Gardeners in USDA zones 1 through 3 should aim for September or October, those in zones 4 and 5 for late September to early November, and those in zones 6 and 7 for October to mid-December.26 Jul 2021
After the first frost or snow storm, you might assume that your bulb-planting days are over. But as long as the ground is workable, you can plant bulbs! This means that you can plant bulbs as late as January – if you can dig a hole deep enough to plant. Plant tulips and daffodils as late as the end of January!
Gardeners in zone 6 should wait to plant their summer blooming bulbs outside until the danger of frost has passed. Typically by mid to late May tender bulbs can be planted in the ground.
fall When to Plant Tulips Tulip bulbs should be planted in the fall. The soil needs to have cooled off from the summer growing season before you plant, which could mean September in cold climates (zones 3 to 5), October in transitional climates (zones 6 to 7), and November or December in warm climates (zones 8 to 9).
Water the bulbs lightly. This helps them begin the process of growing. Don't give them a soaking, though; bulbs will decay and die if they get too wet. Don't water the bulbs again unless it's extremely dry outside. Unless the ground is very dry, there is no need to water the bulbs.
GARDENING MAGAZINE VERDICT Early autumn is best, but even December plantings can give a decent result. … A Traditional advice is to plant tulips later than other bulbs, in mid-to-late autumn, to reduce the risk of tulip fire.
You can usually plant bulbs as late as November if the soil isn't frozen, although in mild climates or short winter areas the bulbs may not receive sufficient chilling to force spring blooms. Preparing the bulbs and bed before you plant increases the chances of successful flowering.
Summer-blooming bulbs are most often planted in the spring, as soon as the danger of frost has passed. Though the five bulbs featured below are winter-hardy down to USDA hardiness zone 5, planting them in the spring gives the bulbs plenty of time to get established before the next cold winter arrives.
Soak the bulbs in water for a few hours and plant with the "eyes" facing up. This bulb, which prefers partial shade, may not bloom the first year.