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

In Trenton, tulip: plant from 13 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include McKithen Produce (farm shop, 2 km) and Trenton Organics (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 Trenton: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -2.7 °C.

Planting13 October – end of December
First autumn frost12 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -2.7 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring8 March
Daylight11:17 on 13 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:18

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

Tulip in Trenton: 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 Trenton the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 21 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 Trenton the three warmest months bring about 350 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 Trenton, Allentown is 9 days earlier and Dover 14 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Philadelphia45 km12 October – end of December1 day earlier
Allentown73 km4 October – 30 December9 days earlier
New York84 km21 October – end of December8 days later
Atlantic City100 km23 October – end of December10 days later
Dover134 km27 October – end of December14 days later
Baltimore188 km23 October – end of December10 days later

Where to buy tulip for planting in Trenton

Planting stock goes into the ground from 13 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Trenton OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 3 plant nurseries, 5 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Trenton?

In Trenton, 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 Trenton?

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

Other crops in Trenton, with their dates