Yeah, three might look good...in five years, but 7 or even 15 would look good next year.

It is too early to be planting fall bulbs - usually mid/late October is the time to plant bulbs, tulips go into the ground at the end of this month, and can be planted up until the ground freezes solid. There is nothing to gain - and probably more to lose if you plant tulips too early - it gives the bulb eating rodents more time to find the bulbs before winter sets in. From what I remember, the soil should be around 50 degrees when you plant.

Here is some bulb planting info - when to plant by region

https://www.colorblends.com/articles/When-to-Plant

Not too early at all!! I've already planted a bunch of spring blooming bulbs. And I move spring blooming bulbs around at all different times of the year - no issues with them growing out of season (existing bulbs are there all summer after all!!) or with excessive feeding by rodents (if you protect appropriately).

Why do newly planted bulbs need to be treated any differently with regards to timing than those already planted?? There is nothing to support that contention. Yes, you can plant later but it is not necessary to wait.

It's no worse than leaving a bulb in ground all year, which is what they evolved to do. I firmly believe that most (if not all) reference to later planting times is fiction. There are some few, like certain lilies that won't ship well till their foliage is down, but that doesn't affect daffs or tulips at all.

Indeed, the shorter time they're out of the ground, the better. Some species don't tolerate drying at all, such as eranthis and some of the anemones.

I've planted my few daffodils too. Tulips can wait till November but its not necessary to do so. When digging holes for the new bulbs I found some of the old ones already putting out a good bunch of roots. It is definitely not to early.

dbarron. GG didn't say plant in threes. She said plant 20 bulbs in three clusters ie 6 or 7 in each group.

I know...I was iterating for the original poster :)

LOL!! dbarron, we were thinking along the same line. I agree that specified planting times are pretty much fiction as well :-)) In my 40+ years of gardening, I've planted spring blooming bulbs whenever I felt like it, usually right after they appear in garden centers soon after Labor Day. I have never encountered any issues with this methodology.

In more southern climes, it could be an issue but apparently not in Arkansas!!

I would need a jackhammer/dynamite to make a hole in the ground to plant anything right now, it has been so dry here for the last two months... I've got several bulb orders that I don't expect delivery on until mid month. Yes bulbs live in the ground year 'round but usually don't thrive unless given real good conditions. Most gardens that I visit don't have the same conditions found in the Netherlands... I'll wait for the rain to return before I dig/plant anything!

I'll take a guess that you guys are all done with your Christmas shopping too? :)

Err, Christmas? What's that? (seriously, when your families are no more, Dec 25th is another day, usually a depressing one).

However, in habit, you're right...IF I still had anyone to celebrate holidays with, I'd try to have my holiday shopping done by Labor Day (if not January 31st). Plant wise, the best place for most plants is in the ground at all times. None evolved to require dry storage on garden center shelves, absolutely none!