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When to plant crocuses in Rochester: 13 October – 14 December

In Rochester, crocus: plant from 13 October to about 14 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Hydro Garden Center (garden centre, 3 km) and Clover Nursery and Garden Center (garden centre, 7 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 Rochester: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -4.7 °C.

Planting13 October – 14 December
First autumn frost12 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -4.7 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring15 January
Daylight11:11 on 13 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:59

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

Crocus in Rochester: 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 Rochester 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 Rochester, Toronto is 13 days earlier and Erie 7 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Buffalo106 km11 October – 6 December2 days earlier
Syracuse (United States)121 km7 October – 28 November6 days earlier
Ithaca121 km9 October – 4 December4 days earlier
Toronto153 km30 September – 25 November13 days earlier
Hamilton181 km8 October – 10 December5 days earlier
Erie231 km20 October – 22 December7 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Rochester

Planting stock goes into the ground from 13 October to about 14 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Rochester OpenStreetMap lists 8 garden centres, 7 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Rochester?

In Rochester, crocus: plant from 13 October to about 14 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.

When is the last spring frost in Rochester?

Last spring frost around 20 April, first autumn frost around 12 November.

Other crops in Rochester, with their dates