When to plant tulip bulbs in Virginia

Fall planting in Virginia Beach

Oct 29–Dec 3

Across Virginia the window opens between October 5 and November 12. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Virginia Beach: Oct 29–Dec 3
Last frost, Virginia Beach: Mar 29

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

Virginia BeachOct 29–Dec 3

RichmondOct 21–Nov 25

ArlingtonNov 4–Dec 9

NorfolkNov 12–Dec 15

Newport NewsOct 26–Nov 30

AlexandriaNov 4–Dec 9

HamptonNov 1–Dec 6

SuffolkNov 1–Dec 6

RoanokeOct 18–Nov 22

PortsmouthNov 2–Dec 7

LynchburgOct 11–Nov 15

Dale CityOct 13–Nov 17

CentrevilleOct 10–Nov 14

RestonOct 15–Nov 19

HarrisonburgOct 9–Nov 13

McLeanOct 17–Nov 21

LeesburgOct 11–Nov 15

TuckahoeOct 17–Nov 21

AshburnOct 12–Nov 16

BlacksburgOct 5–Nov 9

Lake RidgeOct 13–Nov 17

CharlottesvilleOct 27–Dec 1

ManassasOct 13–Nov 17

WoodbridgeOct 25–Nov 29

BurkeOct 15–Nov 19

Linton HallOct 13–Nov 17

AnnandaleOct 15–Nov 19

DanvilleOct 18–Nov 22

MechanicsvilleOct 17–Nov 21

OaktonOct 15–Nov 19

All 64 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Virginia Beach	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Mar 29
Richmond	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 3
Arlington	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 24
Norfolk	Nov 12 to Dec 15	Mar 16
Newport News	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Apr 1
Alexandria	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 24
Hampton	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 24
Suffolk	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 27
Roanoke	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 3
Portsmouth	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 23
Lynchburg	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 17
Dale City	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 12
Centreville	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 15
Reston	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Harrisonburg	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 21
McLean	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 9
Leesburg	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 16
Tuckahoe	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 10
Ashburn	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 13
Blacksburg	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 24
Lake Ridge	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 12
Charlottesville	Oct 27 to Dec 1	Apr 2
Manassas	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 12
Woodbridge	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 28
Burke	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Linton Hall	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 12
Annandale	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Danville	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 8
Mechanicsville	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 10
Oakton	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Fair Oaks	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
South Riding	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 15
Petersburg	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 3
Sterling	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 13
Springfield	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 24
West Falls Church	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Fredericksburg	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 6
Winchester	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 11
Short Pump	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 10
Tysons	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Staunton	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 15
Fairfax	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Cave Spring	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 3
Salem	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 3
Herndon	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 15
Bailey's Crossroads	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 24
Brambleton	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 13
Waynesboro	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 21
Chantilly	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 15
Chester	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 3
Cherry Hill	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 28
Hopewell	Oct 23 to Nov 27	Mar 31
West Springfield	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Leesylvania	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 28
McNair	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 15
Christiansburg	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 19
Montclair	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 28
Culpeper	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 21
Lorton	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Apr 3
Woodlawn	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Apr 3
Rose Hill	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 24
Merrifield	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 14
Buckhall	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 12
Meadowbrook	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, fall planting from October 29 to December 3. Across Virginia the window opens between October 5 and November 12, 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.