I'm wondering if it's still a good time to plant tulip bulbs here in Zone 5. I know there's a light frost expected next week, but we should have about a month of mostly mild weather before it really gets cold. Typically, November is chilly but not freezing for the days, although nights can dip quite low, especially as Thanksgiving approaches. December usually stays mild, but then things really freeze solid in January and February. The problem is that the company I ordered my bulbs from is running late on shipping. If they arrive by November 1, can I still plant them right away and expect blooms, or will they be too stressed without a proper root system? I also have some windflowers and daffodils to consider!
3 Answers
Absolutely! As long as the ground isn't frozen, you can plant them. I've got a box of daffodils and alliums sitting in my garage that I need to get in the ground too before it’s too late. Always better to plant late than never!
You can plant bulbs right until the ground is too frozen to dig. So if your bulbs arrive by November 1, you should be just fine!
I usually aim to plant mine between Thanksgiving and New Year's. For me, planting now feels a bit early, but with your weather, you might be okay if you get them in soon!
Thanks for the tips! I guess I’ll just keep an eye on the weather.