When to plant crocuses in Fribourg: 7 October – 30 December

In Fribourg, crocus: plant from 7 October to about 30 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Bio26 (farm shop, 1 km) and Shop Garangeneuve (farm shop, 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 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 Fribourg: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -3.6 °C.

Planting	7 October – 30 December
First autumn frost	6 November
Coldest nights	January, -3.6 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	31 January
Daylight	11:24 on 7 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:32

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

Crocus in Fribourg: 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 Fribourg the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 30 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 Fribourg, Sion is 18 days earlier and Neuchâtel 22 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Neuchâtel	27 km	29 October – end of December	22 days later
Bern	28 km	4 October – 21 December	3 days earlier
Sion	65 km	19 September – 19 November	18 days earlier
Lucerne	92 km	20 September – 29 November	17 days earlier
Besançon	99 km	19 October – end of December	12 days later
Geneva	102 km	18 October – end of December	11 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Fribourg

Planting stock goes into the ground from 7 October to about 30 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Fribourg OpenStreetMap lists 8 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 4 markets and 26 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026).

Marché du centre-ville — market
Place Georges-Python, 1700 Fribourg · Wed 06:30–12:00 · 1 km · ville-fribourg.ch
Marché du quartier du Bourg / Burgquartiermarkt — market
Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, Fribourg · Sat 06:30–12:00 · 1 km · ville-fribourg.ch
Marché d'En Bas — market
Thu 16:00–19:30 · 1 km · labasse.ch
Shop Garangeneuve — farm shop
Route de Grangeneuve 31, 1725 Posieux · Mon–Fri 15:00–18:00; Sat 10:00–12:00 · 4 km · grangeneuve-magasin.ch
Seeland Bio Hofladen — farm shop
Hauptstrasse 90, 1794 Salvenach · Mon–Sun 08:00–19:00 · 13 km · seelandbio.ch
Bio26 — farm shop
Route du Jura 10, 1700 Fribourg · Mon–Fri 08:30–18:30; Sat 08:30–16:00 · 1 km · bio26.ch
La Ferme des Areneys — farm shop
Route du Petit-Ependes 16, 1731 · 24/7 · 5 km · la-ferme-des-areneys.ch
La Ferme de la Source — farm shop
Route du Rafoué 148, 1720 Chésopelloz · Wed 14:00–18:00; Sat 08:30–12:00 · 6 km · ferme-lasource.ch

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