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When to plant crocuses in Sapporo: 17 September – 31 October

In Sapporo, crocus: plant from 17 September to about 31 October. For planting stock, the places nearby include 萩野農園野菜直売所果菜園 (farm shop, 13 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 Sapporo: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–April; the coldest, January, averages -11.9 °C.

Planting17 September – 31 October
First autumn frost17 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -11.9 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring23 April
Daylight12:27 on 17 September
Daylight at the winter solstice9:00

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

Crocus in Sapporo: 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 Sapporo 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 Sapporo, Khabarovsk is 1 day earlier and Niigata 64 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Sendai534 km24 October – end of December37 days later
Niigata604 km20 November – end of December64 days later
Vladivostok768 km6 October – 8 November19 days later
Khabarovsk774 km16 September – 15 October1 day earlier
Tokyo832 km14 November – end of December58 days later
Nagoya956 km10 November – end of December54 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Sapporo

Planting stock goes into the ground from 17 September to about 31 October; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Sapporo OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Sapporo?

In Sapporo, crocus: plant from 17 September to about 31 October. 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 Sapporo?

Last spring frost around 9 May, first autumn frost around 17 October.

Other crops in Sapporo, with their dates