When to plant tulip bulbs in Maryland

Fall planting in Baltimore

Nov 7–Dec 12

Across Maryland the window opens between October 6 and November 7. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Baltimore: Nov 7–Dec 12
Last frost, Baltimore: Mar 24

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BaltimoreNov 7–Dec 12

ColumbiaOct 26–Nov 30

FrederickOct 23–Nov 27

GermantownOct 15–Nov 19

WaldorfOct 13–Nov 17

Silver SpringOct 18–Nov 22

Ellicott CityOct 24–Nov 28

Glen BurnieOct 17–Nov 21

GaithersburgOct 23–Nov 27

RockvilleOct 23–Nov 27

BethesdaOct 17–Nov 21

DundalkNov 7–Dec 12

BowieOct 8–Nov 12

SevernOct 17–Nov 21

Bel Air SouthOct 16–Nov 20

TowsonOct 24–Nov 28

Aspen HillOct 23–Nov 27

WheatonOct 23–Nov 27

North BethesdaOct 23–Nov 27

PotomacOct 23–Nov 27

OdentonOct 17–Nov 21

HagerstownOct 14–Nov 18

CatonsvilleNov 7–Dec 12

EssexNov 7–Dec 12

AnnapolisOct 30–Dec 4

Severna ParkOct 30–Dec 4

ClintonOct 25–Nov 29

OlneyOct 23–Nov 27

RandallstownOct 24–Nov 28

Owings MillsOct 24–Nov 28

All 68 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Baltimore	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 24
Columbia	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Apr 5
Frederick	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 2
Germantown	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Waldorf	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 17
Silver Spring	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 10
Ellicott City	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Glen Burnie	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 10
Gaithersburg	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 1
Rockville	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 1
Bethesda	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 9
Dundalk	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 24
Bowie	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 22
Severn	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 10
Bel Air South	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 10
Towson	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Aspen Hill	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 1
Wheaton	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 1
North Bethesda	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 1
Potomac	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 1
Odenton	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 10
Hagerstown	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 11
Catonsville	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 24
Essex	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 24
Annapolis	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 27
Severna Park	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 27
Clinton	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Apr 3
Olney	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 1
Randallstown	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Owings Mills	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
College Park	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 10
Chillum	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 29
Pikesville	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Montgomery Village	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Salisbury	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 3
Pasadena	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 10
Milford Mill	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Middle River	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 24
Bel Air North	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 10
Eldersburg	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Parkville	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Laurel	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Apr 5
Crofton	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 22
Clarksburg	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Perry Hall	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Carney	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Reisterstown	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
South Laurel	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Apr 5
Lochearn	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Ilchester	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 10
Fairland	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Apr 5
Elkridge	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 10
Ballenger Creek	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 2
Fort Washington	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Apr 3
North Laurel	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Apr 5
Edgewood	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 10
Greenbelt	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 10
Suitland	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 29
Landover	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 29
North Potomac	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Apr 1
Arnold	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 27
Cockeysville	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Apr 2
Camp Springs	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Apr 3
Langley Park	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 10
Hyattsville	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 29
Arbutus	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 24
Rosedale	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 24
Westminster	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Maryland?

In Baltimore, fall planting from November 7 to December 12. Across Maryland the window opens between October 6 and November 7, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.