Tulips bloom on tall 24" stems that stand up to adverse weather conditions. You want to plant the bulbs before the first deep frost, which hardens the grounds and makes it much more difficult to dig holes for the bulbs. The bulbs should be planted when the soil is still at least 60 degrees F Plan to plant the bulbs within a week after buying them. They shouldn't stay above the ground for too long.Don't plant the bulbs too early, or they might come up before the weather gets cold and die as soon as the frosts come.They should lie dormant in the ground all winter and come up in the spring. Space the holes 4 to 6 inches apart, and dig them about 8 inches from the base of the bulb. So if you have a 1-inch bulb, you'll need a 9-inch hole. The larger the bulb, the deeper the hole must be. As you dig, clear away roots, rocks and other debris that could impede the growth of your tulips. •You can sprinkle kitty litter, gravel, holly leaves, or thorny bush branches into the hole to deter mice and other rodents from occupying the hole Right after planting, give the bulbs some water. This helps them begin the process of growing. Don't give them a soaking, though; bulbs will decay and die if they get too wet.