When to plant crocuses in Grand Island: 27 September – 1 December

In Grand Island, crocus: plant from 27 September to about 1 December.

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 Grand Island: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -7.5 °C.

Planting	27 September – 1 December
First autumn frost	27 October
Coldest nights	January, -7.5 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	24 February
Daylight	11:58 on 27 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:14

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

Crocus in Grand Island: 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 Grand Island the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 23 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 Grand Island, Sioux Falls is 6 days earlier and Wichita 3 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Lincoln	143 km	28 September – 7 December	1 day later
Omaha	206 km	26 September – 30 November	1 day earlier
Topeka	309 km	29 September – 30 December	2 days later
Sioux Falls	321 km	21 September – 16 November	6 days earlier
Wichita	370 km	30 September – end of December	3 days later
Dodge City	379 km	29 September – end of December	2 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Grand Island

Planting stock goes into the ground from 27 September to about 1 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Grand Island OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres (collected 28 October 2026).

Ace Hardware & Garden Center — garden centre
0 km
Walmart Garden Center — garden centre
4 km

Questions