When to plant crocuses in Sligo: 22 October – end of December

In Sligo, crocus: plant from 22 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Horkans (garden centre, 1 km) and Homeland Plus (farm shop, 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 average daily temperature here stays above 0 °C all winter, and at least three months average 7 °C or less: our rule of thumb for the winter cold spring bulbs need. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS.

Crocus in Sligo: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 2.8 °C.

Planting	22 October – end of December
First autumn frost	21 November
Coldest nights	January, 2.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:07 on 22 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	7:19

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

Crocus in Sligo: 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 Sligo the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 28 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 Sligo, Belfast is 2 days earlier and Letterkenny 7 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Letterkenny	91 km	29 October – end of December	7 days later
Athlone	101 km	27 October – end of December	5 days later
Galway	118 km	by 29 October	7 days later
Dundalk	138 km	21 October – end of December	1 day earlier
Belfast	168 km	20 October – end of December	2 days earlier
Dublin	178 km	25 October – end of December	3 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Sligo

Planting stock goes into the ground from 22 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Sligo OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026).

Horkans — garden centre
Mon–Sun 10:00–18:00 · 1 km
Homebase — garden centre
Carraroe Retail Park, Sligo · 2 km
Homeland Plus — farm shop
Deep Water Quay, F91 HR53 Sligo · 2 km

Questions