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When to plant tulips in Wichita: 30 September – end of December

In Wichita, tulip: plant from 30 September to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Hillside Feed & Seed (farm supply, 5 km) and Cox Farm (farm shop, 12 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 Wichita: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -3.7 °C.

Planting30 September – end of December
First autumn frost30 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -3.7 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring4 March
Daylight11:52 on 30 September
Daylight at the winter solstice9:33

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

Tulip in Wichita: 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 Wichita the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 17 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 Wichita the three warmest months bring about 273 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 Wichita, Topeka is 1 day earlier and Tulsa 18 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Topeka207 km29 September – 30 December1 day earlier
Tulsa209 kmby 18 October18 days later
Dodge City236 km29 September – end of December1 day earlier
Oklahoma City247 kmby 11 October11 days later
Joplin259 km2 October – end of December2 days later
Kansas City287 km2 October – end of December2 days later

Where to buy tulip for planting in Wichita

Planting stock goes into the ground from 30 September to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Wichita OpenStreetMap lists 5 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 2 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant tulips in Wichita?

In Wichita, tulip: plant from 30 September 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 Wichita?

Last spring frost around 3 April, first autumn frost around 30 October.

Other crops in Wichita, with their dates