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

In Bradford, tulip: plant from 19 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include None-Go-Bye Farm Shop (farm shop, 12 km) and Villa Farm Shop (farm shop, 12 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 Bradford: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.6 °C.

Planting19 October – end of December
First autumn frost18 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 1.6 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring24 February
Daylight10:22 on 19 October
Daylight at the winter solstice7:25

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

Tulip in Bradford: 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 Bradford the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 28 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 Bradford the three warmest months bring about 223 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 Bradford, Manchester is 4 days earlier and Liverpool 8 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Leeds13 km24 October – end of December5 days later
Manchester47 km15 October – end of December4 days earlier
Sheffield49 km23 October – end of December4 days later
Stoke-on-Trent89 km16 October – end of December3 days earlier
Liverpool92 km27 October – end of December8 days later
Hull93 km25 October – end of December6 days later

Where to buy tulip for planting in Bradford

Planting stock goes into the ground from 19 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Bradford OpenStreetMap lists 25 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries, 14 markets and 13 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Bradford?

In Bradford, 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 Bradford?

Last spring frost around 15 April, first autumn frost around 18 November.

Other crops in Bradford, with their dates