Question
Is it too late to plant tulips?  I just brought the bulbs and I'm wondering if it's too late.
Please advise.
HMB

Answer
Helena,
Yes and no. It is much to late or much too early to plant the actual bulbs.Tulip bulbs are strictly planted in the fall to bloom the following spring.
However most garden centers actually have potted Tulips in full bloom or bud stage and these can be planted now.They may not bloom very long if you buy them in full bloom. You have to plant potted Tulips at just the right stage of development to get a longer bloom time. This would be the bud stage where you can see no color yet or the bud stage where you can just barely see the color peeking through.Those are the best stages to plant potted bulbs in the ground or into planters. I don't recommend buying them in full bloom unless you are just looking for a quick splash of color for a week or so,because once they are in full bloom at their peak,they will soon be on their way out so to speak.
Garden centers just LOVE the instant impact of full blooming Tulips and the impulsive shoppers that can't resist them. Who could blame them though? They are too gorgeous to pass up!
But the best way to get beautiful blooms in the spring is to buy them fresh sometime around October or Nov.(depending on your plant zone)and plant them immediately.
You won't be disappointed come spring! Also Tulips will decline,not multiply. They may come up for 2 springs,but after that,you need to buy and plant again in the fall.I actually buy and plant them fresh every year to assure that I will always have them in bloom every spring.
Hope this is helpful to you and good luck on your gardening projects!