When to plant crocuses in Springfield: 2 October – 22 December

In Springfield, crocus: plant from 2 October to about 22 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Kreations (garden centre, 7 km) and Brandt (farm supply, 12 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 Springfield: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -5.3 °C.

Planting	2 October – 22 December
First autumn frost	1 November
Coldest nights	January, -5.3 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	11 January
Daylight	11:46 on 2 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:21

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

Crocus in Springfield: 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 Springfield the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 21 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 Springfield, Rockford is 4 days earlier and Evansville 9 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Peoria	99 km	1 October – 9 December	1 day earlier
St. Louis	139 km	5 October – end of December	3 days later
Davenport	212 km	30 September – 30 November	2 days earlier
Jefferson City	258 km	5 October – end of December	3 days later
Evansville	271 km	11 October – end of December	9 days later
Rockford	278 km	28 September – 25 November	4 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Springfield

Planting stock goes into the ground from 2 October to about 22 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Springfield OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre, 2 farm-supply shops and 1 market (collected 28 October 2026).

Kreations — garden centre
Chatham Road 3427, 62704 Springfield · Tue–Fri 11:00–18:00; Sat 11:00–17:00; Sun 11:00–15:00 · 7 km · gokigc.com
Deo Gratias Food Market — market
West Constitution Drive 2920, 62704 Springfield · Tue–Fri 10:00–19:00; Sat 10:30–20:30; Sun 13:00–19:00 · 8 km
Brandt — farm supply
Industrial Drive 6089, 62670 Curran · 12 km · brandt.co
WinField United — farm supply
Industrial Drive 6100, 62670 Curran · 13 km · winfieldunited.com

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