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When to plant crocuses in Helsinki: 20 September – 25 November

In Helsinki, crocus: plant from 20 September to about 25 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Seeds Of Love (farm supply, 2 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 Helsinki: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -5.9 °C.

Planting20 September – 25 November
First autumn frost20 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -5.9 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring25 March
Daylight12:30 on 20 September
Daylight at the winter solstice5:49

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

Crocus in Helsinki: 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 Helsinki the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 33 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 Helsinki, Pskov is 1 day earlier and Riga 24 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Tallinn82 km2 October – 26 November12 days later
Saint Petersburg299 km20 September – 10 Novembersame day
Pskov325 km19 September – 17 November1 day earlier
Riga361 km14 October – 8 December24 days later
Stockholm396 km28 September – 5 December8 days later
Veliky Novgorod403 km19 September – 10 November1 day earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Helsinki

Planting stock goes into the ground from 20 September to about 25 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Helsinki OpenStreetMap lists 26 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 3 plant nurseries and 13 markets (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Helsinki?

In Helsinki, crocus: plant from 20 September to about 25 November. 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 Helsinki?

Last spring frost around 6 May, first autumn frost around 20 October.

Other crops in Helsinki, with their dates