Daffodils, crocus and hyacinths go in between the beginning of September and the end of October if you can manage it, and October is the better month. After the dry summers we now get, the ground in early September is often too hard and dry to plant into, and bulbs in dust-dry soil have no reason to make roots. Tulips follow in November, and alliums fit in between.
Ashridge delivers dry bulbs from September to December, so they reach you in time for October planting and well ahead of tulips in November. Keep them cool and dry in their bags until you are ready, and this guide covers what to do from there.
This guide is about timing. For how far down to put them, read how to plant bulbs at the right depth. For pots, read how to grow bulbs in pots. For when each one flowers, read when different bulbs flower.
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When to Plant Bulbs: The Short Answer by Type
Plant daffodils, crocus and hyacinths in October, alliums from October to mid-November, tulips in November, and snowdrop, bluebell and snowflake bulbs as soon as possible after they arrive. Plant dry bulbs of any kind while the soil is damp enough to dig and neither frozen nor waterlogged, and plant bulbs in the green in late winter and spring.
| Bulb | Best planting time | If you are planting earlier or later |
|---|---|---|
| Daffodils (narcissus) | October | Early September only if the soil is damp; planted as late as December they still flower, just later and shorter |
| Crocus | October | Plant when the soil is workable; pots are fine |
| Hyacinths | October | Plant when the soil is workable; pots are fine |
| Alliums | October to mid-November | Plant up to mid-December if the ground is not frozen |
| Tulips | November | Anything from late October to early December is fine |
| Snowdrops, bluebells and snowflakes (dry bulbs) | As soon as possible after receipt | Whenever they arrive, from September to December |
| Snowdrops and bluebells in the green | February to April, straight from the bag | Plant within a day or two of delivery |
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs
Plant daffodil bulbs in October, when the soil has had its first proper rain. If the ground is damp enough to dig in September, go ahead, but do not force bulbs into dry, baked soil to hit a date.
A daffodil that goes in during November or December still flowers the following spring, just later and possibly shorter, so plant the daffodils before the tulips if time is short. If the soil is dust-dry a fortnight after planting and no rain is forecast, give the bulbs a good soak to start the roots. How to plant and grow daffodil bulbs covers depth, spacing and aftercare. For a dwarf that looks right in pots and at the front of a border, try Tête-à-Tête.
When to Plant Crocus and Hyacinth Bulbs
Plant crocus and hyacinth bulbs in October, like daffodils. Both are small, shallow-rooted bulbs that do well in pots, so a spare container and some compost are all you need whenever you get to them.
Crocus are the earliest of the lot, with flowers from February. Hyacinths are the bulb for scent, in the border or on a doorstep in a pot. For crocus that spread by themselves, see Tommasini’s crocus.
When to Plant Allium Bulbs
Plant allium bulbs from October to mid-November, and as late as mid-December if the ground is not frozen. The first flowers open in May.
Alliums want full sun and good drainage, so the spot matters more than the date: a bulb in wet ground in October does worse than the same bulb in free-draining soil in December. How to plant and grow allium bulbs covers the rest. Purple Sensation is the one to start with if you have not grown any.
When to Plant Tulip Bulbs
Plant tulip bulbs in November. Anything from late October to early December is fine, and planting later lowers the risk of tulip fire, a fungal disease that is rare in a normal garden.
Plant them at two to three times their own depth, with the pointed end up, and they flower from April into May, depending on the group. If you have tulips in September or October, keep them somewhere cool and dry until the ground is ready. Best time to plant tulips has the detail, and where to plant tulip bulbs covers the sites they like. For a tulip that suits a late planting, look at Queen of Night, a maroon-black late tulip.
When to Plant Snowdrop, Bluebell and Snowflake Bulbs
Snowdrop, bluebell and snowflake bulbs should always be planted as soon as possible after receipt.
Snowdrops and bluebells also come in the green, and that is a different job. “In the green” means lifted while in leaf, so the plant is still growing when it reaches you. Plant bulbs in the green from February to April, within a day or two of delivery, at the same depth they grew before, which you can see as the white section of the stem, and water them in. Browse our snowdrop collection, including the Gravetye Giant snowflake, and our native bluebell collection. What bulbs in the green means explains the idea, winter planting of snowdrops in the green covers snowdrops, and how to plant wild daffodils in the green covers the daffodils.
How to Store Bulbs Before Planting
Keep bulbs in a cool, dry, airy place until you plant them: a shed, a garage or an unheated porch, in the paper or net bag they arrived in. Do not seal them in plastic, and do not leave them in a warm kitchen or a damp cellar.
Check the bag every week or so. Throw out any bulb that has gone soft or grown mould, and let the rest breathe. A daffodil, tulip or allium that waits in its bag for October rain loses nothing, but a few months in a warm cupboard will finish it. Snowdrop, bluebell and snowflake bulbs are the exception: plant them as soon as possible after receipt. If they have to wait longer than a few weeks, pot them up and stand the pots outside.
Planting Bulbs Late: December, January and Beyond
Plant late bulbs as soon as the ground can be worked, even in January or February. A late bulb in the ground gives you a flower. A bulb left in the bag gives you nothing.
Late-planted bulbs may flower later or shorter in their first spring, and they settle in properly the year after. Dry bulbs left until spring may survive, but they will not flower. If the ground is frozen or waterlogged, plant them in pots of compost and stand them outside.
Bulb Planting Calendar: Month by Month
September:
Dry bulb deliveries begin. Plant only if the soil is damp enough to dig; if it is baked hard, keep the bulbs cool in their bags and wait for rain.
Whenever they arrive:
Plant snowdrop, bluebell and snowflake bulbs as soon as possible after receipt.
October:
The main month. Plant daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, and begin the alliums.
November:
Tulip planting time. Finish the alliums.
December:
Plant whatever is left, whenever the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. Late is better than never.
January:
Plant stragglers in pots if the ground is hard. Look out for the first snowdrops in flower.
February:
Bulbs in the green begin to arrive, and crocus and early daffodils come into flower.
March and April:
Plant snowdrops and bluebells in the green, and note which pots and patches need more bulbs next autumn.
Spring Bulbs to Plant This Autumn: Where to Start
If you plant only three kinds of bulb this autumn, plant daffodils for the first flowers, tulips for the biggest colour, and alliums for May. Our daffodil and narcissus collection, tulip collection and ornamental onion collection hold every variety we sell.
Frequently Asked Questions About When to Plant Bulbs
Is it too late to plant spring bulbs in December?
No, December is not too late, as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. Plant them as soon as you can, and expect the first spring’s flowers to come a little later or shorter than normal.
Can I plant bulbs in September?
Yes, if the soil is damp enough to dig, but October is the better month for daffodils, crocus and hyacinths after a dry summer. Leave tulips until November, and keep them cool and dry until then.
Can I plant bulbs in spring instead of autumn?
Not dry spring-flowering bulbs; planted in spring they may survive, but they will not flower that year. Snowdrops and bluebells in the green are the exception, because they are planted in late winter and spring.
How long can I keep bulbs before planting them?
A few weeks in a cool, dry, airy place does no harm. Check them weekly, bin any that go soft or mouldy, and pot them up if the wait stretches beyond a month.
Is it better to plant bulbs in the ground or in pots?
The timing is the same, but pots suit a late planting, because you can plant into compost when the ground is frozen. Our guide to growing bulbs in pots covers depth and compost.
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