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When to plant tulips in Victoria: 21 November – end of December

In Victoria, tulip: plant from 21 November to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Topsoil Market (farm shop, 1 km) and Madrona Farm (farm shop, 6 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 Victoria: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in February, average 2.6 °C.

Planting21 November – end of December
First autumn frost21 December
Coldest nightsFebruary, 2.6 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring11 February
Daylight8:59 on 21 November
Daylight at the winter solstice8:19

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

Tulip in Victoria: 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 Victoria 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 Victoria the three warmest months bring about 91 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

All the nearest cities on our list plant tulip earlier than Victoria; the closest date is in Seattle, 27 days earlier.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Vancouver96 km18 October – end of December34 days earlier
Seattle120 km25 October – end of December27 days earlier
Olympia159 km16 October – end of December36 days earlier
Kelowna325 km1 October – 27 November51 days earlier
Portland328 km23 October – end of December29 days earlier
Salem389 km18 October – end of December34 days earlier

Where to buy tulip for planting in Victoria

Planting stock goes into the ground from 21 November to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Victoria OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 7 markets and 6 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Victoria?

In Victoria, tulip: plant from 21 November 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 Victoria?

Last spring frost around 1 March, first autumn frost around 21 December.

Other crops in Victoria, with their dates