It's a fact of life: to enjoy the fabulous bulb flowers that bloom in spring -- such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and others -- you must plant them in the fall. That's the hard fact. The fun fact is that nothing is easier to grow or more colorfully rewarding than flower bulbs. Even the most unskilled gardener can create a breathtaking and beautiful spring garden with bulbs. Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall because they require a sustained "dormant" period of cold temperatures to stimulate root development. As a rule, the colder your climate, the earlier you plant. In colder northern climates, plant in September or October. In warmer climates you may need to plant bulbs in December (or even later). The only universal rule is that, spring-flowering bulbs must be planted before temperatures drop below 20's.

The Tulip man is planting his bulbs after Halloween in Central Virginia. The soil temperature is too warm in October and with temperatures of 70's/80's outside you encourage squirrels and other animals to dig up your bulbs! Because of the short winter here in Virginia I store the bulbs from October 1st in a cool room at 49 degrees. You can use a refrigerator vegetable compartment, but be sure to keep them away from ripening fruit. The gas emitted by fruit's ripening process can destroy bulbs. Place the bulbs in an open paper bag or an egg carton.

Questions? Ask the Tulip Man

The characters you copied from the image are incorrect. Please try again.