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When to plant crocuses in Ithaca: 9 October – 4 December

In Ithaca, crocus: plant from 9 October to about 4 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Ithaca Agway & True Value (garden centre, 1 km) and Green Tree (garden centre, 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 Ithaca: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -6.3 °C.

Planting9 October – 4 December
First autumn frost8 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -6.3 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring1 March
Daylight11:24 on 9 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:04

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

Crocus in Ithaca: 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 Ithaca the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 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 Ithaca, Toronto is 9 days earlier and Rochester 4 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Syracuse (United States)74 km7 October – 28 November2 days earlier
Rochester121 km13 October – 14 December4 days later
Buffalo201 km11 October – 6 December2 days later
Allentown222 km4 October – 30 December5 days earlier
Albany226 km7 October – 30 November2 days earlier
Toronto270 km30 September – 25 November9 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Ithaca

Planting stock goes into the ground from 9 October to about 4 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Ithaca OpenStreetMap lists 3 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries, 6 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 29 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Ithaca?

In Ithaca, crocus: plant from 9 October to about 4 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.

When is the last spring frost in Ithaca?

Last spring frost around 28 April, first autumn frost around 8 November.

Other crops in Ithaca, with their dates