Best Time to Plant Tulips

Tips for growing tulips 

Tulip flowers come in a wide variety of colors. They are often planted in drifts, groups, or along garden edges. They can grow anywhere from 4 to 30 inches tall depending on the variety. (3) 

When is the best time to plant tulip bulbs? 

Planting tulip bulbs in fall or winter depends on your zone.  The best time to plant tulips in zones 3 to 5 is in September, in October for zones 6 to 7, and from December to January for zones 8 and higher. (1,3)  

The ground needs to have cooled from the warm summer months before you plant your tulips. (3)  A good soil temperature to look for is 60 degrees F at 6 inches deep. (3) If you are growing tulips in zones 8 or higher like mine (8a), you will need to chill your bulbs (at 40-45 degrees F for 10 weeks (2)) or buy them pre-chilled.  If pre-chilled, plant them in December. The soil temperature needs to drop below 60F for at least 12 weeks. 

Can tulip flower bulbs be planted in the spring? 

If your bulbs are not dried out, soft, or rotten looking, you can still plant them. It is best to do this as soon as the ground can be worked. (1) 

Tulip Bulb Spacing 

Tulip flower bulbs should be spaced 3 to 6 inches apart at a depth of 6 inches. (3)  If frost is harsh in your area, plant bulbs at 8 inches. (3) You can also plant the bulbs at a depth of 8 inches if you are worried about deer, squirrels, or other animals eating them. It may be a good idea to put chicken wire or another barrier over your bulbs to protect them if animals are a significant threat. 

Watering Tulips

It is important to water bulbs after planting, but be careful. Overwatering can cause the bulbs to rot before they bloom. If you live in a dry area, water the bulbs as needed until the spring. Rainfall in your area may be all the watering your future tulip garden needs! (2) 

Use an organic fertilizer after planting and again in the spring once the bulbs begin to break the soil’s surface. A layer of mulch (1-2 inches) is a good addition to insulate your tulip bulbs and to maintain adequate water balance in your soil. (2) 

Growing tulips

Before removing tulip bulbs, let them die back naturally. This allows the bulbs to store enough nutrition for next year’s tulip flower blooms! These plants need full sun and tolerate partial shade. 

Tulip bulbs thrive in slightly acidic soil (pH of between 6 and 7) that drains well. Make sure to amend your soil with compost if it is poor (nutrient deficient, mostly clay, or sandy). (3) 

1) https://brentandbeckysblog.com/blogs/news/can-you-plant-tulips-bulbs-in-sprin 

2) https://www.dutchbulbs.com/blog/planting-tulips/ 

3) https://www.miraclegro.com/en-us/library/flower-gardening/how-grow-tulips