When to plant crocuses in Kiel: 21 October – end of December

In Kiel, crocus: plant from 21 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include HaGe Lager (farm supply, 12 km) and Biohof Rzehak (farm shop, 13 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 average daily temperature here stays above 0 °C all winter, and at least three months average 7 °C or less: our rule of thumb for the winter cold spring bulbs need. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS.

Crocus in Kiel: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 0.2 °C.

Planting	21 October – end of December
First autumn frost	20 November
Coldest nights	January, 0.2 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:11 on 21 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	7:19

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

Crocus in Kiel: 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 Kiel the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 27 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 Kiel, Rostock is 3 days earlier and Hanover 1 day later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Hamburg	86 km	20 October – end of December	1 day earlier
Rostock	130 km	18 October – end of December	3 days earlier
Copenhagen	217 km	20 October – end of December	1 day earlier
Hanover	219 km	22 October – end of December	1 day later
Magdeburg	263 km	19 October – end of December	2 days earlier
Bielefeld	277 km	19 October – end of December	2 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Kiel

Planting stock goes into the ground from 21 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Kiel OpenStreetMap lists 11 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 9 markets and 19 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Suchsdorf Wochenmarkt — market
Nienbrügger Platz · Fri 07:00–13:00 · 6 km
Wochenmarkt Molfsee — market
Fri 13:00–17:00 · 7 km
Wochenmarkt Exerzierplatz — market
Wed 08:00–13:00; Sat 08:00–13:00 · 1 km
Wochenmarkt Vinetaplatz — market
Tue, Sat 08:00–13:00 · 1 km
Wochenmarkt Blücherplatz — market
Mon 08:00–13:00; Thu 08:00–13:00 · 3 km
Wochenmarkt Wik — market
Tue 09:00–18:00, Fri 09:00–18:00 · 4 km
HaGe Lager — farm supply
Klein Nordseer Straße 9, 24242 Felde · 12 km
Biohof Rzehak — farm shop · sells: eggs
Holander Allee 24, 24214 Tüttendorf · Mon–Tue, Thu–Fri 16:30–19:00, Sat 10:00–13:00 · 13 km · biohof-rzehak.de

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