When to plant crocuses in Whitehorse: 29 August – 7 October

In Whitehorse, crocus: plant from 29 August to about 7 October. For planting stock, the places nearby include Candy's Fruit Stand (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 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 Whitehorse: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in October–April; the coldest, February, averages -15.5 °C.

Planting	29 August – 7 October
First autumn frost	28 September
Coldest nights	February, -15.5 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	23 April
Daylight	14:33 on 29 August
Daylight at the winter solstice	5:38

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

Crocus in Whitehorse: 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 Whitehorse the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 38 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 Whitehorse, Fairbanks is 5 days earlier and Vancouver 50 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Juneau	272 km	6 September – 12 October	8 days later
Fairbanks	788 km	24 August – 2 October	5 days earlier
Anchorage	801 km	14 September – 18 October	16 days later
Yellowknife	1,107 km	4 September – 4 October	6 days later
Vancouver	1,477 km	18 October – end of December	50 days later
Edmonton	1,516 km	6 September – 19 October	8 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Whitehorse

Planting stock goes into the ground from 29 August to about 7 October; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Whitehorse OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026).

Candy's Fruit Stand — farm shop
Black Street 208, Y1A 2M9 Whitehorse · 1 km · candysfruitstand.com
Walmart Garden Centre — garden centre
2 km · walmart.ca

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