The Daily Dirt

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Dig Now, Thank Yourself Later

As gardeners put away tools and clean up beds, there’s still time for one task that delivers big rewards next year: planting bulbs. Fall-planted bulbs need cool soil to develop roots before winter arrives. The rule of thumb is simple: if you can still dig a hole, you can still plant a bulb. Whether you’re planting spring flowers or garlic, a little effort now can lead to months of beauty and harvests ahead.

Best Flowering Bulbs for Minnesota Gardens

For the longest season of color, plant a mix of early-, mid-, and late-blooming bulbs.

  • Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa): Plant 3-4 inches deep; blooms March-April.
  • Crocus: Plant 3-4 inches deep; blooms March-April.
  • Scilla (Siberian Squill): Plant 3-4 inches deep; blooms in April.
  • Daffodils: Plant 6-8 inches deep; blooms April-May. Deer and rodent resistant.
  • Tulips: Plant 6-8 inches deep; blooms April-May. Best in protected areas due to deer browsing.
  • Allium (Ornamental Onion): Plant 4-8 inches deep, depending on bulb size; blooms May-June.

Keep in mind, bloom times are dependent on the weather. Early bloomers such as Glory-of-the-Snow and crocus may emerge while patches of snow still linger, while alliums extend the show into early summer.

Planting Tips

  • Choose a sunny, well-drained location.
  • Plant bulbs in clusters of 5-15 for a natural look.
  • Water after planting if soils are dry.
  • Apply a light mulch after the ground freezes.

Plant Garlic for a Summer Harvest

Garlic is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops for home gardeners. Unlike most vegetables, garlic is planted in fall and harvested the following summer.

For Minnesota, hardneck garlic is the best choice. It thrives in cold winters, produces large, flavorful cloves, and sends up edible flower stalks called scapes in early summer.

Recommended Varieties

  • Music: Large bulbs, mild flavor, reliable producer.
  • German Extra Hardy: Very cold hardy with a robust, spicy flavor.
  • Chesnok Red: Rich flavor that shines when roasted.
  • Metechi: Strong, spicy flavor and dependable winter survival.

Planting Tips

  • Purchase certified seed garlic from a reputable supplier. (Not the grocery store)
  • Separate bulbs into individual cloves just before planting.
  • Plant cloves 2 inches deep, pointed end up.
  • Space cloves 4-6 inches apart.
  • Cover with 4-6 inches of clean straw mulch.
  • Harvest scapes in June and bulbs in July or August.

Why Plant Now?

Both flowering bulbs and garlic need a period of winter chilling to perform their best. Planting in fall allows roots to establish before the ground freezes, resulting in stronger growth, bigger blooms, and larger garlic bulbs next year.

Before you call it a season, consider planting a few bulbs. It’s one of the easiest gardening projects you’ll do all year, and one of the most rewarding. After all, if you can dig a hole, you can plant a bulb.

By University of Minnesota Extension Douglas County