When Should You Plant Daffodil Bulbs?
Set your conditions — the recommendation updates instantly.
GardenSays
Plant daffodils Sep 5 – Oct 25 — around your first fall frost — early – mid spring bloom next year.
- Plant
- Sep 5 – Oct 25
- First frost (typ.)
- Oct 5
- Next season
- Early – mid spring bloom
Daffodils run on the opposite calendar from tomatoes: in Minneapolis, MN the typical first killing frost lands around Oct 5, and planting from 30 days before to 20 days after the first frost (Sep 5 – Oct 25) gives roots time to establish before the ground freezes — without enough warmth for top growth that winter would burn.
Do this this week
- 1.Nothing to plant yet — the fall window opens Sep 5
- 2.Coming up: plant daffodils Sep 5 – Oct 25; it overwinters and finishes early – mid spring bloom
Calculated result · 3 verified sources · Checked 2026-07-18 · How we decide
Why
The crop overwinters under mulch and finishes early – mid spring bloom. Mulch after the ground firms up to keep soil temperature steady.
- Fall planting uses the shoulder season: warm enough soil for roots, cold enough air to hold back shoots.
- Winter chill is part of the crop's biology — spring-planted cloves/bulbs skip it and underperform.
When this doesn't apply
- Same fall-bulb pattern as tulip — UMN's own guidance groups tulips and daffodils together as hardy bulbs planted in fall and left in the ground year after year. No garden (non-pot) spacing figure found this round, so spacing isn't shown.
- If your ground freezes unusually early, plant at the early end of the window.
How this was calculated
- 1. First fall frostOct 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical first 32°F frost — the anchor for fall planting
- 2. Fall planting windowSep 5 – Oct 25Calculated result
Daffodil: plant from 30 days before to 20 days after the first frost, while the ground is still workable
- 3. Next seasonEarly – mid spring bloomSource guidance
Daffodil overwinters and finishes next season
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Plant fall bulbs now for a colorful spring garden — Plant hardy bulbs such as tulips and daffodils in the fall; they can be left in the ground to flower year after year. Set the bulb with the pointed end up, water in after covering with half the soil, then finish covering and mulch with 2-3 inches of leaf mulch, wood mulch or clean straw. (checked 2026-07-18)
- NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
- National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)
What changes this answer
Your location
47 options — use the search field in the calculator above.
Starting from
Every change updates the answer, the math, the weekly steps and the share link instantly.
People also ask
When should I plant tulip bulbs?
Plant tulip bulbs Sep 5 – Oct 25 — around your first fall frost — mid – late spring bloom next year. Calculate yours →
Your next decisions
More planting dates tools: see all →