No. It's wrong. I've been gardening longer than that person has probably been alive. Now is the time to plant them. If you wait too long the ground will be too hard to work. I always get them in the ground before the end of October and never had a problem. Even in zone 4b. Just be sure to sprinkle some super phosphate into the soil as you're planting them.

If the bulbs didn't know what to do, you'd have issues every year leaving them in the ground while it wasn't frozen ;)

Right?

I don't think you can make one simple rule for everything. Maybe the worry is about confusing the bulbs that have sat dry out of the ground, other than that bulbs are quite good at doing what they do. I think it is natural for some types of bulbs to start growing roots before the ground freezes.

I think mid October is fine for the Midwest US for planting bulbs, but they do okay planted in November. 5b/6a we have had definite frosts, but my Ginkgo leaves are still hanging on.

On impulse, I checked one of my bulbs catalogs today. It stated that ground temperature should be 55 degrees F or below, and nighttime temps consistently below 40 F. I've never tested soil temperature before, and don't have the tools for it.

I guess normally I am so busy in the fall, that planting bulbs "too early" has never been an issue. Too busy cleaning dead stuff out to even have a bare surface to plant into.

I induced a friend to order a lot of bulbs - she's never planted bulbs before - so I was hoping to give her some solid advice.

Generally, don't worry. Don't plant too deep (or to shallow), plant in a drier area (most typical bulbs need a drier summer rest). Beware digging and chopping into bulbs (I just took out a lycoris yesterday..but I have plenty).

Don't be all fussy and worry about everything. If the plants are meant to grow there, then grow they will. I mean somehow they endured for millennia without human care.

We have not had a frost yet and even after we do, the ground will not freeze. My new bulbs (crocus, hyacinth, narcissus and tulips) were planted three weeks ago. They are already well rooted. I know this because the ******* squirrels have dug up a bunch of crocuses, eaten the corms and left the roots and baseplates scattered on the ground. 😡

p.s. snowdrops and daffodils do not want a drier summer situation when they are dormant. Tulips do.