When to plant tulips in Dodge City: 29 September – end of December

In Dodge City, tulip: plant from 29 September 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.

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 Dodge City: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -4.3 °C.

Planting	29 September – end of December
First autumn frost	29 October
Coldest nights	January, -4.3 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring	4 March
Daylight	11:54 on 29 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:33

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

Tulip in Dodge City: 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 Dodge City the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 18 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 Dodge City the three warmest months bring about 200 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 Dodge City, Grand Island is 2 days earlier and Tulsa 19 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Wichita	236 km	30 September – end of December	1 day later
Oklahoma City	339 km	by 11 October	12 days later
Grand Island	379 km	27 September – 1 December	2 days earlier
Lawton	380 km	by 12 October	13 days later
Tulsa	400 km	by 18 October	19 days later
Topeka	402 km	29 September – 30 December	same day

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