When to plant crocuses in Bishkek: 23 September – 4 December

In Bishkek, crocus: plant from 23 September to about 4 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.

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 Bishkek: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–February; the coldest, January, averages -4.8 °C.

Planting	23 September – 4 December
First autumn frost	23 October
Coldest nights	January, -4.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	15 February
Daylight	12:09 on 23 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:01

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

Crocus in Bishkek: 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 Bishkek the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 25 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 Bishkek, Karakol is 23 days earlier and Namangan 16 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Almaty	191 km	6 September – 6 November	17 days earlier
Jalal-Abad	253 km	8 October – end of December	15 days later
Taraz	262 km	20 September – 23 November	3 days earlier
Osh	300 km	7 October – 27 December	14 days later
Karakol	313 km	31 August – 21 October	23 days earlier
Namangan	319 km	9 October – end of December	16 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Bishkek

Planting stock goes into the ground from 23 September to about 4 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Bishkek OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 39 markets and 11 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Али-Баба — farm shop
0 km
"Риха" — farm shop
6 km
Larisa — market
улица Куренкеева Мураталы 276, Bishkek · 09:00–23:00 · 2 km
Азиз — market
улица Кокчетавская, Bishkek · Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 · 3 km
Alamedin Bazaar — market
улица Курманжан Датка 150, Bishkek · 4 km
Kudaibergen market — market
Mon–Sun 08:00–18:00 · 6 km
Кыял — market
проспект Чуй 202, Bishkek · 2 km
Osh Bazaar — market
Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00 · 2 km

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