Tulips in Georgia? Yep—But You’ve Got to Plan Ahead (Way Ahead)

Why we’re talking about spring flowers in the middle of a Southern summer—and what you need to know if you want tulips to bloom here.

My Personal Spring Garden Patch. Hyacinth, Tulips, and Specialty Narcissus.

Why Tulips Are a Bit Extra in the South

Tulips need a good long stretch of cold—called chill hours—to bloom properly. In colder climates, they get this naturally from being planted outdoors in fall and sitting through months of consistent cold.

But in Georgia? Our “winter” is more like a mild suggestion. That’s not enough to trigger proper blooming.

That’s why we don’t plant just any tulip bulb—we use pre-chilled, pre-programmed bulbs. These are specially treated by the grower (often in the Netherlands) to simulate a full winter before we ever touch them.

So Why Do I Need to Think About This Now?

Estella Fringed Tulip

Because growers—and farms like mine—have to reserve next spring’s bulbs almost a full year in advance.

I order tulips in late spring or early summer, before most folks are even done sweeping up the last petals from this year’s blooms.

Then I wait. They’re programmed, shipped, and arrive here months later—ready for planting in late fall so they can bloom just in time for late winter magic.

And if you're a home gardener? You can grow tulips here—but you’ll need to dig them up in fall, chill them in your fridge for 12–16 weeks, then replant them in January for a chance at spring blooms.

Bonus tip: Keep them away from fruit like apples and bananas while chilling—ethylene gas can damage the bulbs.

Why Bother?

Because when tulips do bloom in the South, it’s show-stopping:

• They bloom earlier than in northern zones—perfect for February gifting

• We grow hard-to-find varieties you won’t see in stores

• The stems are sturdy, the colors are rich, and the bouquets make people gasp (in a good way)

Plus, they feel like a little miracle—especially when the rest of the garden is still sleeping.

First Forced Tulip Harvest

How to Get Your Hands on Them

Fringed Tulip

Every season, we offer a limited number of Tulip Sassy Pack bouquets, starting in Summer. Because the bulbs are ordered and grown well in advance, we don’t have “extras” lying around. If you want in, pre-ordering is key.

Join the Sass for early access and Reserve Your Tulip bouquets now (Pickup only – Byron, GA)

RECAP:

• Tulips need chill hours—Southern winters don’t cut it

• We use pre-programmed bulbs ordered a year ahead

• You can grow them too—with fridge chilling and some planning

• For the good stuff? Order now for blooms in February–March

💛 Felicia

Sassy Sprigs Flower Farm (Where Southern tulips bloom early—because we planned way ahead)