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When to Plant Tulips in Noble County, OH

Noble County, Ohio Zone 6b June

June in Noble County, Ohio — your action list

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Noble County, Ohio this June and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost April 27
Avg. first frost October 20
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.8 hrs

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Tulips (Tulipa spp.) are the quintessential spring bulb, producing their iconic cup-shaped blooms in virtually every color from pure white to near-black. Fall-planted and cold-dependent, they emerge in early spring before most other flowers, providing weeks of bold color at a time when gardens are just waking up. Hundreds of cultivars span early-, mid-, and late-season types, extending the display across six weeks when planted in succession.

Noble County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 1,125 feet, Noble County receives approximately 33.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Tulips during the growing season.

Bulb Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Noble County, OH (Zone 6b) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 27
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Noble County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Tulips Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 21 🌸 Bloom from: Mar 31
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 27 🌸 Bloom from: Apr 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 15 🌸 Bloom from: Apr 24

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Noble County

How your county's soil matches Tulips's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0–7.2) overlaps with Tulips's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Noble County is excellent for Tulips — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.1%) — Tulips will thrive.

How to Plant Tulips

8"
Planting Depth
5"
Between Plants
6"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 5 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Tulips

14
successive plantings in your 176-day season

Sow every 1.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 20 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 15.

Tulips Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Tulips

Tulips needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Tulips Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Noble County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Tulips Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Tulips needs ~343 GDD — county provides 2,684 GDD Excellent fit

Tulips Planting Timeline — Noble County, OH

Tulips Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Bloom August 25 Aug 25 – Sep 22
Fall Sowing September 15 Sep 15 – Sep 29

Plant 8" deep · 5" apart · Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August Bloom
September Fall Sowing Bloom
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

15–30 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

176 days in Noble County

Growing Tips for Tulips in Noble County

Direct sow Tulips outdoors after April 27 in Noble County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 176.0-day season in Noble County allows multiple plantings of Tulips. Sow every 7.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

Plant bulbs pointed-end up in fall, 6–8 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart, in well-drained soil. Tulips require 12–16 weeks of cold at 35–45°F for proper vernalization — they fail to bloom without it. In zones 7–8b, plant bulbs a few weeks later than further north (late November) to ensure cold-soil uptake before spring warmth. Lift and discard bulbs after bloom in zones 7b+, as heat prevents reliable repeat flowering; treat them as annuals. Allow foliage to die back naturally before removing — it feeds next year's bulb (if leaving in the ground). Do not overwater; excellent drainage is essential to prevent bulb rot. Zones 9+: outdoor culture is not recommended; pre-chilling in the refrigerator is required and results are inconsistent.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tulips in Noble County, OH?

Noble County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 27. Plan your Tulips planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Noble County, OH?

Noble County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 27 and first fall frost is October 20.

🌱

Your Noble County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Noble County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Noble County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.