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When to plant crocuses in Fairbanks: 24 August – 2 October

In Fairbanks, crocus: plant from 24 August to about 2 October. For planting stock, the places nearby include The Plant Kingdom Greenhouse and Nursery, Inc (garden centre, 6 km) and Ann's Greenhouses (garden centre, 12 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 Fairbanks: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in October–April; the coldest, January, averages -22.3 °C.

Planting24 August – 2 October
First autumn frost23 September
Coldest nightsJanuary, -22.3 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring25 April
Daylight15:37 on 24 August
Daylight at the winter solstice3:42

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

Crocus in Fairbanks: 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 Fairbanks the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 35 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 later than Fairbanks; the closest date is in Whitehorse, 5 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Anchorage417 km14 September – 18 October21 days later
Whitehorse788 km29 August – 7 October5 days later
Juneau1,008 km6 September – 12 October13 days later
Yellowknife1,648 km4 September – 4 October11 days later
Vancouver2,252 km18 October – end of December55 days later
Edmonton2,275 km6 September – 19 October13 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Fairbanks

Planting stock goes into the ground from 24 August to about 2 October; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Fairbanks OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres and 2 markets (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Fairbanks?

In Fairbanks, crocus: plant from 24 August to about 2 October. 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 Fairbanks?

Last spring frost around 8 May, first autumn frost around 23 September.

Other crops in Fairbanks, with their dates