Greenly Garden

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

In Reims, 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.

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 Reims: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1 °C.

Planting18 October – end of December
First autumn frost17 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 1 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring5 February
Daylight10:41 on 18 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:11

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

Tulip in Reims: 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 Reims the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 24 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 Reims the three warmest months bring about 184 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 Reims, Charleroi is 2 days earlier and Lille 4 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Troyes107 km19 October – end of December1 day later
Paris130 km21 October – end of December3 days later
Charleroi131 km16 October – end of December2 days earlier
Luxembourg157 km19 October – end of December1 day later
Metz157 km18 October – end of Decembersame day
Lille167 km22 October – end of December4 days later

Where to buy tulip for planting in Reims

Planting stock goes into the ground from 18 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Reims OpenStreetMap lists 10 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops, 7 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Reims?

In Reims, 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 Reims?

Last spring frost around 13 April, first autumn frost around 17 November.

Other crops in Reims, with their dates