When to plant crocuses in Karakol: 31 August – 21 October

In Karakol, crocus: plant from 31 August to about 21 October.

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 Karakol: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in October–April; the coldest, January, averages -12.5 °C.

Planting	31 August – 21 October
First autumn frost	30 September
Coldest nights	January, -12.5 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	23 March
Daylight	13:14 on 31 August
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:04

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

Crocus in Karakol: 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 Karakol 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

All the nearest cities on our list plant crocus later than Karakol; the closest date is in Almaty, 6 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Almaty	148 km	6 September – 6 November	6 days later
Taldykorgan	281 km	8 September – 4 November	8 days later
Bishkek	313 km	23 September – 4 December	23 days later
Jalal-Abad	480 km	8 October – end of December	38 days later
Osh	514 km	7 October – 27 December	37 days later
Taraz	575 km	20 September – 23 November	20 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Karakol

Planting stock goes into the ground from 31 August to about 21 October; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Karakol OpenStreetMap lists 3 markets (collected 27 October 2026).

Бугу — market
Mon–Sun 09:00–19:00 · 0 km
Main Bazaar — market
1 km
Big Bazaar — market
1 km

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