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When to plant tulips in Sligo: 22 October – end of December

In Sligo, tulip: plant from 22 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Horkans (garden centre, 1 km) and Homeland Plus (farm shop, 2 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 Sligo: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 2.8 °C.

Planting22 October – end of December
First autumn frost21 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 2.8 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring3 February
Daylight10:07 on 22 October
Daylight at the winter solstice7:19

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

Tulip in Sligo: 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 Sligo the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 28 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 Sligo the three warmest months bring about 410 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 Sligo, Belfast is 2 days earlier and Letterkenny 7 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Letterkenny91 km29 October – end of December7 days later
Athlone101 km27 October – end of December5 days later
Galway118 kmby 29 October7 days later
Dundalk138 km21 October – end of December1 day earlier
Belfast168 km20 October – end of December2 days earlier
Dublin178 km25 October – end of December3 days later

Where to buy tulip for planting in Sligo

Planting stock goes into the ground from 22 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Sligo OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026).

  • Horkans — garden centre
    Mon–Sun 10:00–18:00 · 1 km
  • Homebase — garden centre
    Carraroe Retail Park, Sligo · 2 km
  • Homeland Plus — farm shop
    Deep Water Quay, F91 HR53 Sligo · 2 km

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Sligo?

In Sligo, tulip: plant from 22 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 Sligo?

Last spring frost around 8 April, first autumn frost around 21 November.

Other crops in Sligo, with their dates