When to plant crocuses in Dresden: 19 October – end of December

In Dresden, crocus: plant from 19 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Futtermittel und Kleintierzuchtbedarf (farm supply, 3 km) and Stadtgärtnerei (plant nursery, 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 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 Dresden: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January, February; the coldest, January, averages -1.3 °C.

Planting	19 October – end of December
First autumn frost	18 November
Coldest nights	January, -1.3 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:32 on 19 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	7:54

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

Crocus in Dresden: 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 Dresden 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 Dresden, Liberec is 17 days earlier and Potsdam 3 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Ústí nad Labem	48 km	13 October – 10 December	6 days earlier
Liberec	98 km	2 October – 7 December	17 days earlier
Leipzig	101 km	18 October – end of December	1 day earlier
Prague	119 km	9 October – end of December	10 days earlier
Plzeň	147 km	6 October – 30 December	13 days earlier
Potsdam	157 km	22 October – end of December	3 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Dresden

Planting stock goes into the ground from 19 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Dresden OpenStreetMap lists 20 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops, 12 plant nurseries, 23 markets and 34 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Freitaler Wochenmarkt — market
Sat[2, 4] 08:00–13:00; public holidays closed · 8 km · freital.de
Futtermittel und Kleintierzuchtbedarf — farm supply
Königsbrücker Straße 103, 01099 Dresden · 3 km
SchauGarten am Keils Gut — plant nursery
Dresdner Straße 28, 01723 Wilsdruff · 14 km · durchgeblueht.de
Stadtgärtnerei — plant nursery
Bodenbacher Straße 53, 01277 Dresden · 4 km
Beerencafé — farm shop
Lockwitztalstraße 41, 01259 Dresden · Mon–Sun 10:00–18:00; public holidays open · 8 km · spargelhof-ponickau.de
Bio-Bauernhof Ines Franz — farm shop
Dorfstraße 12, 01156 Dresden · Fri 09:00–21:00 · 8 km · biohof-franz.de
Obstbau Rüdiger — farm shop
Pillnitzer Landstraße 301, 01326 Dresden · Mon–Wed 09:00–18:00; Thu, Fri 09:00–19:00; Sat 09:00–18:00 · 9 km · obstbau-ruediger.de
Hofladen Weixdorf — farm shop
Pastor-Roller-Straße 42, 01108 Dresden · Tue–Fri 09:00–18:00; Sat 08:00–12:00; Mon, Sun, public holidays closed · 12 km · hofladen-weixdorf.de

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