When to plant tulip bulbs in Ohio

Fall planting in Columbus

Oct 10–Nov 14

Across Ohio the window opens between September 28 and October 29. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Columbus: Oct 10–Nov 14
Last frost, Columbus: Apr 20

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

ColumbusOct 10–Nov 14

ClevelandOct 29–Dec 3

CincinnatiOct 11–Nov 15

ToledoOct 13–Nov 17

AkronOct 14–Nov 18

DaytonOct 11–Nov 15

ParmaOct 20–Nov 24

CantonOct 12–Nov 16

LorainOct 10–Nov 14

HamiltonOct 4–Nov 8

YoungstownOct 3–Nov 7

SpringfieldOct 5–Nov 9

KetteringOct 11–Nov 15

ElyriaOct 18–Nov 22

MiddletownOct 5–Nov 9

NewarkOct 2–Nov 6

Cuyahoga FallsOct 7–Nov 11

DublinOct 9–Nov 13

LakewoodOct 20–Nov 24

BeavercreekOct 11–Nov 15

EuclidOct 29–Dec 3

MansfieldOct 8–Nov 12

MentorOct 26–Nov 30

DelawareOct 12–Nov 16

StrongsvilleOct 20–Nov 24

Grove CityOct 5–Nov 9

FairfieldOct 4–Nov 8

Huber HeightsOct 14–Nov 18

Cleveland HeightsOct 29–Dec 3

ReynoldsburgOct 13–Nov 17

All 87 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Columbus	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 20
Cleveland	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Apr 8
Cincinnati	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 16
Toledo	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Akron	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 24
Dayton	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 18
Parma	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
Canton	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 24
Lorain	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 24
Hamilton	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 22
Youngstown	Oct 3 to Nov 7	May 1
Springfield	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 25
Kettering	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 18
Elyria	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 22
Middletown	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 24
Newark	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 29
Cuyahoga Falls	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 30
Dublin	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 22
Lakewood	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
Beavercreek	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 18
Euclid	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Apr 8
Mansfield	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 26
Mentor	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Apr 15
Delaware	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 19
Strongsville	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
Grove City	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 23
Fairfield	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 22
Huber Heights	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
Cleveland Heights	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Apr 8
Reynoldsburg	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 18
Lancaster	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 22
Findlay	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 22
Hilliard	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 22
Warren	Sep 28 to Nov 2	May 8
Westerville	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 22
North Ridgeville	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 22
Gahanna	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 18
Upper Arlington	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 20
Mason	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 22
Fairborn	Oct 3 to Nov 7	Apr 24
Marion	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 25
Brunswick	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
Lima	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 24
Stow	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 30
Westlake	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
Massillon	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 24
North Olmsted	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
Bowling Green	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 22
North Royalton	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
Austintown	Sep 28 to Nov 2	May 8
Marysville	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 19
Garfield Heights	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Apr 8
Shaker Heights	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Apr 8
Kent	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 21
Green	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 24
Troy	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 18
Wooster	Sep 28 to Nov 2	Apr 30
Avon Lake	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 22
Xenia	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 18
Pickerington	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 23
Medina	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 29
Avon	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 22
Perrysburg	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 22
Athens	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 25
Centerville	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 17
Zanesville	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 26
Barberton	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 24
Wadsworth	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 29
Riverside	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 18
Willoughby	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 26
Sandusky	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Apr 10
Solon	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Apr 8
Trotwood	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 18
Hudson	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 30
Maple Heights	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Apr 8
Oxford	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 19
Lebanon	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 24
Chillicothe	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 20
Alliance	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 24
Rocky River	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
South Euclid	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Apr 8
Piqua	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 18
Painesville	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Apr 15
Miamisburg	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 17
Parma Heights	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 20
Sidney	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 27
Forest Park	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 22

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Ohio?

In Columbus, fall planting from October 10 to November 14. Across Ohio the window opens between September 28 and October 29, 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.