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When to plant tulips in Besançon: 19 October – end of December

In Besançon, tulip: plant from 19 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include La Ferme de Barband (farm shop, 6 km) and Aux Sons Du Potager (farm shop, 8 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 Besançon: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 0.2 °C.

Planting19 October – end of December
First autumn frost18 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 0.2 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring7 February
Daylight10:43 on 19 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:28

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

Tulip in Besançon: 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 Besançon the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 23 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 Besançon the three warmest months bring about 278 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

Around Besançon, Bern is 15 days earlier and Neuchâtel 10 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Dijon74 km20 October – end of December1 day later
Neuchâtel75 km29 October – end of December10 days later
Fribourg99 km7 October – 30 December12 days earlier
Mulhouse113 km18 October – end of December1 day earlier
Bern113 km4 October – 21 December15 days earlier
Geneva117 km18 October – end of December1 day earlier

Where to buy tulip for planting in Besançon

Planting stock goes into the ground from 19 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Besançon OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 7 markets and 11 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Besançon?

In Besançon, tulip: plant from 19 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 Besançon?

Last spring frost around 12 April, first autumn frost around 18 November.

Other crops in Besançon, with their dates