Tulips are a popular spring flower, known for their bright and vibrant colors, including yellow, pink, red, and white. If you’re hoping to add these cheerful blooms to your garden, you might wonder: can you plant tulips in the spring?
Tulips grow from bulbs and must be planted at the right time to ensure they can develop roots and bloom properly. Knowing the correct planting time for tulip bulbs will help you achieve the best results and make your gardening efforts more effective.
To get the facts, we spoke to Jay Hutchins, the general manager at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, a bulb supplier in Gloucester, Virginia.
When to Plant Tulips
The best time to plant tulip bulbs is in the fall. This allows the bulbs to grow roots before the winter months, helping them survive the cold and prepare for spring blooms. “Plant tulips in the fall, around the time of your first hard frost,” advises Hutchins. Bulbs need cooler soil to start growing roots before they go dormant in winter.
In fact, tulip bulbs need to be chilled in temperatures between 35-50°F for 12-16 weeks to trigger blooming in spring. Planting them in the fall gives them enough time to establish roots before the cold months arrive.
Can You Plant Tulips in the Spring?
No, tulips should not be planted in the spring. Tulips need cool soil to grow roots before entering dormancy during the colder months. Without this crucial period of dormancy, tulips won’t bloom properly.
What Happens If You Plant Tulips in the Spring?
If you try planting tulip bulbs in the spring, they won’t grow. Spring is too warm for tulip bulbs to establish roots and prepare for dormancy. Hutchins explains that even if you find tulip bulbs in the spring, they are not likely to grow, as they haven’t been chilled properly. “Finding pre-cooled bulbs in spring is nearly impossible,” says Hutchins.
If you plant tulip bulbs at the wrong time, they may rot or be eaten by pests. Even if they survive, they are unlikely to bloom next year.
Why Tulips Can’t Be Planted in Spring
Tulips require specific growing conditions that can’t be met in spring. They need to be pre-chilled or planted at the right time of year for the proper conditions. Planting them in spring, when the soil is too warm, will prevent them from growing.
To avoid wasting time, effort, and money, it’s best to plan ahead. Order tulip bulbs in the spring and plant them in the fall for the best results. “Order in April, plant in the fall,” recommends Hutchins.
