When to plant crocuses in Bucharest: 20 October – end of December

In Bucharest, crocus: plant from 20 October to the end of 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 average daily temperature here stays above 0 °C all winter, and at least three months average 7 °C or less: our rule of thumb for the winter cold spring bulbs need. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS.

Crocus in Bucharest: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -3.6 °C.

Planting	20 October – end of December
First autumn frost	19 November
Coldest nights	January, -3.6 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:48 on 20 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:50

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

Crocus in Bucharest: 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 Bucharest the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 22 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 Bucharest, Bălți is 19 days earlier and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi 7 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Izmail	239 km	25 October – end of December	5 days later
Sofia	295 km	17 October – end of December	3 days earlier
Cluj-Napoca	326 km	10 October – end of December	10 days earlier
Chișinău	358 km	18 October – 29 December	2 days earlier
Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi	386 km	27 October – end of December	7 days later
Bălți	396 km	1 October – 20 December	19 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Bucharest

Planting stock goes into the ground from 20 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Bucharest OpenStreetMap lists 7 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 plant nurseries, 69 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Piața Bobocică — market
Strada Lt. Nicolae Pascu 2, 032074 București · Mon–Fri 07:00–20:00; Sat 07:00–19:00; Sun 07:00–14:00 · 4 km
Piața Domenii — market
Bulevardul Ion Mihalache 128, București · Mon–Sun 07:00–20:00 · 5 km
Piața Traian — market
Calea Călărașilor, București · Mon–Fri 08:00–19:00; Sat 08:00–15:00; Sun 08:00–14:00 · 2 km
Piața Cotroceni — market
Strada Sfântul Elefterie 47-49, 050524 București · Mon–Sat 08:00–21:00 Sun 08:00–16:00 · 2 km
Piața Orizont — market
Drumul Taberei 18, 061385 București · Mon–Sun 07:00–20:00 · 4 km
Crângași Market — market
Calea Crângași 29 · Mon–Thu 08:00–16:30; Fri 08:00–14:00 · 5 km
Mega Image — market
Strada Constantin Brâncuși 23, București · Mon–Sat 08:00–22:00; Sun 08:00–21:00 · 5 km
Târgul Pucheni — market
Strada Pucheni, București · 24/7 · 6 km

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