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When to plant crocuses in Almaty: 6 September – 6 November

In Almaty, crocus: plant from 6 September to about 6 November.

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 Almaty: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–March; the coldest, January, averages -10 °C.

Planting6 September – 6 November
First autumn frost6 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -10 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring12 March
Daylight12:59 on 6 September
Daylight at the winter solstice8:59

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

Crocus in Almaty: 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 Almaty the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 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

Around Almaty, Karakol is 6 days earlier and Jalal-Abad 32 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Karakol148 km31 August – 21 October6 days earlier
Bishkek191 km23 September – 4 December17 days later
Taldykorgan230 km8 September – 4 November2 days later
Jalal-Abad411 km8 October – end of December32 days later
Taraz450 km20 September – 23 November14 days later
Osh453 km7 October – 27 December31 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Almaty

Planting stock goes into the ground from 6 September to about 6 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Almaty OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre, 1 farm-supply shop, 39 markets and 23 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Almaty?

In Almaty, crocus: plant from 6 September to about 6 November. 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 Almaty?

Last spring frost around 10 April, first autumn frost around 6 October.

Other crops in Almaty, with their dates