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When to plant crocuses in Allentown: 4 October – 30 December

In Allentown, crocus: plant from 4 October to about 30 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Tall Timbers Nursery, Inc. (garden centre, 7 km) and Beth-Hanover Supply Co. (garden centre, 9 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The date is about two weeks before the average daily temperature here falls below 0 °C (ten years of weather): an estimate, not the day the ground freezes, and a cold spell can freeze it earlier. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS, how the ground freezes (NRC Canada, CBD-26).

Crocus in Allentown: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -4 °C.

Planting4 October – 30 December
First autumn frost3 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -4 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of January
Daylight11:40 on 4 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:16

The same dates in Allentown hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Hyacinth.

Crocus in Allentown: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant Dutch crocuses (Crocus vernus) about 12 cm deep and 9 cm apart; smaller species go 7–10 cm deep (RHS).

In Allentown the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 23 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 15–17 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Crocuses multiply on their own (they naturalise); in a lawn, hold off mowing until their leaves die back (RHS).

Birds, squirrels and rodents damage crocuses; planting under metal mesh may reduce losses (RHS). Spring crocus gives dogs and cats vomiting and diarrhoea; do not confuse it with autumn crocus (Colchicum), which is very toxic (Pet Poison Helpline).

Sources: RHS, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, Pet Poison Helpline.

Crocus in nearby cities

All the nearest cities on our list plant crocus later than Allentown; the closest date is in Philadelphia, 8 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Trenton73 km13 October – end of December9 days later
Philadelphia77 km12 October – end of December8 days later
New York125 km21 October – end of December17 days later
Dover160 km27 October – end of December23 days later
Atlantic City165 km23 October – end of December19 days later
Baltimore175 km23 October – end of December19 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Allentown

Planting stock goes into the ground from 4 October to about 30 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Allentown OpenStreetMap lists 14 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 6 markets and 7 farm shops (collected 29 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Allentown?

In Allentown, crocus: plant from 4 October to about 30 December. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Allentown?

Last spring frost around 15 April, first autumn frost around 3 November.

Other crops in Allentown, with their dates