When to plant tulips
hardy bulb
The short answer
Tulips are planted in the fall, once the soil has cooled and well before the ground freezes. The exact window depends on your region - the rules below come from state extension services.
See the rules for your region, or the full bulb planting guide.
When to plant tulips where you live
No single date works everywhere. These are the fall planting rules published by state extension services, quoted for the state each one covers.
| Minnesota | Usually mid-September to mid-October, so roots grow before the ground freezes. Tulips can go in as late as you can get them into the soil. (University of Minnesota) |
| Colorado | Late September is preferred and September and October are the best months. Bulbs planted after October may not root well enough to flower evenly in spring. (Colorado State) |
| Iowa | October is ideal. September can make tulips send up leaves in fall. Procrastinators can plant as late as December if the ground is not frozen. (Iowa State) |
| Wisconsin | Plant when the ground cools to about 50-55°F or lower (but is not frozen), and keep planting until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes. (University of Wisconsin) |
| South Carolina | Plant spring bulbs only once the soil at planting depth stays below 60°F. On the coast, most bulbs go in late December or early January. (Clemson Home & Garden Information Center) |
| North Carolina | Plant in fall to build roots and meet the cold requirement, which ranges from six to 20 weeks depending on species or cultivar. Wait until the soil at planting depth is below 60°F. (NC State) |
| Missouri | Spring-blooming bulbs should be planted in October so they go through a cooling process over the winter. Tulips will likely need to be replanted every couple of years. (University of Missouri) |
| Georgia | Spring-flowering bulbs can be planted from October through late December in most areas. (University of Georgia) |
| Michigan | Many Michigan nurseries recommend a cutoff of late October for getting bulbs into the ground, because planting recommendations depend mainly on soil temperature. For bulbs that miss it, MSU Extension suggests a sheltered spot, a thicker mulch, or refrigerator chilling (for most bulbs, 14-16 weeks below 45°F). (Michigan State) |
Planting depth and spacing
| Bulb | Depth (inches) | Spacing (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| Tulip (Darwin hybrid, triumph) | 6-8 | 4-6 |
| Tulip (species or botanical) | 3-5 | 3-4 |
From Iowa State Extension; depth is measured from the base of the bulb to the soil surface. Plant with the pointed end up.
What extension services say
- Hardy spring bulbs need a cold period, so they are planted in fall. In Minnesota, planting is usually mid-September to mid-October, and tulips can go in as late as you can get them into the soil. University of Minnesota Extension ↗
- October is ideal in Iowa. Planting in September, while the soil is still warm, may make tulips emerge in the fall. Iowa State University Extension ↗
- Colorado prefers late September; bulbs planted after October may not root well enough to flower evenly. Colorado State University Extension ↗
- In South Carolina, wait until the soil at planting depth stays below 60°F for tulips and most other bulbs; bulbs that get too little chilling bloom close to the ground on very short stems. Clemson Home & Garden Information Center ↗
- Tulip bulbs left unplanted over winter often shrivel and die, and those that survive usually do not perform well when planted in spring. Iowa State University Extension ↗
- Many hybrid tulips are not well adapted to wet, heavy clay and may return only a few years; shorter species tulips may last longer. Squirrels and chipmunks dig tulips and crocus more than daffodils or hyacinths. University of Wisconsin Extension ↗
There is no single date: the right time depends on when your soil cools in autumn. See the regional rules below.
Questions gardeners ask
When is the best time to plant tulips?
In fall, once the soil has cooled: mid-September to mid-October in Minnesota, October in Iowa, and when soil stays below 60°F in South Carolina.
Can you plant tulips in spring?
Iowa State says tulips left unplanted until spring usually do not perform well, because they lack a cold period and a developed root system.
How deep do you plant tulip bulbs?
Hybrid tulips 6-8 inches deep and species tulips 3-5 inches, measured from the base of the bulb (Iowa State).
How late can you plant tulips?
Minnesota Extension says you can plant them as late as you can get them into the soil; Iowa State says as late as December if the ground is unfrozen. Colorado warns that bulbs planted after October may not flower evenly.
Sources
- Iowa State University Extension: Selecting and Planting Spring-Blooming Bulbs
- Clemson Home & Garden Information Center: Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC 1155)
- University of Minnesota Extension: Planting bulbs, tubers and rhizomes
- Colorado State University Extension: Fall-Planted Bulbs and Corms
- University of Wisconsin Extension: Plant Bulbs Now for Spring Color
- NC State Extension: Extension Gardener Handbook: Herbaceous Ornamentals
- University of Missouri Extension: Countdown to beautiful spring flowers begins now
- University of Georgia Extension: Flowering Bulbs for Georgia Gardens
- Michigan State University Extension: Is it too late to plant bulbs?
Extension advice is local to the state that wrote it. Where the sources differ, both are shown. Dates in the tables are estimates from typical frost dates; your garden’s own last frost can differ by a week or more. How we source data.