigerator for 10–14 weeks (away from fruit, which gives off gas that harms the flower bud), then plant in late December or January. Treat tulips as annuals there.
Tulip bulbs and planting tools
- Tulip bulbs at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- A soil thermometer to check the soil is warm enough before sowing.
- A bulb planter to dig neat, deep holes quickly.
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Questions about planting tulips
What month should I plant tulip bulbs?
Usually September to October in the North, October to November in the middle of the country, and December or January in mild-winter areas with pre-chilled bulbs. Enter your ZIP above for a window based on your frost dates.
Is it too late to plant tulips?
If the ground isn't frozen yet, you can usually still plant. Bulbs planted late may bloom a little later or smaller in their first spring.
Can I plant tulips in spring?
Bulbs that haven't been chilled won't bloom properly. If you find unplanted bulbs in spring, plant them anyway; some may flower, but expect a weak show.
How deep do you plant tulip bulbs?
About three times the bulb's height, which is usually 6–8 inches to the base of the bulb, pointed end up.
Sources
- Plant Bulbs Now for Spring Color, University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension
- Plant spring-blooming bulbs in fall, Oregon State University Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)