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When to plant tulips in Dunedin: 22 April – end of June

In Dunedin, tulip: plant from 22 April to the end of June. For planting stock, the places nearby include Wal's Plant Land (garden centre, 13 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 Dunedin: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in July, average 2.3 °C.

Planting22 April – end of June
First autumn frost22 May
Coldest nightsJuly, 2.3 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring31 August
Daylight10:28 on 22 April
Daylight at the winter solstice8:39

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

Tulip in Dunedin: 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 Dunedin the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 25 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 Dunedin 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 Dunedin, Queenstown is 2 days earlier and Nelson 30 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Queenstown171 km20 April – end of June2 days earlier
Timaru175 kmby 5 May13 days later
Invercargill176 kmby 9 May17 days later
Christchurch310 kmby 6 May14 days later
Nelson558 kmby 22 May30 days later
Blenheim559 kmby 1 May9 days later

Where to buy tulip for planting in Dunedin

Planting stock goes into the ground from 22 April to the end of June; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Dunedin OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres and 1 market (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Dunedin?

In Dunedin, tulip: plant from 22 April to the end of June. 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 Dunedin?

Last spring frost around 26 October, first autumn frost around 22 May.

Other crops in Dunedin, with their dates