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When to plant crocuses in Lansing: 3 October – 29 November

In Lansing, crocus: plant from 3 October to about 29 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Lansing Gardens (garden centre, 4 km) and Tannenbaum Farm (garden centre, 11 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 Lansing: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -7.1 °C.

Planting3 October – 29 November
First autumn frost2 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -7.1 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring16 February
Daylight11:41 on 3 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:02

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

Crocus in Lansing: 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 Lansing 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

1 of the nearest cities share Lansing's date.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Ann Arbor82 km6 October – 30 November3 days later
Grand Rapids95 km4 October – 29 November1 day later
Detroit131 km8 October – 7 December5 days later
Fort Wayne187 km3 October – 10 Decembersame day
Traverse City244 km10 October – 26 November7 days later
Chicago269 km7 October – 3 December4 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Lansing

Planting stock goes into the ground from 3 October to about 29 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Lansing OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 6 markets and 5 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Lansing?

In Lansing, crocus: plant from 3 October to about 29 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 Lansing?

Last spring frost around 28 April, first autumn frost around 2 November.

Other crops in Lansing, with their dates