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When to plant crocuses in Buffalo: 11 October – 6 December

In Buffalo, crocus: plant from 11 October to about 6 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Urban Roots Garden Center (garden centre, 3 km) and Daddy's Plants (garden centre, 4 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 Buffalo: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -5.5 °C.

Planting11 October – 6 December
First autumn frost10 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -5.5 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring2 February
Daylight11:18 on 11 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:01

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

Crocus in Buffalo: 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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo, Kitchener is 15 days earlier and Erie 9 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Hamilton88 km8 October – 10 December3 days earlier
Toronto94 km30 September – 25 November11 days earlier
Rochester106 km13 October – 14 December2 days later
Erie130 km20 October – 22 December9 days later
Kitchener145 km26 September – 21 November15 days earlier
Ithaca201 km9 October – 4 December2 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Buffalo

Planting stock goes into the ground from 11 October to about 6 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Buffalo OpenStreetMap lists 10 garden centres and 3 markets (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Buffalo?

In Buffalo, crocus: plant from 11 October to about 6 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.

When is the last spring frost in Buffalo?

Last spring frost around 24 April, first autumn frost around 10 November.

Other crops in Buffalo, with their dates