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When to plant tulips in Saint-Étienne: 18 October – end of December

In Saint-Étienne, tulip: plant from 18 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Au Terroir (farm shop, 1 km) and Oasis jardin de cocagne (farm shop, 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 Saint-Étienne: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January; the coldest, January, averages -0.9 °C.

Planting18 October – end of December
First autumn frost17 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -0.9 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring11 March
Daylight10:51 on 18 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:43

The same dates in Saint-Étienne hold for Garlic, Daffodil, Crocus and Hyacinth.

Tulip in Saint-Étienne: 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 Saint-Étienne 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 Saint-Étienne the three warmest months bring about 231 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 Saint-Étienne, Grenoble is 23 days earlier and Lyon 8 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Lyon50 km26 October – end of December8 days later
Valence70 km22 October – end of December4 days later
Grenoble108 km25 September – 1 December23 days earlier
Clermont-Ferrand109 km13 October – end of December5 days earlier
Annecy145 km15 October – end of December3 days earlier
Geneva160 km18 October – end of Decembersame day

Where to buy tulip for planting in Saint-Étienne

Planting stock goes into the ground from 18 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Saint-Étienne OpenStreetMap lists 12 garden centres, 5 farm-supply shops, 1 plant nursery, 21 markets and 13 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Saint-Étienne?

In Saint-Étienne, 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 Saint-Étienne?

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

Other crops in Saint-Étienne, with their dates