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When to plant crocuses in Salt Lake City: 26 September – 23 December

In Salt Lake City, crocus: plant from 26 September to about 23 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include The Garden Store (farm supply, 2 km) and Cactus & Tropicals (plant nursery, 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 Salt Lake City: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -4.6 °C.

Planting26 September – 23 December
First autumn frost26 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -4.6 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring13 January
Daylight12:01 on 26 September
Daylight at the winter solstice9:15

The same dates in Salt Lake City hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Hyacinth.

Crocus in Salt Lake City: 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 Salt Lake City the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 24 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 Salt Lake City, Elko is 13 days earlier and Las Vegas 47 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Idaho Falls305 km14 September – 14 November12 days earlier
Elko324 km13 September – 15 November13 days earlier
Grand Junction339 km27 September – 7 December1 day later
Boise476 km27 September – end of December1 day later
Fort Collins576 km21 September – 5 December5 days earlier
Las Vegas583 kmby 12 November47 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Salt Lake City

Planting stock goes into the ground from 26 September to about 23 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Salt Lake City OpenStreetMap lists 14 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 1 plant nursery, 4 markets and 4 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Salt Lake City?

In Salt Lake City, crocus: plant from 26 September to about 23 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 Salt Lake City?

Last spring frost around 24 April, first autumn frost around 26 October.

Other crops in Salt Lake City, with their dates