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When to plant crocuses in Bloemfontein: by 5 May

In Bloemfontein, crocus: plant by 5 May. The winter here is too mild for our late-planting rule, so we give no later limit.

Crocus in Bloemfontein: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in July, average 1.4 °C.

Plantingby 5 May
First autumn frost4 June
Coldest nightsJuly, 1.4 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of July
Daylight10:54 on 5 May
Daylight at the winter solstice10:17

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

Crocus in Bloemfontein: 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 Bloemfontein the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 6 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. That is less than the bulbs need, and without more cold they may not flower properly. The cold can also be given in a refrigerator at about 2–7 °C, as Wisconsin Horticulture Extension does for crocuses forced in pots.

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 Bloemfontein, Ushuaia is 129 days earlier and Bahía Blanca 11 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Ushuaia7,675 km27 December – 18 May129 days earlier
Río Gallegos7,864 km7 March – end of June59 days earlier
Punta Arenas7,902 km8 March – end of June58 days earlier
Bahía Blanca7,916 kmby 16 May11 days later
Trelew7,955 kmby 29 April6 days earlier
Comodoro Rivadavia8,000 kmby 24 April11 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Bloemfontein

Planting stock goes into the ground by 5 May; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Bloemfontein OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre, 1 farm-supply shop and 3 markets (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Bloemfontein?

In Bloemfontein, crocus: plant by 5 May. The winter here is too mild for our late-planting rule, so we give no later limit.

When is the last spring frost in Bloemfontein?

Last spring frost around 17 August, first autumn frost around 4 June.

Other crops in Bloemfontein, with their dates