When to plant crocuses in Strasbourg: 21 October – end of December

In Strasbourg, crocus: plant from 21 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Tchungle (garden centre, 1 km) and Tropix (garden centre, 4 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 Strasbourg: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 0.1 °C.

Planting	21 October – end of December
First autumn frost	20 November
Coldest nights	January, 0.1 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:33 on 21 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:17

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

Crocus in Strasbourg: 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 Strasbourg the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 23 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

All the nearest cities on our list plant crocus earlier than Strasbourg; the closest date is in Karlsruhe, 1 day earlier.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Karlsruhe	68 km	20 October – end of December	1 day earlier
Mulhouse	96 km	18 October – end of December	3 days earlier
Stuttgart	108 km	9 October – end of December	12 days earlier
Metz	130 km	18 October – end of December	3 days earlier
Zurich	145 km	17 October – end of December	4 days earlier
Luxembourg	165 km	19 October – end of December	2 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Strasbourg

Planting stock goes into the ground from 21 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Strasbourg OpenStreetMap lists 15 garden centres, 13 markets and 31 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Tropix — garden centre
Route des Romains 222, 67200 Strasbourg · Mon–Fri 08:30–12:00, 13:30–18:30; Sat 08:30–18:00; Sun 10:00–12:00 · 4 km · tropix.fr
1A Garten Hopp — garden centre
Querbacher Straße 44, 77694 Kehl · Mon–Fri 08:00–12:30; 13:30–18:00; Sat 08:00–13:00 · 9 km · 1a-garten-hopp.de
Jardins Issler — garden centre
Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00; Sat 09:00–18:30 · 10 km · jardins-issler.fr
Beinert — garden centre
Am Tankgraben 2, 77694 Kehl · 9 km
Trèfle Vert — garden centre
Mon–Fri 09:00–12:00, 14:00–18:30; Sat 09:00–12:00, 14:00–18:00 · 10 km · treflevert.com
Tchungle — garden centre
Tue–Sat 10:00–19:00 · 1 km
Alsace Espaces Verts — garden centre
Tue–Fri 08:30–12:00, 14:00–19:00; Sat 08:30–12:00, 14:00–18:00 · 5 km
Halle du Marché Gare — market
Rue du Marché Gare 41, 67200 Strasbourg · Tue–Thu 09:00–19:00; Fri 08:00–21:00; Sat 08:00–19:00; Sun 09:00–14:00 · 3 km · halledumarchegare.fr

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