When to plant spring bulbs (UK)

By Sophie Sparkes · Updated September 2026 · 5 min read

Every spring display you've ever admired was planted in autumn. But "plant bulbs in autumn" hides an important detail: different bulbs want different months, and getting tulips wrong is the most common bulb mistake in Britain. Here's the month-by-month answer.

Short answer: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths and muscari in September; alliums and fritillaries in September to October; tulips in November and not before; snowdrops in February to March, planted in the green rather than as dry bulbs. Plant everything at three times its own height.

The quick answer

• September: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, muscari (grape hyacinths), iris reticulata
• September to October: alliums, fritillaries, camassia
• November (not before): tulips
• February to March: snowdrops: planted "in the green", not as dry bulbs

Why daffodils go in early…

Daffodils, crocuses and most small bulbs start growing roots as soon as they're in the ground, and they need that root system established before the soil chills. Planted in September's warm soil, they root deeply and flower reliably; planted late, they still flower, but weaker and later. If the bulbs are in the shops, they're ready to plant.

…and tulips wait until November

Tulips are the exception, and it's deliberate. Planting them in colder November soil protects them from tulip fire: a fungal disease that thrives in warm, damp conditions and disfigures leaves and flowers. The cold also doesn't bother tulips at all; they root happily in chilly ground. So buy your tulips early while the good varieties are in stock, store them somewhere cool and dry, and plant in November. (December works too if the ground isn't frozen. Late beats never.)

How deep? The one rule that covers everything

Plant every bulb at three times its own height, pointy end up. For a 5cm tulip bulb, that's a 15cm-deep hole; for a small crocus, 6-8cm is plenty. Too shallow is the classic error. Shallow bulbs flop, dry out, get dug up by squirrels, and fade out after a year. When in doubt, go deeper.

Common bulb mistakes

• Planting tulips in September: warm soil is exactly what tulip fire wants. Wait for November.
• Waiting to "save" snowdrop bulbs for autumn: dry snowdrop bulbs rarely establish. Buy growing plants "in the green" in late winter instead.
• Cutting the leaves off after flowering: the six weeks of scruffy foliage after flowering is the bulb refuelling for next year. Let it die down naturally.
• Storing unplanted bulbs into spring: bulbs are living things and don't keep. If you find a forgotten bag in January, plant it anyway; most will still perform.
• Planting in waterlogged ground: bulbs rot in wet soil. In heavy clay, add grit to the planting hole or use pots.

Buying well

Choose bulbs that are firm and heavy for their size, with no mould or soft spots: exactly like choosing onions. Bigger bulbs of the same variety genuinely do produce bigger flowers, so the bargain-bin net of undersized tulips usually isn't the bargain it looks.

Spring bulb questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in the UK?

November. Not September or October, even though that is when the shops are full of them. Colder soil kills off the spores of tulip fire, a fungal disease that thrives in warm damp conditions and ruins the display. Buy early for the best varieties, store them somewhere cool and dry, and plant them in November.

How deep should I plant bulbs?

Three times the height of the bulb itself, pointy end up. A 5cm tulip bulb wants a 15cm hole; a small crocus needs only 6-8cm. Planting too shallow is the classic mistake: shallow bulbs flop over, dry out, get dug up by squirrels and fade away after a season. If you are unsure, go deeper.

Is it too late to plant spring bulbs?

Almost certainly not. Daffodils and crocuses do best in September but will still flower planted in October or November, just a little later and weaker. Tulips are fine right through November and into December if the ground is workable. Bulbs do not survive a year in the packet, so planting late always beats not planting.

Can I plant bulbs in pots?

Yes, and pots are where you can do something you cannot do in a bed: layer them. Plant tulips deepest, then daffodils above them, then crocuses near the surface. Each layer grows up through the one above and a single pot flowers continuously from February to May. Use a gritty compost so it drains freely.

Why did my bulbs not come back the following year?

Usually shallow planting, or the leaves being cut off too soon after flowering. Bulbs recharge through their foliage for about six weeks after the flowers fade, so removing it early starves next year's display. Poor drainage is the other common cause, since bulbs sitting in wet soil over winter simply rot.