when is the best time to plant bulbs?
<answer> In fall and early winter. <context> In fall, nurseries and garden stores fill up with bulbs ready for planting. These spring-flowering plants require the cool season to put down roots and get ready for spring. Get a head start on the spring garden by planting bulbs in fall or early winter. For the best flowering, plant bulbs in fall and early winter. The bulbs put down a good root system during the remainder of the warm weather and warm soil temperature before settling in for the winter chill period. The chill period of six to 12 weeks in the cold soil is critical for most spring-flowering bulbs.