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When to plant tulips in Frankfort: 4 October – end of December

In Frankfort, tulip: plant from 4 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Buckmeadow Farms (farm shop, 14 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 Frankfort: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January, February; the coldest, January, averages -2.8 °C.

Planting4 October – end of December
First autumn frost3 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -2.8 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring16 February
Daylight11:42 on 4 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:30

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

Tulip in Frankfort: 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 Frankfort the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 19 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 Frankfort the three warmest months bring about 329 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 Frankfort, Columbus is 1 day earlier and Louisville 8 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Lexington41 km8 October – end of December4 days later
Louisville78 km12 October – end of December8 days later
Cincinnati108 km10 October – end of December6 days later
Indianapolis207 km7 October – 23 December3 days later
Evansville236 km11 October – end of December7 days later
Columbus254 km3 October – 25 December1 day earlier

Where to buy tulip for planting in Frankfort

Planting stock goes into the ground from 4 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Frankfort OpenStreetMap lists 1 plant nursery, 2 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Frankfort?

In Frankfort, tulip: plant from 4 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 Frankfort?

Last spring frost around 12 April, first autumn frost around 3 November.

Other crops in Frankfort, with their dates