When to plant tulips in Gangneung: 22 October – end of December

In Gangneung, tulip: plant from 22 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.

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 Gangneung: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -3.1 °C.

Planting	22 October – end of December
First autumn frost	21 November
Coldest nights	January, -3.1 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring	13 March
Daylight	11:00 on 22 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:33

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

Tulip in Gangneung: 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 Gangneung the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 20 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 Gangneung the three warmest months bring about 636 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

1 of the nearest cities share Gangneung's date.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Chuncheon	103 km	1 October – 22 November	21 days earlier
Seoul	169 km	7 October – 26 November	15 days earlier
Daejeon	205 km	13 October – 5 December	9 days earlier
Daegu	211 km	22 October – end of December	same day
Ulsan	248 km	17 October – end of December	5 days earlier
Jeonju	265 km	18 October – 17 December	4 days earlier

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