Mid to late October is the best time to plant most bulbs in Northern Virginia. Planting after the first hard frost is recommended; this may carry the planting time into early November in some years. It is important to wait until the weather has sufficiently cooled to avoid rotten bulbs.
Red spider lily should be planted in the summer, well before its bloom time. Colchicum can be planted in early fall and still bloom later in the autumn. Sterbergia will bloom if planted between midsummer and early fall.
Plant bulbs three times their width apart. For example, if a bulb measures 1 inch in width, plant it 3 inches from other bulbs. Similarly, plant bulbs at a depth that is three times their height. If a bulb is 2 inches tall, plant it 6 inches beneath the soil. Full sun and good drainage are recommended for most bulbs.