Fall Planted/Spring Blooming Flower Bulbs: Optimum Planting Time
Dutch Expert Info advises to plant fall bulbs anytime after night temperatures stay between 40 and 50 degrees. They also recommend planting up until 6 weeks before ground freezes. The Dutch recommended “optimum planting times” are shown below by region. However, bulbs can be planted right up to ground freeze, even after if you have to break the frozen crust on the ground, but nobody wants to do that dirty, cold work. In any case, in the cold regions, you CAN plant your bulbs easily up until the ground begins to freeze.
Region
Zones
States
Optimum planting time *
New Eng & NY
3, 4, 5
ME, MA, CT, VT, NH, NY
Sep 15 – Nov 15
Mid-Atlantic coastal
6, 7, 8
NJ, DE, MD, eastern VA, Long Island
Oct 1 – Nov 30
Appalachians
5, 6
central PA, Western NC, western VA, eastern TN, WV
