Greenly Garden
Get the app
EN

When to plant tulips in New Haven: 13 October – end of December

In New Haven, tulip: plant from 13 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Van Wilgen's Garden Center (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 New Haven: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -3.4 °C.

Planting13 October – end of December
First autumn frost12 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -3.4 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring15 March
Daylight11:15 on 13 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:11

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

Tulip in New Haven: 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 New Haven the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 23 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 New Haven the three warmest months bring about 305 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 New Haven, Manchester (United States) is 10 days earlier and New York 8 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
New York113 km21 October – end of December8 days later
Providence138 km9 October – 30 December4 days earlier
Albany164 km7 October – 30 November6 days earlier
Boston193 km14 October – 29 December1 day later
Trenton197 km13 October – end of Decembersame day
Manchester (United States)222 km3 October – 27 November10 days earlier

Where to buy tulip for planting in New Haven

Planting stock goes into the ground from 13 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of New Haven OpenStreetMap lists 5 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 1 market and 3 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in New Haven?

In New Haven, tulip: plant from 13 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 New Haven?

Last spring frost around 6 April, first autumn frost around 12 November.

Other crops in New Haven, with their dates