Plant Your Garden
WHEN to Plant: Before Deep Frost
Guide | What | When | Where | How
WHEN TO PLANT
Planting must take place before deep frost hardens the ground. As a rule of thumb, tulips should be planted when the soil 6 inches down is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. When you plant will depend on where you live.

Use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine your planting date.

  • Zones 2 and 3 Plant in September
  • Zones 4 and 5: Plant in October
  • Zones 6 and 7: Plant in November
  • Zones 8-11: Plant 1st week of January after pre-chilling bulbs
 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Pre-chilling Instructions for Zones 8-11
Tulips are specialized plants that require a change of seasons and a cold period to grow. Since temperatures in your region may not meet this cold temperature requirement (40-45°F for 6 weeks), your tulips may not grow properly. If you live in a warm region your bulbs must be pre-chilled.

1. Start bulb pre-chill treatment by the third week in November.
Your bulbs must be pre-chilled in a refrigerator. Place the bulbs in a brown paper bag with moistened peat moss. Refrigerate (cold treat) your bulbs at 40-45°F for at least 6 weeks to satisfy bulb dormancy requirements. Do not remove them until you are ready to plant in the first week of January.

Important Note: Do NOT store fruit in your refrigerator next to your bulbs. Apples and other fruits give off ethylene gas, a natural by-product of ripening fruit. This gas could kill or delay the tulip flower buds.

2. All warm-region gardens must be planted during the FIRST week of January.
This date has been set in order to standardize all gardens. If your school extends the holiday break beyond the first week of January, please contact us.