Tulips are spring-flowering bulbs that need a prolonged period of cold temperature to grow and bloom properly. In most of the United States, this cold period is provided naturally by a winter spent planted outside in the ground. However, bulbs planted in warmer regions of the country in growing zones 11-7b including the Deep South, the desert Southwest, and most of California do not get the cold temperature they need because the outdoor ambient temperature and soil temperatures in the winter are warmer than what the tulip bulb requires for proper bud and flower development.
To reach their proper flowering development in warmer regions, they must be given time pre-cooling at (34-45 degrees F) for 6 to 12 weeks before planting. Bulbs that don’t get sufficient cooling will have stunted growth, shorter stems and deformed flowers. We’ve done that pre-cooling for you here on our farm in our temperature and humidity controlled coolers ensure optimum health and viability of the bulb.
Our bulbs have received the minimum amount of chill time for successful flower development. It's best to plant immediately upon receipt of your order to ensure bulb viability however if you need to store them to plant at a later date, you can place in a cool, dark well ventilated location (34-50 degrees F) for an additional few weeks. We recommend planting no later than January 1st.
Don't live in a warm growing zone? You can still purchase bulbs from us too! As long as your ground isn't frozen you can plant our pre-cooled bulbs.
Read more on our Blogs → What Are Pre-Cooled Tulip Bulbs, Growing Tulips: The Story of Our Pre-Cooled Bulbs and 4 Tips For Growing Tulips In A Warm Climate
SHIPPING: Our 2025 Pre-Cooled Tulip Bulb Collection pre-orders will ship the week of November 24, 2025. Please note that your order may leave our farm any day from Monday to Friday that week, so your bulbs could arrive the following week, especially if you choose standard shipping or live on the East Coast.
You will receive an email notification with tracking information when your order ships. We recommend planting your bulbs upon arrival, so please ensure you have time to plant in late November and December, as we cannot hold orders for shipping at a later date. Shipping fees are calculated at checkout; preview your shipping cost by visiting your shopping cart after adding items. Due to restrictions on the export of plant materials, we do not ship tulip bulbs outside of the United States.
You can order other products like fertilizer, shovels, gopher baskets, and more with your tulip bulb order. Keep in mind that if other products are purchased along with your tulip bulb order, ALL items will ship together with your tulip bulbs this fall. If you would like items to ship separately to receive them sooner, you will need to place a separate order for any items you wish to receive immediately and not with your tulip bulbs.
NURSERY PICK-UP: Tulip bulb pre-orders will be available for pick-up by appointment only, Wednesday to Saturday, at our farm nursery in Live Oak, California (95953). The first available pre-order pick-up date is November 22, 2025, and the last available pick-up date is December 12, 2025.
If you place a pre-order for pickup, you’ll receive an email in late November with the farm address and a link to schedule an appointment to pick up at the nursery. Once you schedule your appointment, you will receive a confirmation email with our farm address, parking information, and pickup instructions. Your pre-order must be picked up no later than Friday, December 12, 2025.
If you're unable to pick up your order during this timeframe, please select shipping at checkout, and we’ll send your tulip bulbs directly to your doorstep. If you selected nursery pickup and can no longer make it to the farm, contact us, and we can arrange to ship your order for an additional fee.
Learn more about order pickup here.
Tulips are spring-flowering bulbs that need a prolonged period of cold temperature to grow and bloom properly. In most of the United States, this cold period is provided naturally by a winter spent planted outside in the ground. However, bulbs planted in warmer regions of the country in growing zones 11-7b including the Deep South, the desert Southwest, and most of California do not get the cold temperature they need because the outdoor ambient temperature and soil temperatures in the winter are warmer than what the tulip bulb requires for proper bud and flower development.
To reach their proper flowering development in warmer regions, they must be given time pre-cooling at (34-45 degrees F) for 6 to 12 weeks before planting. Bulbs that don’t get sufficient cooling will have stunted growth, shorter stems and deformed flowers. We’ve done that pre-cooling for you here on our farm in our temperature and humidity controlled coolers ensure optimum health and viability of the bulb.
Our bulbs have received the minimum amount of chill time for successful flower development. It's best to plant immediately upon receipt of your order to ensure bulb viability however if you need to store them to plant at a later date, you can place in a cool, dark well ventilated location (34-50 degrees F) for an additional few weeks. We recommend planting no later than January 1st.
Don't live in a warm growing zone? You can still purchase bulbs from us too! As long as your ground isn't frozen you can plant our pre-cooled bulbs.
Read more on our Blogs → What Are Pre-Cooled Tulip Bulbs, Growing Tulips: The Story of Our Pre-Cooled Bulbs and 4 Tips For Growing Tulips In A Warm Climate
SHIPPING: Our 2025 Pre-Cooled Tulip Bulb Collection pre-orders will ship the week of November 24, 2025. Please note that your order may leave our farm any day from Monday to Friday that week, so your bulbs could arrive the following week, especially if you choose standard shipping or live on the East Coast.
