When to plant crocuses in Palermo: 23 November – end of December

In Palermo, crocus: plant from 23 November 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 Palermo: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.8 °C.

Planting	23 November – end of December
First autumn frost	23 December
Coldest nights	January, 1.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	9:54 on 23 November
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:31

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

Crocus in Palermo: 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 Palermo the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 21 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 Palermo; the closest date is in Foggia, 3 days earlier.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Reggio Calabria	200 km	by 19 November	4 days earlier
Cosenza	283 km	31 October – end of December	23 days earlier
Salerno	310 km	by 11 November	12 days earlier
Potenza	350 km	26 October – end of December	28 days earlier
Foggia	416 km	by 20 November	3 days earlier
Rome	427 km	by 10 November	13 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Palermo

Planting stock goes into the ground from 23 November to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Palermo OpenStreetMap lists 11 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries, 12 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026).

Vivai Castellana — garden centre
5 km · google.it
Vivaio Tumminello — garden centre
4 km
Ibervillea — garden centre
3 km
Oliveri stufe — garden centre
4 km
Vivai Lo Verso — garden centre
4 km
Mercato Verde — garden centre
4 km
Edil Verde — garden centre
9 km
Contatti — garden centre
14 km

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