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When to plant tulips in Aberdeen: 21 October – end of December

In Aberdeen, tulip: plant from 21 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Country Ways (farm shop, 1 km) and The Green House (garden centre, 1 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The average daily temperature here stays above 0 °C all winter, and at least three months average 7 °C or less: our rule of thumb for the winter cold spring bulbs need. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS.

Tulip in Aberdeen: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.4 °C.

Planting21 October – end of December
First autumn frost20 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 1.4 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring19 March
Daylight9:58 on 21 October
Daylight at the winter solstice6:41

The same dates in Aberdeen hold for Garlic, Daffodil, Crocus and Hyacinth.

Tulip in Aberdeen: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant tulips at a depth of two to three times the bulb’s height, at least twice the bulb’s width apart, pointed end up (RHS).

In Aberdeen the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 30 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 15–17 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Border tulips often fail to flower in their second year if left in the ground, so many gardeners grow them for one spring and plant fresh bulbs each autumn; Darwin hybrid and Kaufmanniana tulips reflower more reliably (RHS). Soils that stay wet in summer make reflowering difficult (RHS): in Aberdeen the three warmest months bring about 248 mm of rain together.

Grey squirrels often dig up tulip bulbs: lay chicken wire over the bed until the leaves appear, or plant daffodils among them, which squirrels avoid (RHS). Tulips are toxic to dogs, cats and horses, the bulb most of all (ASPCA).

Sources: RHS, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, ASPCA.

Tulip in nearby cities

1 of the nearest cities share Aberdeen's date.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Dundee91 km13 October – end of December8 days earlier
Inverness133 km14 October – end of December7 days earlier
Edinburgh148 km10 October – end of December11 days earlier
Glasgow194 km12 October – end of December9 days earlier
Newcastle upon Tyne242 km21 October – end of Decembersame day
Carlisle256 km16 October – end of December5 days earlier

Where to buy tulip for planting in Aberdeen

Planting stock goes into the ground from 21 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Aberdeen OpenStreetMap lists 7 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries and 2 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Aberdeen?

In Aberdeen, tulip: plant from 21 October to the end of December. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Aberdeen?

Last spring frost around 10 April, first autumn frost around 20 November.

Other crops in Aberdeen, with their dates