When to plant crocuses in Fort Smith: by 19 October

In Fort Smith, crocus: plant by 19 October. The winter here is too mild for our late-planting rule, so we give no later limit.

Crocus in Fort Smith: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January; the coldest, January, averages -0.2 °C.

Planting	by 19 October
First autumn frost	18 November
Coldest nights	January, -0.2 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	11:12 on 19 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:46

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

Crocus in Fort Smith: 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 Fort Smith the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 13 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. That is less than the bulbs need, and without more cold they may not flower properly. The cold can also be given in a refrigerator at about 2–7 °C, as Wisconsin Horticulture Extension does for crocuses forced in pots.

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 Fort Smith, Joplin is 17 days earlier and Shreveport 21 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Fayetteville	78 km	11 October – end of December	8 days earlier
Tulsa	169 km	by 18 October	1 day earlier
Joplin	189 km	2 October – end of December	17 days earlier
Little Rock	203 km	by 21 October	2 days later
Oklahoma City	285 km	by 11 October	8 days earlier
Shreveport	329 km	by 9 November	21 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Fort Smith

Planting stock goes into the ground by 19 October; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Fort Smith OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre and 1 plant nursery (collected 28 October 2026).

Home Depot Garden Center — garden centre
4 km
Lafoon's Greenhouse & Nursery — plant nursery
6 km

Questions