When to plant crocuses in Erfurt: 8 October – end of December

In Erfurt, crocus: plant from 8 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Eierwagen an der Zaunwiese (farm shop, 6 km) and Lehnchen (farm shop, 7 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 Erfurt: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January, February; the coldest, January, averages -0.9 °C.

Planting	8 October – end of December
First autumn frost	7 November
Coldest nights	January, -0.9 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	11:13 on 8 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	7:55

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

Crocus in Erfurt: 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 Erfurt 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 Erfurt, Nuremberg is 4 days earlier and Hanover 14 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Leipzig	102 km	18 October – end of December	10 days later
Magdeburg	134 km	19 October – end of December	11 days later
Nuremberg	170 km	4 October – end of December	4 days earlier
Hanover	179 km	22 October – end of December	14 days later
Dresden	190 km	19 October – end of December	11 days later
Frankfurt	192 km	18 October – end of December	10 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Erfurt

Planting stock goes into the ground from 8 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Erfurt OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops, 6 plant nurseries, 3 markets and 15 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Vieselbacher Pflanzenbau GmbH — farm shop
Lindenstraße 35, 99428 Grammetal · Mon–Fri 07:00–16:00 · 9 km
Hofladen — farm shop
Brühl 40, 99192 Nesse-Apfelstädt · Sat 09:00–12:00 · 11 km
Hofladen — farm shop
Mon–Fri 09:00–12:00, 13:00–18:00; Sat 09:00–12:00 · 11 km · gefluegel-schmidt.de
Gemüsewerkstatt Grünschnabel — farm shop
Mar–Nov: Tue, Fri 15:00–18:00 · 15 km · gemuesewerkstattgruenschnabel.de
Eierwagen an der Zaunwiese — farm shop
08:00–20:00 · 6 km
Lehnchen — farm shop
Sat 12:00–17:00 · 7 km
Hofladen Kleinrettbach — farm shop
Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00; Sat 08:00–12:00 · 11 km
Klostergut — farm shop
Mon–Sun 09:00–11:00 · 13 km

Questions