When to plant tulip bulbs in Washington

Fall planting in Seattle

Nov 9–Dec 14

Across Washington the window opens between September 15 and November 9. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Seattle: Nov 9–Dec 14
Last frost, Seattle: Mar 8

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

SeattleNov 9–Dec 14

SpokaneOct 1–Nov 5

TacomaOct 31–Dec 5

VancouverOct 26–Nov 30

BellevueNov 9–Dec 14

KentOct 27–Dec 1

EverettOct 19–Nov 23

Spokane ValleyOct 1–Nov 5

RentonNov 2–Dec 7

Federal WayOct 31–Dec 5

YakimaOct 9–Nov 13

KirklandNov 9–Dec 14

BellinghamOct 19–Nov 23

KennewickOct 16–Nov 20

AuburnOct 27–Dec 1

PascoSep 27–Nov 1

RedmondNov 9–Dec 14

MarysvilleOct 19–Nov 23

South HillOct 16–Nov 20

ShorelineNov 9–Dec 14

SammamishOct 24–Nov 28

RichlandOct 10–Nov 14

LakewoodNov 7–Dec 12

LaceySep 30–Nov 4

OlympiaSep 30–Nov 4

BothellNov 9–Dec 14

BurienNov 9–Dec 14

BremertonOct 31–Dec 5

EdmondsNov 3–Dec 8

PuyallupOct 16–Nov 20

All 76 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Seattle	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Spokane	Oct 1 to Nov 5	Apr 26
Tacoma	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 8
Vancouver	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 29
Bellevue	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Kent	Oct 27 to Dec 1	Mar 20
Everett	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Mar 24
Spokane Valley	Oct 1 to Nov 5	Apr 26
Renton	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 13
Federal Way	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 8
Yakima	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 8
Kirkland	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Bellingham	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Apr 1
Kennewick	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Mar 28
Auburn	Oct 27 to Dec 1	Mar 20
Pasco	Sep 27 to Nov 1	Apr 27
Redmond	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Marysville	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Mar 24
South Hill	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 11
Shoreline	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Sammamish	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 30
Richland	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 6
Lakewood	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 11
Lacey	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 29
Olympia	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 29
Bothell	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Burien	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 2
Bremerton	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 29
Edmonds	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Puyallup	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 11
Lynnwood	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Lake Stevens	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Mar 24
Issaquah	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 13
Parkland	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 8
Longview	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Wenatchee	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 4
University Place	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 11
Mount Vernon	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 24
Graham	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 11
SeaTac	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 2
Spanaway	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 11
Walla Walla	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Mar 27
Pullman	Sep 15 to Oct 20	May 6
Des Moines	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 2
Orchards	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 26
Maple Valley	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 20
Tumwater	Sep 30 to Nov 4	Apr 29
Camas	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 16
Moses Lake	Sep 24 to Oct 29	Apr 27
Mill Creek East	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Mountlake Terrace	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Mercer Island	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 13
Bainbridge Island	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 29
Kenmore	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Frederickson	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 11
Oak Harbor	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 13
North Lynnwood	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Battle Ground	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 26
Eastmont	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Union Hill-Novelty Hill	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 8
Cottage Lake	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 17
Hazel Dell	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 26
Martha Lake	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Bonney Lake	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 11
Arlington	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 22
Tukwila	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 2
Silver Firs	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Covington	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 20
Five Corners	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 26
Ellensburg	Sep 18 to Oct 23	May 8
Mukilteo	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Silverdale	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 29
Bothell West	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Mill Creek	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 9
Port Angeles	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 12
Monroe	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Washington?

In Seattle, fall planting from November 9 to December 14. Across Washington the window opens between September 15 and November 9, 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.