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When to plant crocuses in Saint Petersburg: 20 September – 10 November

In Saint Petersburg, crocus: plant from 20 September to about 10 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Медведь (farm shop, 3 km) and Гастроном (farm shop, 4 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 Saint Petersburg: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–April; the coldest, January, averages -7.6 °C.

Planting20 September – 10 November
First autumn frost20 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -7.6 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring20 March
Daylight12:30 on 20 September
Daylight at the winter solstice5:54

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

Crocus in Saint Petersburg: 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 Saint Petersburg the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 32 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 Saint Petersburg, Petrozavodsk is 3 days earlier and Tallinn 12 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Veliky Novgorod167 km19 September – 10 November1 day earlier
Pskov262 km19 September – 17 November1 day earlier
Helsinki299 km20 September – 25 Novembersame day
Petrozavodsk299 km17 September – 24 October3 days earlier
Tallinn317 km2 October – 26 November12 days later
Cherepovets437 km17 September – 25 October3 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Saint Petersburg

Planting stock goes into the ground from 20 September to about 10 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Saint Petersburg OpenStreetMap lists 42 garden centres, 4 farm-supply shops, 31 markets and 80 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Saint Petersburg?

In Saint Petersburg, crocus: plant from 20 September 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 Saint Petersburg?

Last spring frost around 1 May, first autumn frost around 20 October.

Other crops in Saint Petersburg, with their dates