If you bought some spring-blooming bulbs at Stockslagers on a cool fall day, you might feel like you’re “under the gun” to plant them as soon as possible. What if you haven’t had a chance to visit the garden center this fall? Are you afraid that your landscaping will be dull, colorless, and missing lovely tulips, crocuses, daffodils, and allium come spring?
We have good news for you. It’s never too late to plant bulbs. (Really!) All you need to know is how to make these springtime beauties bloom.
Tulips are a beloved spring flower bursting into bloom with vibrant colors after the dreariness of winter. While the ideal time for planting tulip bulbs is in fall many gardeners inevitably miss the planting window and wonder if they can still get bulbs in the ground in winter. The good news is yes, you absolutely can plant tulip bulbs in January and still enjoy a beautiful spring display!
Why January Tulip Planting Works
January planting goes against the conventional wisdom of fall bulb planting. But it can be an effective strategy for a few key reasons:
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The ground is workable – January is often a cold but dry month when the soil is still diggable and not frozen solid. This allows you to plant bulbs.
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Natural chilling – Tulips require a certain amount of chill time to properly break dormancy and bloom Planted in January, bulbs get the cold they crave
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Delayed bloom – Bulbs planted mid-winter will bloom later than those planted in fall This extends the tulip season!
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Pest protection – Early winter ground helps protect bulbs from rodents looking for an easy meal.
As long as you give bulbs special care and manage expectations, January planted tulips can thrive!
Choosing Your Tulip Variety
When planting tulips in January, choose a variety known for being robust and reliable:
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Darwin Hybrids – Tall, stately, and tolerant of cooler planting. A safe bet!
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Single Late Tulips – Bloom late season and handle winter planting well.
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Species Tulips – Tend to be smaller and less showy but very cold hardy.
Avoid finicky tulips like parrot, fringed, double, or multi-flowering types. Stick with sturdy varieties for best success.
Bulb Quality Matters
Starting with top quality bulbs is paramount when January planting. Inspect bulbs and discard any that are:
- Soft, mushy, or moldy
- Showing signs of rot
- Extremely lightweight for their size
Choose only the largest, firmest, healthiest bulbs to plant.
Preparing Bulbs & Soil
To give January planted bulbs their best shot:
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Start with well-draining soil enriched with compost.
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Optional – Pretreat bulbs with a fungicide to prevent rot.
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Plant bulbs pointy end up at a depth 2-3 times their height.
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Space bulbs 3 inches apart to discourage rot in cold ground.
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Water thoroughly after planting to eliminate air pockets.
Site Selection
Even during winter, choose the right planting site to boost success:
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Sun – At least 6 hours of direct sun is best for flowering.
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Shelter – Protect bulbs from harsh icy winds which can damage shoots.
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Drainage – Avoid soggy spots – wet soil will make bulbs rot.
If possible, wait for a few days of dry weather to plant. This prevents bulbs from sitting in mud.
Late Winter Care
After planting bulbs in January, care involves:
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Adding mulch to insulate soil and prevent early sprouting.
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Watering occasionally if winter is dry to keep soil from drying out.
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Watching for sprouts! Green shoots will emerge 4-6 weeks after planting.
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Being patient – blooms will be slightly delayed compared to fall planting.
Extending the Bloom Season
Here are a few handy tips to make January planted tulips bloom over an extra long season:
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Stagger planting from December through February for continuous blooms.
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Mix early, mid, and late season tulip varieties in each planting.
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Plan for naturalizing bulbs that will return and spread each year.
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Interplant tulips with daffodils, hyacinths, and alliums for a layered spring show.
January Tulip Planting Considerations
Late winter planting of tulip bulbs can work, but be aware that:
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Bulbs may take longer to establish and bloom compared to fall planting.
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Extreme winter weather can damage sprouts if not properly protected.
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Blooms may be smaller and shorter lived than fall planted bulbs.
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Bulbs might not have enough energy for a strong repeat bloom the next spring.
Overall though, January planted tulips are a great way to get spring color even if you’ve missed the ideal fall planting time. Just focus on high quality bulbs, proper planting technique, and reasonable expectations. With a little luck from Mother Nature, your January tulips will soon cheer up the late winter garden!
Plant Bulbs in Winter for Later Blooms
After the first frost or snowstorm, you might assume that your bulb-planting days are over. But as long as the ground is good enough to work, you can plant bulbs! That means you can plant bulbs as late as January, as long as you can dig a hole deep enough.
You can plant tulips and daffodils as early as the end of January. This will give them time to grow roots over the winter and bloom later than usual.
Keep in mind that bulbs planted in late January may have smaller blooms. On the other hand, planting bulbs in the winter can have a protective effect on bulbs. The ground will freeze faster after planting, which protects bulbs from hungry squirrels!.
The Best Time to Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Ideally, you want to plant bulbsin autumn, when the ground is still soft and workable. Thing is, you don’t wantto plant them too early in the season.
Planting bulbs too early canleave them susceptible to rot. If you plant them in late August or early September, they might even think it’s spring and try to bloom! If you plant them too early, they won’t bloom when they’re supposed to. Spring-flowering bulbs need time to chill in the ground before spring in orderto bloom.
The best time to plant spring-flowering bulbs is late Autumn. This gives them time to chill before spring. But what if you missed the best time to plant bulbs? Can you still do it in November, December, and onward?
Forgotten Flower Bulbs: Planting Daffodils and Tulips in January or February
FAQ
Can I plant tulip bulbs in February?
How late can you plant tulip bulbs?
What happens if you plant tulip bulbs in the spring?
What happens if you plant tulips in winter?
When to plant tulip bulbs?
A: The correct answer on when to plant tulip bulbs depends on your USDA zone, though in most areas, set out tulips in autumn or early winter. Keep in mind that, if you plant them at the proper time, no growth will emerge from those bulbs until late winter or spring.
Can you plant tulip bulbs in winter?
If you are in zones with a more moderate but cold winter, like The Grow Monster in zone 7, then you can even plant tulip bulbs throughout January and February. One of the challenges to plant tulip bulbs in winter is digging down deep enough to make sure the bulbs can be planted at the right depth for their height.
Is it too late to plant tulips?
If it is already summer and you haven’t planted your bulbs, it is too late to plant tulips. If the bulbs are still dry and not mushy, you can try putting them in the refrigerator until the ground is cool enough to plant. Alternatively, you can plant them in containers keeping in mind they may not flower at all.
How often should tulips be planted?
This should be done in the fall, at the normal planting time for tulips. Divide bulbs every three to five years. Dig up the bulbs with a trowel or spade, then brush off the soil and gently break off the small offset bulbs from the mother bulb. Inspect the offsets and discard any that appear soft or deformed.
