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When to plant tulips in Olympia: 16 October – end of December

In Olympia, tulip: plant from 16 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Underhill Plants (garden centre, 1 km) and Bark & Garden Center (garden centre, 4 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 Olympia: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in February, average 1.5 °C.

Planting16 October – end of December
First autumn frost15 November
Coldest nightsFebruary, 1.5 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring28 January
Daylight10:54 on 16 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:30

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

Tulip in Olympia: 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 Olympia 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 Olympia the three warmest months bring about 106 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 Olympia, Eugene is 17 days earlier and Victoria 36 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Seattle77 km25 October – end of December9 days later
Victoria159 km21 November – end of December36 days later
Portland170 km23 October – end of December7 days later
Salem234 km18 October – end of December2 days later
Vancouver250 km18 October – end of December2 days later
Eugene332 km29 September – end of December17 days earlier

Where to buy tulip for planting in Olympia

Planting stock goes into the ground from 16 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Olympia OpenStreetMap lists 5 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 2 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Olympia?

In Olympia, tulip: plant from 16 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 Olympia?

Last spring frost around 19 March, first autumn frost around 15 November.

Other crops in Olympia, with their dates