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When to plant crocuses in Santa Barbara: by 15 November

In Santa Barbara, crocus: plant by 15 November. The winter here is too mild for our late-planting rule, so we give no later limit. For planting stock, the places nearby include 7 Day Nursery (garden centre, 4 km) and Green Coast (farm supply, 7 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Crocus in Santa Barbara: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in February, average 3.7 °C.

Plantingby 15 November
First autumn frost15 December
Coldest nightsFebruary, 3.7 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of January
Daylight10:23 on 15 November
Daylight at the winter solstice9:51

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

Crocus in Santa Barbara: 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 Santa Barbara the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 11 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. That is less than the bulbs need, and without more cold they may not flower properly. The cold can also be given in a refrigerator at about 2–7 °C, as Wisconsin Horticulture Extension does for crocuses forced in pots.

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 Santa Barbara; the closest date is in Las Vegas, 3 days earlier.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Fresno259 kmby 5 November10 days earlier
Stockton419 kmby 3 November12 days earlier
Las Vegas457 kmby 12 November3 days earlier
Sacramento489 kmby 11 November4 days earlier
Carson City527 km22 September – end of December54 days earlier
Reno568 km28 September – end of December48 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Santa Barbara

Planting stock goes into the ground by 15 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Santa Barbara OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 plant nurseries, 1 market and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Santa Barbara?

In Santa Barbara, crocus: plant by 15 November. The winter here is too mild for our late-planting rule, so we give no later limit.

When is the last spring frost in Santa Barbara?

Last spring frost around 15 March, first autumn frost around 15 December.

Other crops in Santa Barbara, with their dates