Here's When to Plant Tulip Bulbs for a Colorful Garden This Spring (2024)

You know spring has arrived when you see tulips in bloom! These spring flowers are a welcome addition to your garden because they come in an array of colors and sizes—and add so much cheer to your seasonal growing space. Whether you plant them in large groupings in the ground, in raised beds, or display them in vases as soon as they've sprouted, the months ahead will be so much brighter for it!

Depending on which type of tulip you plant, they can come with single petals, frilly petals or even lush blooms that resemble peonies. Tulips also flower at different times from early, mid to late spring—depending on the variety. That means you can enjoy their blooms all season long.

But, when exactly should you plant tulips? If you wait for the first day of spring, you're probably too late. Ree Drummond learned this tulip planting lesson the hard way. "I missed the tulip bulb planting window last fall, and I’ve been kicking myself ever since. In the shins. Hard," Ree joked. If you're feeling the same sort of way, here's everything you need to know about when and how to plant tulips.

When should I plant tulip bulbs?

Now, that's the big question! The answer: Tulip bulbs require a chilling period of 10 to 14 weeks, which means you need to get them in the ground in fall for blooms the following spring. Plant in mid to late fall when night time temperatures are in the 40s for a couple of weeks. You can plant the bulbs as long as the soil is not frozen solid.

Because they need cold, tulips do best in USDA Hardiness zones 3 to 7 (find your zone here). If you live in a warmer region, you need to buy pre-chilled and pre-potted tulips in order to enjoy their blooms.

How do I plant tulip bulbs?

Find a spot in full sun, which is about 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Then dig a hole that’s about two to three times the depth of the bulb’s height. Make sure to place the pointy-end of the bulb facing up in the hole. Or dig a furrow and plant clusters of bulbs along the entire length. (Hint: all spring-flowering bulbs look best when planted in groupings, rather than one here and there!) Cover the bulbs with soil, tamp down firmly with your hand, sprinkle on some general-purpose fertilizer, and wait for spring!

How can I protect tulips from pests?

Don’t be surprised if hungry garden visitors such as moles and chipmunks dig up your tulip bulbs—they’re a favorite wildlife snack! Larger animals, like deer, also love tulips. You can try using repellants, which are sometimes helpful, but they also need to be reapplied after a rain. Or plant bulbs that rodents don’t like, such as allium and daffodils, near your tulips to discourage browsing.

Will my tulips come back next year?

Sadly, no. Most tulips are not perennial. However, a few types—such as Giant Darwin hybrids and species tulips—are slightly more likely to come back for a few seasons. To give them their best shot at returning, leave the foliage in place until it dies back naturally so the bulb can make food for next year’s blooms. But don’t count on tulip bulbs lasting forever; you’ll get the most reliable flower power if you plant new tulip bulbs every fall.

Can you leave tulip bulbs in the ground all year?

This really depends on your growing conditions! If left planted through the year, modern tulip hybrids will usually send up a small bloom or two the next year (or more) given the growing conditions are right. Remember, most tulips require a cold dormancy period before blooming in spring that they won't receive naturally in mild regions. That said, while Northern gardeners can probably leave their tulip bulbs in their garden until spring, Southern gardeners likely won't see great results.

You should also note that tulip bulbs are prone to rotting in moist soil and irrigated garden beds. If you are able to keep your tulip bulbs in the ground, they'll need to be dug up and divided about every three years, or once they stop flowering well. Treat yourself in the fall, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful blooms next spring when you most crave color after a long, dark winter. As Ree says, "Winter blasts are particularly cold and brutal. Translation: I’m ready for tulips!"