Planting tulips in zones 8 to 10: one plan from the fridge to the bed

Look up your first fall frost

Type your zip code into the frost date lookup and write down the typical first fall frost. For zip code 70808 in Baton Rouge, the LSU Ben-Hur Farm station gives November 26. LSU plants about a month after that date, so in this band use it as a check.

Have ready: Your zip code.

Frost date lookup by zip code

Source: NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals, annual/seasonal, checked October 7, 2026; LSU AgCenter, It's time to plant tulips, hyacinths (2016), checked October 10, 2026.

Pick the planting week, then count back

LSU plants in late December or early January. We mark that as December 21 to January 10. Count 8 weeks back from your planting day for the fridge-in date: October 26 for December 21, November 15 for January 10. LSU says the bulbs should be in the fridge by mid to late November at the latest.

Have ready: A calendar and a planting day.

Source: LSU AgCenter, It's time to plant tulips, hyacinths (2016), checked October 10, 2026.

Measure the bed and count the bulbs

Measure inside the boards and type the size into the bulb calculator with 4 inches spacing. LSU spaces tulips 3 or 4 inches apart. A 4 x 8 ft bed at 4 inches takes 12 rows of 24, which is 288 bulbs. A smaller patch needs fewer bulbs and less fridge room.

Have ready: A tape measure.

Garlic and bulb planting calculator

Source: LSU AgCenter, It's time to plant tulips, hyacinths (2016), checked October 10, 2026.

Buy in October or November

Texas Extension in San Antonio calls October through November an excellent time to buy bulbs. Buy early enough that your count of weeks fits before planting day, and add a few spares.

Have ready: The bulb count from step 3.

Source: Texas Extension, Bexar County, Timely Tips (October 1 and November 19, 2005), checked October 10, 2026.

Chill them: open bags, low shelf, no fruit

Texas Extension keeps bulbs in the lower part of the fridge and never in air-tight bags. Placer County uses the crisper drawer and keeps apples and other fruit out, because the gas from ripening fruit kills the flower inside the bulb. Write the fridge-in date on the bag.

Have ready: Paper or mesh bags and a marker.

Source: Texas Extension, Bexar County, Timely Tips (October 1 and November 19, 2005), checked October 10, 2026; UC Master Gardeners of Placer County, Growing Tulips in South Placer County (2025), checked October 10, 2026.

Plant straight from the fridge, about 5 inches deep

On a cool day in your window, take the bulbs out and plant them the same day. Set them pointed end up. LSU plants tulips about 5 inches deep and 3 or 4 inches apart, and groups each color in a mass rather than a single row.

Have ready: A trowel marked at 5 inches and the chilled bulbs.

Source: LSU AgCenter, It's time to plant tulips, hyacinths (2016), checked October 10, 2026; UC Master Gardeners of Placer County, Growing Tulips in South Placer County (2025), checked October 10, 2026.

Label it, then log the bloom

Mark each group and fill in the planting map or the log below with the fridge-in and planting dates. LSU says bulbs planted at this time generally bloom in March and early April. Write down the first bloom date, so next fall you know whether to shift the week.

Have ready: Plant labels and the printed map.

Source: LSU AgCenter, It's time to plant tulips, hyacinths (2016), checked October 10, 2026.