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When to plant crocuses in Ottawa: 2 October – 10 November

In Ottawa, crocus: plant from 2 October to about 10 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Ritchie Feed & Seed (garden centre, 7 km) and Emery (garden centre, 9 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 Ottawa: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–March; the coldest, January, averages -12.7 °C.

Planting2 October – 10 November
First autumn frost1 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -12.7 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring7 April
Daylight11:41 on 2 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:43

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

Crocus in Ottawa: 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 Ottawa the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 28 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 Ottawa, Montpelier is 15 days earlier and Rochester 11 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Montreal166 km2 October – 13 Novembersame day
Burlington222 km4 October – 23 November2 days later
Trois-Rivières265 km29 September – 8 November3 days earlier
Syracuse (United States)266 km7 October – 28 November5 days later
Montpelier279 km17 September – 11 November15 days earlier
Rochester295 km13 October – 14 December11 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Ottawa

Planting stock goes into the ground from 2 October to about 10 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Ottawa OpenStreetMap lists 11 garden centres, 6 markets and 6 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Ottawa?

In Ottawa, crocus: plant from 2 October to about 10 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 Ottawa?

Last spring frost around 30 April, first autumn frost around 1 November.

Other crops in Ottawa, with their dates