When to plant crocuses in Victoria: 21 November – end of December
In Victoria, crocus: plant from 21 November to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Topsoil Market (farm shop, 1 km) and Mason Street Farm & Victoria Edible Nursery (farm shop, 1 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.
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Crocus in Victoria: soil, season and weather
No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in February, average 2.6 °C.
| Planting | 21 November – end of December |
|---|---|
| First autumn frost | 21 December |
| Coldest nights | February, 2.6 °C |
| Soil back at 1 °C in spring | already in the first week of January |
| Daylight | 8:59 on 21 November |
| Daylight at the winter solstice | 8:19 |
The same dates in Victoria hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Hyacinth.
Crocus in Victoria: 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 Victoria the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 24 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 Victoria; the closest date is in Seattle, 27 days earlier.
| City | Distance | Date | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 96 km | 18 October – end of December | 34 days earlier |
| Seattle | 120 km | 25 October – end of December | 27 days earlier |
| Olympia | 159 km | 16 October – end of December | 36 days earlier |
| Kelowna | 325 km | 1 October – 27 November | 51 days earlier |
| Portland | 328 km | 23 October – end of December | 29 days earlier |
| Salem | 389 km | 18 October – end of December | 34 days earlier |
Where to buy crocus for planting in Victoria
Planting stock goes into the ground from 21 November to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Victoria OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 7 markets and 6 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).
- Oaklands Sunset Market — market
Jul 09–Aug 27 Wed 16:30–20:00 · 3 km · sunsetmarket.org - Gorge Farmers Market — market
Jun–Aug Mon 16:30–19:30; Sept Mon 16:30–19:00; Oct–May Off · 3 km · esquimaltmarket.com - Esquimalt Farmers Market — market
Apr–Aug Thu 16:30–19:30; Sept Thu 16:30–19:00; Oct–Mar Off · 3 km · esquimaltmarket.com - Mason Street Farm & Victoria Edible Nursery — farm shop
Balmoral Road 1015, V8T 1A3 · Mon–Sun 10:00–17:00 · 1 km · victoriaediblenursery.com - Willow Wind Feed & Pet Food — farm shop
Sooke Road 2714 · Mon–Sat 09:00–18:00; Sun 09:00–17:00 · 11 km · topshelffeeds.ca - Madrona Farm — farm shop
Wed–Sat 11:00–17:00 · 6 km · madronafarm.ca - Topsoil Market — farm shop
Mon–Fri 12:00–18:00 · 1 km - Elk Lake Nursery — garden centre
12 km
Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
- How to grow crocus
- All frost dates and weather of Victoria
- Shops and markets: Victoria
- Selling a surplus in Canada
- Victoria: #134 of 801 by frost-free season
- Moon planting calendar for November 2026
- How we calculate the dates
Questions
When to plant crocuses in Victoria?
In Victoria, crocus: plant from 21 November to the end of December. 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 Victoria?
Last spring frost around 1 March, first autumn frost around 21 December.
Other crops in Victoria, with their dates
- Tomato · 14 May – 31 August
- Cucumber · 13 June – 6 October
- Bell Pepper · 13 June – 31 August
- Eggplant · 13 June – 31 August
- Zucchini · 13 June – 4 October
- Pumpkin · 13 June – 26 August
- Watermelon · 13 June – 11 September
- Peas · 8 February – 8 October
- Garlic · 21 November – end of December
- Tulip · 21 November – end of December
- Daffodil · 21 November – end of December
- Hyacinth · 21 November – end of December