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: Shipping fees are calculated at checkout. Preview your shipping cost by visiting your shopping cart after adding items.We aim to get your order out to you as soon as possible. Orders can take up to 1-2 days for processing before they leave our farm plus the additional shipping days in transit depending on the shipping service you select at checkout.
*Fresh Flower Bouquets and Oversized, Heavy or Bulky Items (select baskets, water wands, fertilizers and soil bags) are excluded from our free shipping promotion. Shipping fees for these items are calculated based on quantity, size & weight. If your order qualifies, we’ll automatically apply free shipping at checkout. Read more about Shipping & Delivery rates and exclusions in our Help Center here.
NURSERY PICK-UP: Our farm nursery is located in Live Oak, California (95953). We are not open to the general public with regular retail shopping hours. We offer pick-up for orders placed on our website by appointment only. We have appointment times available Wednesday-Saturday. To pick up from the farm, first place an order online and select “Farm Nursery Pick-Up” at checkout.
After you place your order, you will receive an order confirmation email with a LINK to schedule your pick-up appointment online. Nursery address is provided after your appointment is made. Should you not be able to pick up your order on one of our nursery pick-up dates, we can ship your order to you for an additional shipping fee.
All nursery orders MUST BE PICKED UP WITHIN 10 DAYS of your original order date. If your order is not picked up within 10 days, it will be refunded and your items returned to our inventory. You are welcome to re-purchase them again (if available) and schedule a new pick-up appointment.
🎁THE MOST WONDERFUL SALE: $20 OFF $150+ & $40 OFF $300
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: Shipping fees are calculated at checkout. Preview your shipping cost by visiting your shopping cart after adding items.We aim to get your order out to you as soon as possible. Orders can take up to 1-2 days for processing before they leave our farm plus the additional shipping days in transit depending on the shipping service you select at checkout.
*Fresh Flower Bouquets and Oversized, Heavy or Bulky Items (select baskets, water wands, fertilizers and soil bags) are excluded from our free shipping promotion. Shipping fees for these items are calculated based on quantity, size & weight. If your order qualifies, we’ll automatically apply free shipping at checkout. Read more about Shipping & Delivery rates and exclusions in our Help Center here.
NURSERY PICK-UP: Our farm nursery is located in Live Oak, California (95953). We are not open to the general public with regular retail shopping hours. We offer pick-up for orders placed on our website by appointment only. We have appointment times available Wednesday-Saturday. To pick up from the farm, first place an order online and select “Farm Nursery Pick-Up” at checkout.
After you place your order, you will receive an order confirmation email with a LINK to schedule your pick-up appointment online. Nursery address is provided after your appointment is made. Should you not be able to pick up your order on one of our nursery pick-up dates, we can ship your order to you for an additional shipping fee.
All nursery orders MUST BE PICKED UP WITHIN 10 DAYS of your original order date. If your order is not picked up within 10 days, it will be refunded and your items returned to our inventory. You are welcome to re-purchase them again (if available) and schedule a new pick-up appointment.
There’s nothing like stepping into your spring 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 even in warm climate gardens.
FOUNDER'S NOTE
“As a flower farmer, I rely on pre-cooled tulip bulbs to deliver consistent, reliable blooms for cut flower production at just the right time in my warm zone 9b farm. 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 your spring 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 even in warm climate gardens.
FOUNDER'S NOTE
“As a flower farmer, I rely on pre-cooled tulip bulbs to deliver consistent, reliable blooms for cut flower production at just the right time in my warm zone 9b farm. They’re the foundation of our spring harvests and the same bulbs I trust for my own garden and farm.”
— Felicia
Tulips require a period of cold dormancy, known as vernalization, to grow tall and bloom beautifully. In colder regions, this process occurs naturally during winter. However, in warmer climates (Zones 7–11), winters often aren’t cold enough to trigger proper vernalization. Without proper vernalization bulbs will product short stems, deformed or blind (missing) flower buds or just won't grow at all.
That’s where our pre-cooled tulip bulbs come in. Each variety is personally hand-selected by our founder for its outstanding performance in warm-climate gardens. After selection, the bulbs are carefully chilled in our on-farm refrigeration units for 6–12 weeks, giving them the essential cold period they need to thrive before arriving at your garden.
By replicating winter conditions, our bulbs arrive ready to plant and will give you robust root development, tall vigorous growth and stunning spring blooms!
You plant pre-cooled bulbs using the same method you would plant any regular tulip bulb. Our bulbs arrive on your doorstep in late November/early December at the perfect time to plant in warm climate growing zones (7-11).
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 and fertilizer 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 and fertilizer if needed.
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 and fertilizer if desired.
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
Absolutely! Pre-cooled bulbs thrive in pots, raised beds or the ground. Just be sure your container has good drainage and enough depth (8–10 inches).
In warm climates, tulips are usually treated as annuals and do not come back successfully every year. Most gardeners replant fresh new bulbs each fall season to enjoy a reliable flower production every spring.
Most varieties bloom for 2–4 weeks in spring. Planting a mix of early, mid and late-seasontulips will give you color that lasts even longer.
Yes, we have compiled a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about varieties, growing zones, planting times and more. You can find all the answers and an expanded list of questions in our convenient Help Center.
