The Best Time to Plant Tulip Bulbs for a Spectacular Spring Display

Regardless of where you live, vibrant tulip blooms often signal the start of spring and provide a much-needed pop of color after a long winter. Achieving that idyllic view is easy with a little planning and some fall planting. Ahead, we spoke to two gardening experts to find out the best time to plant tulip bulbs and how to ensure springtime success. 

When to Plant Tulip Bulbs

If you want vibrant tulips to grace your yard by spring, consider planting them between September and mid-November when the temperature begins to drop. 

“Tulips thrive in cooler temperatures,” says Michele Brown, co-owner of Brown Hill Farms, a family-owned farm in Pennslyvania that grows over 4 acres of tulips each year as well as other flowers and crops, such as daffodils, corn, and pumpkins. 

Brown suggests waiting until the ground temperature reaches around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, noting that tulips thrive in colder weather. For her, that means planting on November 1st each year to ensure a successful crop for the following spring. 

Joe Moussa, owner of Mosaic Home & Garden Center, also recommends waiting until the temperatures drop. “It gives [the tulips] a little bit of time to get rooted and settled before the first frost.“

How to Plant Tulip Bulbs 

Gather your materials and tools. To get started, you’ll need gardening gloves, a trowel, and the bulbs you want to plant. To make things easier, Moussa suggests investing in a gardening trowel with measurements to ensure you’re reaching the right depth as you plant. 

Dig a hole about four to six inches deep to ensure the bulb is deep enough to make it through the winter months. Brown notes that in cooler states, like Pennsylvania, the deeper end of that range is ideal. “Someone in the south could probably get away with less dirt.”

If you want a fuller look when your tulips bloom, Brown suggests planting bulbs at just one inch apart. 

Insert your tulip bulb with the tip facing upward and backfill with dirt. 

Water the bulbs. Tulip bulbs don’t need much water, but Brown recommends hand watering after planting, especially if you’re planting close to your home or in an area they won’t otherwise get water. “They like a good drink, and that's going to start getting that root system going.”

Place mulch over the freshly planted tulip bulbs. Both Brown and Moussa recommend adding a layer of mulch or hay over the top of the planted tulip bulbs, especially if you live in a state with particularly cold winters.

Brown also recommends covering the freshly planted bulbs with chicken wire if deer or chipmunks frequent your yard.  Doing so will prevent the hungry critters from snacking on your bulbs. 

How to Protect Tulip Bulbs 

Once your tulip bulbs are planted, you can cover them to protect them throughout the winter months, especially if you live in a colder state.  

Moussa uses a layer of mulch to protect against a deep frost, while Brown uses hay to protect her bulbs over the winter.  Brown added that even a layer of leaves from the fall can help provide protection. 

Tips for Choosing Tulip Bulbs 

When it comes to choosing a bulb, you want one that's going to be more on the firm side before you put it into the ground, says Moussa. “If you're already putting it in [and it’s] a little mushy or a little soft, and it goes into the ground with water, it's just asking for it not to be successful.”

However, a firm bulb isn’t the only consideration. If you live in a state south of Virginia or generally have warmer winters, use pre-chilled bulbs, recommends Brown “Bulbs do need 14 to 20 weeks of temperatures below 37 degrees,” a scenario that is less likely in southern states. Pre-chilled bulbs can help you achieve that.