When to plant crocuses in Leipzig: 18 October – end of December

In Leipzig, crocus: plant from 18 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Gärtnerei Fritz Jentsch (garden centre, 4 km) and Gärtnerei Naumann (garden centre, 6 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 Leipzig: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January; the coldest, January, averages -0.4 °C.

Planting	18 October – end of December
First autumn frost	17 November
Coldest nights	January, -0.4 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:34 on 18 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	7:51

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

Crocus in Leipzig: 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 Leipzig the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 25 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 Leipzig, Erfurt is 10 days earlier and Potsdam 4 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Dresden	101 km	19 October – end of December	1 day later
Magdeburg	102 km	19 October – end of December	1 day later
Erfurt	102 km	8 October – end of December	10 days earlier
Potsdam	127 km	22 October – end of December	4 days later
Ústí nad Labem	139 km	13 October – 10 December	5 days earlier
Berlin	149 km	20 October – end of December	2 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Leipzig

Planting stock goes into the ground from 18 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Leipzig OpenStreetMap lists 17 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops, 8 plant nurseries, 11 markets and 9 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Tannenhof Threna — plant nursery
16 km
Direktvermarktung R. Kabisch — farm shop
15 km
Gärtnerei Naumann — garden centre
Gutberletstraße 15a, 04316 Leipzig · Mon–Fri 07:00–16:00 · 6 km · gaertnerei-naumann.de
Klee Gartencenter — garden centre
Köstritzer Straße 1, 04207 Leipzig · Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00; Sat 09:00–18:00 · 7 km · klee-gartencenter-leipzig.de
Dehner — garden centre
Hauptstraße 94, 04416 Markkleeberg · Mon–Sat 09:00–19:00; Sun, public holidays closed · 8 km · dehner.de
Dehner — garden centre
Otto-Schmidt-Straße 2, 04425 Taucha · Mon–Sat 09:00–19:00; Sun, public holidays closed · 8 km · dehner.de
Gärtnerei Fritz Jentsch — garden centre
Threnaer Straße 1, 04277 Leipzig · Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00; Sat 09:00–12:00 · 4 km · grabpflegeleipzig.de
Theisinger — garden centre
Muldentalstraße 97, 04288 Leipzig · Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00; Sat 08:00–13:00 · 10 km · blumen-theisinger.de

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