Fall bulb shopping starts with the space the plants will occupy in spring, including the weeks when leaves remain after flowering. Bed size, light and neighboring plants help determine which varieties and quantities will fit.
Chicago Botanic Garden's 2026 Fall Bulb Sale ran October 2 through 4 at Burnstein Hall in the Regenstein Center. Its selection included daffodils, tulips, alliums, crocus and hyacinths, alongside other planting choices. Staff were available to discuss selection and growing conditions.
Take a short list and a photograph
Photograph the planting area and note its approximate dimensions. Record whether it gets sun during spring, and whether you need a compact planting or something taller behind an existing border. Ask which of the available bulbs suits those conditions.
Keep the labels until planting is finished. They connect the variety you bought with the instructions you need to follow.
Bulk orders were a local pickup purchase
The Garden's online bulk sale required collection October 2 through 4 and offered no shipping. Its conditions said all sales were final, substitutions were unavailable and payment was by credit card.
Match the bulk quantity to the bed
Measure the space available for planting before choosing quantities from the catalog.
Use the supplier's spacing advice to calculate the number of bulbs. A bulk package can be good value only when its quantity fits the planting. If the arithmetic produces more than you need, decide where the extras will go before ordering. Do not count on finding another bed after collection.
For a container, ask specifically whether the choice suits your pot and winter conditions. Bring its dimensions, including depth.
| Decision | Information to take to the sale |
|---|---|
| Border planting | Bed dimensions and neighboring plants |
| Container planting | Pot width, depth and intended location |
| Bulk pickup | Quantity, collection date and room in the vehicle |
The Friday sale had a members-only period from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by public access from 2 to 4 p.m. Weekend public hours were 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Membership determined when Friday visitors could enter.
Those terms favor gardeners who already know their planting quantities and can collect the order. Nonmembers also needed to account for regular admission and parking charges when visiting the sale. Buying a smaller quantity locally may be the more sensible choice if the trip exists only to collect a few bulbs.
Choose for drainage and next year's foliage
University of Minnesota Extension distinguishes hardy spring bulbs, which need a cold period, from tender summer bulbs that cannot survive its winter conditions outdoors. A fall planting of tulips or daffodils has different timing and storage needs from a spring planting of dahlias or gladiolus. Local climate advice still determines what survives in your garden.
The Extension guide recommends well-drained soil and explains that bulbs can rot where water collects. A sunny patch that stays waterlogged after rain is therefore a poor choice even when its light seems suitable. Fix the site or choose another planting area before buying a large order.
After flowering, the leaves continue supplying the bulb. Let them yellow naturally instead of cutting them away with the finished flowers. Later-emerging perennials can help cover fading foliage, but their mature spacing must leave room for both plants. A border's appearance in April is only part of its seasonal use.
Turn the label's spacing into a quantity
A simple grid estimate can make a bulk order easier to judge. Suppose the usable bed is three by four feet and the chosen variety's label specifies six-inch spacing. That is 36 by 48 inches. Dividing each dimension by six gives six positions across and eight along, or 48 bulbs, with the first row set half a spacing in from the edge.
This is an illustrative calculation, not a universal planting recommendation. Roots, existing plants and an irregular edge reduce usable space; a different variety may need another spacing. At eight-inch spacing, the same area has a much smaller capacity. Use the actual label and bed, and keep access to plants that will need care after spring.
Inspect bulbs before purchase. Minnesota Extension advises choosing firm bulbs and avoiding soft or moldy ones. A low unit price cannot make a damaged bulb a good use of a prepared planting spot.
