When to plant tulip bulbs in Missouri

Fall planting in Kansas City

Oct 19–Nov 23

Across Missouri the window opens between October 3 and October 21. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Kansas City: Oct 19–Nov 23
Last frost, Kansas City: Apr 4

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

Kansas CityOct 19–Nov 23

St. LouisOct 21–Nov 25

SpringfieldOct 13–Nov 17

ColumbiaOct 17–Nov 21

IndependenceOct 13–Nov 17

Lee's SummitOct 15–Nov 19

O'FallonOct 12–Nov 16

St. CharlesOct 15–Nov 19

St. JosephOct 3–Nov 7

Blue SpringsOct 15–Nov 19

St. PetersOct 12–Nov 16

JoplinOct 13–Nov 17

FlorissantOct 21–Nov 25

WentzvilleOct 12–Nov 16

ChesterfieldOct 15–Nov 19

Jefferson CityOct 17–Nov 21

Cape GirardeauOct 11–Nov 15

OakvilleOct 13–Nov 17

WildwoodOct 9–Nov 13

University CityOct 21–Nov 25

LibertyOct 3–Nov 7

BallwinOct 15–Nov 19

KirkwoodOct 21–Nov 25

RaytownOct 15–Nov 19

MehlvilleOct 13–Nov 17

Maryland HeightsOct 15–Nov 19

GladstoneOct 19–Nov 23

GrandviewOct 15–Nov 19

RaymoreOct 12–Nov 16

NixaOct 9–Nov 13

All 41 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Kansas City	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Apr 4
St. Louis	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 1
Springfield	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 4
Columbia	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 5
Independence	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 10
Lee's Summit	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 7
O'Fallon	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 10
St. Charles	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 8
St. Joseph	Oct 3 to Nov 7	Apr 19
Blue Springs	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 7
St. Peters	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 9
Joplin	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 9
Florissant	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 2
Wentzville	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 10
Chesterfield	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 4
Jefferson City	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 8
Cape Girardeau	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 5
Oakville	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 6
Wildwood	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 12
University City	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 1
Liberty	Oct 3 to Nov 7	Apr 19
Ballwin	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 4
Kirkwood	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 1
Raytown	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 7
Mehlville	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 6
Maryland Heights	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 4
Gladstone	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Apr 4
Grandview	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 7
Raymore	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 13
Nixa	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 15
Belton	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 13
Hazelwood	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 2
Ozark	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 15
Webster Groves	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 1
Sedalia	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 18
Republic	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 9
Old Jamestown	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 2
Arnold	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 9
Rolla	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 5
Warrensburg	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 14
Affton	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 1

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Missouri?

In Kansas City, fall planting from October 19 to November 23. Across Missouri the window opens between October 3 and October 21, 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.