Plant spring bulbs in fall, after the soil cools to about 10°C (50°F) and before the ground freezes solid. In most of Canada that means late September through October. Mild coastal areas can plant into November.
Mid-October is still on time for most of the country. If the ground is not frozen, the bulbs can go in.
Why fall planting matters
Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, and alliums need a long stretch of cold to bloom. The cold soil of winter does that work. Bulbs also grow roots in fall while the soil is cool but not frozen. Roots hold the bulb in place and let it start growing the moment spring arrives.
Plant too early, and warm soil can push leaves up before winter. Plant too late, and the roots have no time to form. A soil thermometer takes the guesswork out. Push it 10 cm (4 inches) into the soil in the morning. When it reads 10°C or lower, start planting.
Planting windows by region
These ranges are general. Check your own first fall frost date and watch the soil.
Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba): Mid-September to early October. The ground freezes early here, so plant as soon as the soil cools.
Northern Ontario and northern Quebec: Mid-September to early October.
Southern Ontario and southern Quebec: October is the main window. Many gardeners plant from early October to early November, until the ground gets hard.
Atlantic provinces: October in most areas. Coastal Nova Scotia and Newfoundland can often plant into early November.
Interior BC: Late September to October. Colder valleys follow the Prairie timing.
Coastal BC: October through November. Winters are mild, so the main goal is to wait for cool soil.
If the first hard freeze has not come, you can still plant. Use a trowel or bulb planter. If the soil is too frozen to dig, plant the bulbs in pots instead and keep them in an unheated garage or shed over winter. Move them out in spring.
Choose firm, healthy bulbs
Buy bulbs from a garden centre, a nursery, or a Canadian mail-order grower. Pick bulbs that feel firm and heavy for their size. Skip any that feel soft or look moldy. Larger bulbs of the same type give bigger flowers.
Plant them within a few weeks of buying. Keep them in a cool, dry spot with air flow until then. A paper bag works. A sealed plastic bag does not.
How deep to plant
The usual rule is to plant a bulb about three times as deep as the bulb is tall. Here are common depths measured from the bottom of the bulb.
- Tulips: 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches)
- Daffodils: 15 cm (6 inches)
- Hyacinths: 15 cm (6 inches)
- Alliums: depends on size, about three times the bulb height
- Crocus and snowdrops: 8 cm (3 inches)
Deeper planting helps in cold regions. The soil above the bulb acts as insulation.
Space tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths about 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches) apart. Crocus bulbs can sit closer, at about 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches). Groups of 7 or more bulbs of one type look better than single bulbs in a row.
How to plant
Pick the site. Choose a spot with full sun in spring. Most bulbs bloom before trees leaf out, so the spot under a deciduous tree works too. Soil must drain well. Bulbs rot in standing water.
Loosen the soil. Dig to the planting depth and add a few centimetres of compost if the soil is heavy clay or very sandy.
Set the bulbs. Place each bulb pointed end up. The flat side with the dried roots goes down. If you cannot tell which end is up, plant it on its side. The shoot will find its way.
Cover and water. Fill the hole, press the soil down gently, and water once. This settles the soil and starts root growth.
Keep squirrels and deer away
Squirrels dig up tulip and crocus bulbs. Deer and rabbits eat tulip buds and leaves in spring. Daffodils, alliums, snowdrops, and fritillaria taste bad to most animals, so they are a safer choice in areas with a lot of wildlife.
To protect tulips, lay chicken wire or hardware cloth flat over the planted bed and pin it down with landscape staples. Cover it with a thin layer of soil or mulch. Remove the wire in spring before the shoots come up.
Mulch after the ground freezes
Wait until the top of the soil is cold or starting to freeze, then spread 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) of shredded leaves or straw over the bed. Mulch keeps the soil at a steady temperature and prevents freezing and thawing from pushing bulbs upward. The same method protects fall-planted garlic. If you are planting both this month, see when to plant garlic in Canada by region for mulch amounts and timing.
Pull the mulch back in early spring when shoots appear.
Care after bloom
Leave the leaves in place after the flowers fade. The leaves feed the bulb for next year. Cut them back only when they turn yellow and flop over, usually six weeks after bloom. Remove spent flower heads on tulips and daffodils so the plant does not spend energy on seed.
Daffodils return and multiply for years in most Canadian gardens. Many tulips bloom well the first year and then fade. Plant fresh tulips every few years if you want a full display.