Greenly Garden
Get the app
EN

When to plant crocuses in Tallinn: 2 October – 26 November

In Tallinn, crocus: plant from 2 October to about 26 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Juhani puukool - Viimsi istikuäri (garden centre, 8 km) and Juhani puukool - Harku istikuäri (garden centre, 9 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 Tallinn: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -4.7 °C.

Planting2 October – 26 November
First autumn frost1 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -4.7 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring19 March
Daylight11:26 on 2 October
Daylight at the winter solstice6:03

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

Crocus in Tallinn: 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 Tallinn 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 Tallinn, Pskov is 13 days earlier and Riga 12 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Helsinki82 km20 September – 25 November12 days earlier
Pskov275 km19 September – 17 November13 days earlier
Riga279 km14 October – 8 December12 days later
Saint Petersburg317 km20 September – 10 November12 days earlier
Stockholm378 km28 September – 5 December4 days earlier
Veliky Novgorod387 km19 September – 10 November13 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Tallinn

Planting stock goes into the ground from 2 October to about 26 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Tallinn OpenStreetMap lists 10 garden centres, 2 plant nurseries and 11 markets (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Tallinn?

In Tallinn, crocus: plant from 2 October to about 26 November. 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 Tallinn?

Last spring frost around 1 May, first autumn frost around 1 November.

Other crops in Tallinn, with their dates