When to Plant Bulbs in Canada: Tulips, Garlic and More This Fall

Wondering when to plant bulbs in Canada? Here's the short version: one afternoon of digging in October or November buys you crocus in March, tulips in May and a garlic harvest in July. Plant once the soil and temperatures cools below about 10°C, or roughly four to six weeks before the ground freezes.

You'll want to try and plant bulbs and garlic from late September (zones 2 to 4) through November (zones 6 to 9), once soil drops below 10°C. Set bulbs about three times their height deep, pointy end up, and in well-draining soil. Water once planted, then mulch after the first hard frost.

When to plant bulbs in Canada, zone by zone

The most ideal timing is after the soil cools and before it freezes hard, so roots can form without leaves pushing up early. Timing depends on your plant hardiness zone.

• Zones 2 to 3 (far north, northern Prairies): mid-September to early October
• Zone 4 (Northern Ontario, Edmonton, Quebec City): late September to late October
• Zone 5 (Ottawa, Montreal, Fredericton): October to early November
• Zone 6 (Toronto, Halifax, Okanagan): mid-October to mid-November
• Zones 7 to 9 (Niagara, coastal BC): late October into December

Not sure of your zone? Look up your town or city on Natural Resource Canada's free plant hardiness site, or google your (postal code + hardiness zone) and it will show your zone right away.

Garlic goes in first. As for when to plant tulip bulbs in Canada, they can go in last, since they like colder soil best.

Fall bulbs in raised garden beds: why 12" planting depth works

Bulbs fear wet soil more than cold. A raised bed drains fast, so spring water runs through instead of rotting them. That's why fall bulbs in raised garden beds do so well, especially if your yard is heavy clay.

Depth matters too. Tulips and daffodils sit 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8") deep, so our 12" standard depth leaves room for roots below. 

Our raised garden beds and planter boxes are WRCLA-certified Western Red Cedar, naturally rot and pest resistant with no chemical treatment, which matters when growing edible plants . At 30" tall, you plant standing up instead of kneeling on cold October ground.

Not sure which size fits your outdoor space the best? Compare lengths, widths and grades in our collection. Or reach out to our team with questions directly, we are happy to help.

How to plant bulbs, step by step

Bulb planting depth, in one line: plant each bulb about three times as deep as it is tall, measured to its base. A 5 cm tulip goes about 15 cm deep.

Growing Tip: In zones 2 to 4, add 2 to 5 cm of depth when planting.

1. Choose firm, heavy bulbs. Skip soft or mouldy ones.
2. Loosen the soil and work in a few centimetres of compost.
3. Dig one wide hole per cluster. Groups of 7 to 15 look far better than single rows.
4. Set bulbs pointy end up. Can't tell which end is which? Plant it sideways.
5. Water once, deeply. This triggers root growth.
6. Mulch once the ground starts freezing with 5 to 10 cm of shredded leaves or straw.

Skip step 5 and dry bulbs won't root, so a January thaw can heave them right out. We've found tulips sitting on top of the soil in March

Planting garlic in fall

If you plant one thing this fall, make it garlic. One clove in October becomes a full head next July.

Choose hardneck garlic for most of Canada. It handles deep cold and gives you curly scapes in June. Softneck suits mild winters like coastal BC. Reliable Canadian picks include Music, Red Russian, Chesnok Red and German White. Buy seed garlic from a local grower; grocery store garlic often won't sprout or survive our winters.

Split heads into cloves on planting day and set them pointy end up, 5 cm (2") deep and 15 cm (6") apart. A 18" by 48" bed fits about 16 cloves in two staggered rows. Cover with 10 to 15 cm of straw once the soil starts freezing, and dig in July when half the leaves have browned.

Tulips and other cold hardy bulbs

Tulips are Canada's unofficial flower showing the first signs of spring. For blooms that return year after year, go with Darwin hybrids like 'Apeldoorn' or tough species tulips like Tulipa tarda. Mix early, mid and late blooming varieties and one bed can thrive from late April into June.

Here's what else to plant now, with depth to the base of the bulb:

• Tulips: 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8"), late April to early June. Squirrels love them, so lay chicken wire under the mulch.
• Daffodils: 15 cm (6"), April to May. The most dependable perennial bulb in Canada, and critters leave them alone.
• Hyacinths: 15 cm (6"), April to May. Wonderful fragrance; best in zone 4 and warmer.
• Alliums: 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8"), late May to June. Big purple globes that bridge spring and summer.
• Crocus: 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4"), March to April. The first colour of the year.
• Scilla and muscari: 8 cm (3"), April to May. Tiny, tough blue bulbs; scilla grows even in zone 2.
• Snowdrops: 8 cm (3"), March to April. Often bloom right through the last snow.

The deeper bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, alliums) thrive in our 12" planting depth.

FAQ

Is it too late to plant bulbs in November?

Usually not. If a shovel still goes in, plant them, water once and mulch well. We've had tulips planted in early December bloom right on time in May.

Can I plant bulbs and garlic in the same raised garden bed?

Yes, it works nicely. Just give garlic its own end, since you'll dig it up in July while tulip leaves may still be fading.

Will bulbs survive winter in an above-ground cedar raised garden bed?

In zone 6 and warmer, almost always. Colder than that, honestly, it comes down to choosing tough varieties, mulching deep and keeping the raised garden bed sheltered.

Do I need to water bulbs over winter?

Nope. One good soak at planting is plenty, and too much water in cooler weather does more harm than drought.

Get your raised garden bed in before freeze-up

This fall is the time to get a raised garden bed built and bulbs in before temperatures officially drop. Our sizes range from 18" to 72", standing 24" or 30" tall and assemble in about ten minutes. Pick Select Grade for clear grain or Garden Grade for more character at our most affordable price; both are equally durable and built to last quality. 

What are you planting this fall, and what zone are you in? Tell us in the comments, and if you're stuck choosing between a 48" and 72" raised garden bed for garlic and tulips, we'll help you find the best size.