When to plant crocuses in Van: 29 September – 21 November

In Van, crocus: plant from 29 September to about 21 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.

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 Van: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–March; the coldest, January, averages -9.8 °C.

Planting	29 September – 21 November
First autumn frost	29 October
Coldest nights	January, -9.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	11 March
Daylight	11:54 on 29 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:29

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

Crocus in Van: 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 Van the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 30 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 Van, Vanadzor is 34 days earlier and Ganja 43 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Yerevan	212 km	3 October – 4 December	4 days later
Erzurum	240 km	16 September – 20 November	13 days earlier
Gyumri	259 km	20 September – 23 November	9 days earlier
Vanadzor	275 km	26 August – 29 October	34 days earlier
Diyarbakır	282 km	26 October – end of December	27 days later
Ganja	353 km	11 November – end of December	43 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Van

Planting stock goes into the ground from 29 September to about 21 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Van OpenStreetMap lists 2 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026).

Cheese bazar — market
2 km
Büyük Rus Pazari — market
2 km
meskenler mevsim manavı — farm shop
2 km

Questions