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When to plant crocuses in Chicago: 7 October – 3 December

In Chicago, crocus: plant from 7 October to about 3 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include The Succulent City (garden centre, 6 km) and Adams & Son Gardens (garden centre, 6 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 Chicago: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -6.6 °C.

Planting7 October – 3 December
First autumn frost6 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -6.6 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring16 January
Daylight11:30 on 7 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:08

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

Crocus in Chicago: 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 Chicago 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

All the nearest cities on our list plant crocus earlier than Chicago; the closest date is in Grand Rapids, 3 days earlier.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Rockford125 km28 September – 25 November9 days earlier
Milwaukee131 km2 October – 25 November5 days earlier
Madison196 km27 September – 20 November10 days earlier
Grand Rapids201 km4 October – 29 November3 days earlier
Peoria211 km1 October – 9 December6 days earlier
Fort Wayne226 km3 October – 10 December4 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Chicago

Planting stock goes into the ground from 7 October to about 3 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Chicago OpenStreetMap lists 10 garden centres, 14 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Chicago?

In Chicago, crocus: plant from 7 October to about 3 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 Chicago?

Last spring frost around 18 April, first autumn frost around 6 November.

Other crops in Chicago, with their dates