When to plant crocuses in Liverpool: 27 October – end of December

In Liverpool, crocus: plant from 27 October to the end of December.

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 Liverpool: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 2.8 °C.

Planting	27 October – end of December
First autumn frost	26 November
Coldest nights	January, 2.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	9:51 on 27 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	7:29

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

Crocus in Liverpool: 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 Liverpool 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

All the nearest cities on our list plant crocus earlier than Liverpool; the closest date is in Leeds, 3 days earlier.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Manchester	50 km	15 October – end of December	12 days earlier
Stoke-on-Trent	68 km	16 October – end of December	11 days earlier
Bradford	92 km	19 October – end of December	8 days earlier
Sheffield	100 km	23 October – end of December	4 days earlier
Leeds	104 km	24 October – end of December	3 days earlier
Birmingham	126 km	20 October – end of December	7 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Liverpool

Planting stock goes into the ground from 27 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Liverpool OpenStreetMap lists 21 garden centres, 5 plant nurseries, 9 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Prescot Indoor Market — market
12 km
Greenwood Nursery — plant nursery
13 km
Gorse Lodge Nursery — plant nursery
13 km
Ince Blundell Nurseries — plant nursery
13 km
Northway Nurseries — plant nursery
14 km
Rosemount Nursery — plant nursery
14 km
Old Oaks Farm — farm shop
13 km · oldoaksfarm.co.uk
Claremont Farm Shop — farm shop
8 km

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