When to plant tulip bulbs in Minnesota

Tulip bulbs
Fall planting in Minneapolis
Oct 2–Nov 6

Across Minnesota the window opens between September 16 and October 6. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Minneapolis
Oct 2–Nov 6
Last frost, Minneapolis
Apr 23

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
MinneapolisOct 2–Nov 6
St. PaulOct 2–Nov 6
RochesterSep 22–Oct 27
BloomingtonOct 4–Nov 8
DuluthSep 28–Nov 2
Brooklyn ParkSep 24–Oct 29
WoodburySep 28–Nov 2
LakevilleSep 26–Oct 31
PlymouthSep 28–Nov 2
BlaineSep 18–Oct 23
Maple GroveSep 24–Oct 29
St. CloudSep 16–Oct 21
EaganOct 4–Nov 8
BurnsvilleSep 26–Oct 31
Coon RapidsSep 18–Oct 23
Eden PrairieSep 30–Nov 4
Apple ValleySep 21–Oct 26
EdinaOct 4–Nov 8
MinnetonkaSep 28–Nov 2
St. Louis ParkSep 28–Nov 2
ShakopeeSep 30–Nov 4
MoorheadSep 19–Oct 24
MankatoSep 25–Oct 30
Cottage GroveOct 5–Nov 9
MaplewoodOct 6–Nov 10
Inver Grove HeightsOct 2–Nov 6
RichfieldOct 4–Nov 8
RosevilleSep 24–Oct 29
AndoverSep 18–Oct 23
SavageSep 30–Nov 4
All 61 cities
CityFall plantingLast frost
MinneapolisOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 23
St. PaulOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 24
RochesterSep 22 to Oct 27Apr 30
BloomingtonOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 23
DuluthSep 28 to Nov 2May 14
Brooklyn ParkSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 30
WoodburySep 28 to Nov 2Apr 26
LakevilleSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 27
PlymouthSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 29
BlaineSep 18 to Oct 23May 5
Maple GroveSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 30
St. CloudSep 16 to Oct 21May 7
EaganOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 23
BurnsvilleSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 27
Coon RapidsSep 18 to Oct 23May 5
Eden PrairieSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 23
Apple ValleySep 21 to Oct 26May 2
EdinaOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 23
MinnetonkaSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 29
St. Louis ParkSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 29
ShakopeeSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 23
MoorheadSep 19 to Oct 24May 5
MankatoSep 25 to Oct 30Apr 30
Cottage GroveOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 23
MaplewoodOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 23
Inver Grove HeightsOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 24
RichfieldOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 23
RosevilleSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 28
AndoverSep 18 to Oct 23May 5
SavageSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 23
RosemountSep 21 to Oct 26May 2
Brooklyn CenterSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 30
FridleySep 24 to Oct 29Apr 30
OakdaleSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 26
ChaskaSep 21 to Oct 26May 5
RamseySep 21 to Oct 26May 4
Prior LakeSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 23
Elk RiverSep 21 to Oct 26May 4
ShoreviewOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 23
AustinSep 21 to Oct 26Apr 30
OwatonnaSep 22 to Oct 27May 5
WinonaOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 21
ChanhassenSep 25 to Oct 30Apr 30
FarmingtonSep 26 to Oct 31Apr 27
FaribaultSep 21 to Oct 26May 5
OtsegoSep 21 to Oct 26May 4
White Bear LakeOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 23
Lino LakesOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 23
ChamplinSep 18 to Oct 23May 5
HastingsOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 23
St. MichaelSep 25 to Oct 30Apr 30
Columbia HeightsOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 23
CrystalSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 30
New BrightonSep 24 to Oct 29Apr 28
WillmarSep 23 to Oct 28Apr 30
NorthfieldSep 21 to Oct 26May 5
West St. PaulOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 24
Golden ValleySep 28 to Nov 2Apr 29
Forest LakeSep 21 to Oct 26May 3
New HopeSep 28 to Nov 2Apr 29
South St. PaulOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Minnesota?

In Minneapolis, fall planting from October 2 to November 6. Across Minnesota the window opens between September 16 and October 6, 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.

More for Minnesota

Tulip bulbs in other states

Frost dates for every city in Minnesota