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

In Valence, crocus: plant from 22 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Gamm Vert (garden centre, 10 km) and Gamm Vert (garden centre, 11 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 Valence: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1 °C.

Planting	22 October – end of December
First autumn frost	21 November
Coldest nights	January, 1 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:41 on 22 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:46

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

Crocus in Valence: 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 Valence the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 20 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 Valence, Grenoble is 27 days earlier and Avignon 11 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Saint-Étienne	70 km	18 October – end of December	4 days earlier
Grenoble	70 km	25 September – 1 December	27 days earlier
Lyon	92 km	26 October – end of December	4 days later
Avignon	109 km	by 2 November	11 days later
Nîmes	129 km	by 1 November	10 days later
Annecy	145 km	15 October – end of December	7 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Valence

Planting stock goes into the ground from 22 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Valence OpenStreetMap lists 17 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries, 8 markets and 21 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026).

Gamm Vert — garden centre
Mon–Sat 08:00–12:15; Sun, public holidays closed, Mon–Sat 14:00–18:30 · 10 km
Gamm Vert — garden centre
Mon–Sat 09:00–12:00, 14:00–18:30 · 11 km
Place des Clercs — market
Sat 06:00–12:00 · 2 km
Halle Saint-Jean — market
Tue 16:00–19:00 · 2 km
Place du Marché — market
Sun 07:00–12:30+ · 8 km
Etoile Café — market
Mon–Sat 06:30–19:00 · 10 km
Huilerie Richard — farm shop · sells: olive, olive_oil, wallnut_oil, hazelnut_oil, rapeseed_oil, sesame_oil
Chemin du Grand Pré 195 · Mon–Fri 08:30–12:30, 14:00–19:00; Sat 09:00–19:00; Jul 14 10:00–13:00, 14:00–18:00; Aug 15 10:00–13:00, 14:00–18:00 · 15 km · huilerie-richard.com
Distri'Ferm — farm shop
Chemin de l'Oiseau Bleu 926, 07300 Tournon-sur-Rhône · Tue–Thu 09:00–12:30, 14:30–19:00; Fri 09:00–19:00; Sat 09:00–18:00 · 15 km

Questions