You will receive an email notification with tracking information when your order ships. We recommend planting your bulbs upon arrival, so please ensure you have time to plant in late November and December, as we cannot hold orders for shipping at a later date. Shipping fees are calculated at checkout; preview your shipping cost by visiting your shopping cart after adding items. Due to restrictions on the export of plant materials, we do not ship tulip bulbs outside of the United States.
You can order other products like fertilizer, shovels, gopher baskets, and more with your tulip bulb order. Keep in mind that if other products are purchased along with your tulip bulb order, ALL items will ship together with your tulip bulbs this fall. If you would like items to ship separately to receive them sooner, you will need to place a separate order for any items you wish to receive immediately and not with your tulip bulbs.
NURSERY PICK-UP: Tulip bulb pre-orders will be available for pick-up by appointment only, Wednesday to Saturday, at our farm nursery in Live Oak, California (95953). The first available pre-order pick-up date is November 22, 2025, and the last available pick-up date is December 12, 2025.
If you place a pre-order for pickup, you’ll receive an email in late November with the farm address and a link to schedule an appointment to pick up at the nursery. Once you schedule your appointment, you will receive a confirmation email with our farm address, parking information, and pickup instructions. Your pre-order must be picked up no later than Friday, December 12, 2025.
If you're unable to pick up your order during this timeframe, please select shipping at checkout, and we’ll send your tulip bulbs directly to your doorstep. If you selected nursery pickup and can no longer make it to the farm, contact us, and we can arrange to ship your order for an additional fee.
Learn more about order pickup here.
In The Garden: With a shovel, dig out a hole about 6-12 inches deep. You can also use a bulb planter, but this can be very tedious if you have more than one or two dozen bulbs to plant. Tulips can be planted very close together, about an inch apart, pointed side up, nestled like eggs in a carton. In the garden, it’s nice to see clusters of tulips all together for the most dramatic impact. We recommend groupings of 10 to 20 bulbs planted in a circular shape or cluster. Once you have placed the bulbs in your planting hole, cover them with the soil you removed and some aged compost if desired.
In A Trench: Flower farmers or cutting garden enthusiasts growing tulips for cut flower production may want to plant using the trench method. Dig out a 3- to 4-foot-wide trench to a depth of 6 inches in your native soil. Set aside the soil you removed to cover the tulips after planting. Place the bulbs in the trench pointed side up, like eggs in a carton, about 1 inch apart. Fill the trench with bulbs and cover it with the native soil you removed.
In A Raised Bed or Pot: Similar to the other planting methods, remove the soil from the bed or pot to a depth of about 6-12 inches. Place the tulips pointed side up like eggs in a carton, one inch apart. Cover them with the removed soil or new potting soil.
Final Steps: Regardless of your planting method, after the bulbs are planted and covered, water them deeply. Continue to water weekly or bi-weekly if it does not rain.
Read more on our Blog → How To Plant Tulip Bulbs & How To Plant Tulip Bulbs In Pots or Containers
Shop all of Felicia's recommended tools and supplies to help you plant your tulip bulbs. We carry everything from mycorrhizae to Felicia's favorite fertilizer. We've made it easy with one-stop shopping; just add them to your cart, and they will ship along with your tulip bulb order.
Want your planting supplies to arrive before your bulb order? After you place your bulb order, place a second order for your planting supplies, and they will ship out ASAP.
And for you locals, we have potting soil, compost, and mulch ready and waiting for you too—available for pick-up with your order at our nursery. (Sorry, no shipping on our large soil and amendment bags.)
Want to shop on Amazon? We get it—fast, free two-day shipping is hard to pass up. Felicia has made it easy to shop for her recommended tulip bulb planting supplies by gathering them all in a convenient list.
Have your purchase shipped to yourself or ship to the gift recipient. If you are purchasing as a gift please enter the recipient’s address in the ‘ship to’ section at checkout. You will also have a space to write a gift message at checkout and we will include a your gift message in the box. Purchase prices are not included on the packaging slip that accompanies your gift.
Want to ship a gift to more that one address? You will need to complete a separate order for each shipping address. A separate shipping charge will apply to each address. We ship anywhere in the United States.
Have a question about shipping, delivery, variety, growing zones, when to plant, and more?
We've rounded up all of the most frequently asked questions about shopping for our pre-cooled tulip bulbs in one convenient location in our Help Center. Chances are, if you have a question, we've got you covered → CLICK HERE to find answers.
There’s nothing like stepping into the garden and being surrounded by waves of tall tulips. Pre-cooled bulbs make it easy to create that abundant, painterly look you’ve always dreamed of in warm climate gardens.
“As a flower farmer, I rely on pre-cooled tulips to deliver consistent, reliable blooms at just the right time. They’re the foundation of our spring harvests and the same bulbs I trust for my own garden and farm.”
— Felicia
There’s nothing like stepping into the garden and being surrounded by waves of tall tulips. Pre-cooled bulbs make it easy to create that abundant, painterly look you’ve always dreamed of in warm climate gardens.
“As a flower farmer, I rely on pre-cooled tulips to deliver consistent, reliable blooms at just the right time. They’re the foundation of our spring harvests and the same bulbs I trust for my own garden and farm.”
— Felicia
