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When to plant tulips in Geneva: 18 October – end of December

In Geneva, tulip: plant from 18 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Abel marché (farm shop, 6 km) and Ferme De La Planche (farm shop, 7 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 Geneva: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -1.7 °C.

Planting18 October – end of December
First autumn frost17 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -1.7 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring20 March
Daylight10:49 on 18 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:37

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

Tulip in Geneva: 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 Geneva the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 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 Geneva 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 Geneva, Aosta is 68 days earlier and Neuchâtel 11 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Annecy32 km15 October – end of December3 days earlier
Sion94 km19 September – 19 November29 days earlier
Fribourg102 km7 October – 30 December11 days earlier
Aosta105 km11 August – 22 October68 days earlier
Neuchâtel107 km29 October – end of December11 days later
Lyon112 km26 October – end of December8 days later

Where to buy tulip for planting in Geneva

Planting stock goes into the ground from 18 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Geneva OpenStreetMap lists 16 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops, 8 markets and 23 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Geneva?

In Geneva, tulip: plant from 18 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 Geneva?

Last spring frost around 10 April, first autumn frost around 17 November.

Other crops in Geneva, with their dates