When to plant tulips?

I have some tulips that I started in small pots and kept outside, now some of them have grown about 2 inches out of the bulb, and some aren't as big yet. When do I plant them in the ground and how deep do I plant them? I live in Michigan, if that makes a difference. Also, do they like more sun or more shade?

When to plant tulips?
Tulips are sun plants, and are generally planted directly in the ground in the fall. They are grown in pots typically only if you want to "force" the flowers by an artificial period of chilling over the winter. If you want to put these in the ground, I'd sink the pots now to their rims, and then replant into a permanent location next fall, removing them from their pots.





Outdoor tulips are typically planted 6-8" deep, about 6" apart.
Reply:Plant them in the autumn (but can be planted in winter, autumns better though) plant about 6 inches down. I have holes with about 25 tulips in a hole they can be planted close together for better color- the bulbs can be planted right beside each other.and they need full sun or at least partial sun. I hace many tuilps planted in both sun and partial sun but the full sun ones seem to be blooming faster.
Reply:More sun. %26amp; inches in the ground. If they bloomed in the pots you may plant them outside but it may be a few years before they reflower. Deer will eat them. I plant bulbs that the deer reject such as daffodils. Autumn is for planting but plant them any time.
Reply:Technically, you can plant them any time except in winter, but normally, tulips should be planted in autumn.
Reply:You can put them in the groung anytime. I think they like full sun, especially in Michigan.