When to plant crocuses in Kaluga: 11 September – 5 November

In Kaluga, crocus: plant from 11 September to about 5 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Хозяйственный магазин (garden centre, 5 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 Kaluga: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–March; the coldest, January, averages -8.7 °C.

Planting	11 September – 5 November
First autumn frost	11 October
Coldest nights	January, -8.7 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	30 March
Daylight	13:04 on 11 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	7:16

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

Crocus in Kaluga: 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 Kaluga the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 31 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 Kaluga, Tver is 1 day earlier and Ryazan 12 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Tula	95 km	15 September – 4 November	4 days later
Moscow	161 km	14 September – 2 November	3 days later
Oryol	174 km	16 September – 10 November	5 days later
Bryansk	190 km	20 September – 11 November	9 days later
Ryazan	221 km	23 September – 5 November	12 days later
Tver	260 km	10 September – 1 November	1 day earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Kaluga

Planting stock goes into the ground from 11 September to about 5 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Kaluga OpenStreetMap lists 19 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 11 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 27 October 2026).

Хозяйственный магазин — garden centre
Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00; Sat, Sun 09:00–16:00 · 5 km
Центральный рынок Калуга — market
улица Плеханова 61 · Mon–Sun 08:00–20:00 · 2 km · vk.com
Рынок на Малоярославецкой — market
Малоярославецкая улица 6 к6, Калуга · 6 km
Торговые ряды — market
08:00–20:00 · 3 km
Сад и огород — garden centre
0 km
Сад и огород — garden centre
1 km
Поле Сад — garden centre
1 km
Урожайный — garden centre
1 km

Questions