When to plant crocuses in Santa Fe (United States): 26 September – 11 December

In Santa Fe (United States), crocus: plant from 26 September to about 11 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Sabo Botanicals (garden centre, 0 km) and Payne’s North (garden centre, 2 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 Santa Fe (United States): soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–February; the coldest, January, averages -6.8 °C.

Planting	26 September – 11 December
First autumn frost	26 October
Coldest nights	January, -6.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	9 February
Daylight	12:02 on 26 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:44

The same dates in Santa Fe (United States) hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Hyacinth.

Crocus in Santa Fe (United States): 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 Fe (United States) 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 Santa Fe (United States), Denver is 11 days earlier and Ciudad Juárez 40 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Albuquerque	94 km	10 October – end of December	14 days later
Pueblo	309 km	28 September – end of December	2 days later
Las Cruces	384 km	by 25 October	29 days later
Grand Junction	444 km	27 September – 7 December	1 day later
Ciudad Juárez	447 km	by 5 November	40 days later
Denver	458 km	15 September – 14 December	11 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Santa Fe (United States)

Planting stock goes into the ground from 26 September to about 11 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Santa Fe (United States) OpenStreetMap lists 11 garden centres, 4 plant nurseries and 3 markets (collected 28 October 2026).

Payne's Nurseries North — plant nursery
3 km
Newman's Nurery — plant nursery
11 km
Payne’s North — garden centre
Camino Alire 304, 87501 Santa Fe · Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00; Sun 10:00–16:00 · 2 km
Plants Of The Southwest — garden centre
Agua Fria Street 3095, 87507 Santa Fe · 7 km · plantsofthesouthwest.com
Reunity Soil Yard Office — garden centre
San Ysidro Crossing 1829, 87507 Santa Fe · 7 km
Ewing Outdoor Supply — garden centre
Bisbee Court 20, 87508 Santa Fe · 14 km
Sabo Botanicals — garden centre
West Marcy Street 65, 87501 Santa Fe · 0 km
Agua Fria Nursery — garden centre
Agua Fria Street, Santa Fe · 3 km

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