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When to plant tulips in Exeter: 28 October – end of December

In Exeter, tulip: plant from 28 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Bernaville Nurseries (garden centre, 4 km) and Exeter Garden Centre (garden centre, 6 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 Exeter: soil, season and weather

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

Planting28 October – end of December
First autumn frost27 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 2.3 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring26 January
Daylight10:00 on 28 October
Daylight at the winter solstice7:58

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

Tulip in Exeter: 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 Exeter 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 Exeter the three warmest months bring about 199 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 Exeter, Coventry is 10 days earlier and Swansea 4 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Swansea104 kmby 1 November4 days later
Bristol104 km23 October – end of December5 days earlier
Birmingham227 km20 October – end of December8 days earlier
Coventry234 km18 October – end of December10 days earlier
Brighton239 kmby 1 November4 days later
London253 km24 October – end of December4 days earlier

Where to buy tulip for planting in Exeter

Planting stock goes into the ground from 28 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Exeter OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 2 markets and 13 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Exeter?

In Exeter, tulip: plant from 28 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 Exeter?

Last spring frost around 3 April, first autumn frost around 27 November.

Other crops in Exeter, with their dates