When to plant crocuses in Astrakhan: 12 October – 29 November

In Astrakhan, crocus: plant from 12 October to about 29 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Цветочный рынок (garden centre, 2 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 Astrakhan: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -5 °C.

Planting	12 October – 29 November
First autumn frost	11 November
Coldest nights	January, -5 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	23 February
Daylight	11:08 on 12 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:36

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

Crocus in Astrakhan: 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 Astrakhan 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

Around Astrakhan, Vladikavkaz is 20 days earlier and Makhachkala 29 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Atyrau	304 km	2 October – 18 November	10 days earlier
Volgograd	373 km	29 September – 17 November	13 days earlier
Makhachkala	377 km	10 November – end of December	29 days later
Aktau	387 km	11 October – end of December	1 day earlier
Vladikavkaz	454 km	22 September – 23 November	20 days earlier
Nalchik	471 km	4 October – 19 December	8 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Astrakhan

Planting stock goes into the ground from 12 October to about 29 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Astrakhan OpenStreetMap lists 3 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 22 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026).

Цветочный рынок — garden centre
улица Куликова 23А, 414041 Астрахань · 2 km
ТРЦ "Ярмарка" — market
Вокзальная площадь 13, 414040 Астрахань · 10:00–22:00 · 2 km · yarmarka-center.ru
Lenta — market
улица Николая Островского 146А, 414057 Астрахань · 24/7 · 2 km
"Московский" — market
набережная 1 Мая 160/94/187, 414000 Астрахань · Mon–Fri 08:30–18:00 · 1 km
Маяк — market
Красная улица 1, 414000 Астрахань · Mon–Sun 09:00–17:00 · 1 km
Узбекский рынок — market
Красная улица 1/1, 414000 Астрахань · Mon–Sun 09:00–17:00 · 1 km
рынок Татар-Базар — market
площадь Свободы 12А, 414024 Астрахань · 08:00–17:00 · 2 km
рынок Болдинский — market
Августовская улица 7, 414052 Астрахань · 8:00–16:00 · 4 km

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