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

In Dundalk, tulip: plant from 21 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Hardys (farm supply, 2 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 Dundalk: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 2.5 °C.

Planting21 October – end of December
First autumn frost20 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 2.5 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring22 January
Daylight10:13 on 21 October
Daylight at the winter solstice7:22

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

Tulip in Dundalk: 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 Dundalk the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 27 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 Dundalk the three warmest months bring about 272 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 Dundalk, Belfast is 1 day earlier and Letterkenny 8 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Dublin73 km25 October – end of December4 days later
Belfast73 km20 October – end of December1 day earlier
Athlone120 km27 October – end of December6 days later
Letterkenny137 km29 October – end of December8 days later
Sligo138 km22 October – end of December1 day later
Galway193 kmby 29 October8 days later

Where to buy tulip for planting in Dundalk

Planting stock goes into the ground from 21 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Dundalk OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops and 2 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Dundalk?

In Dundalk, 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 Dundalk?

Last spring frost around 20 March, first autumn frost around 20 November.

Other crops in Dundalk, with their dates