When to plant crocuses in Yellowknife: 4 September – 4 October

In Yellowknife, crocus: plant from 4 September to about 4 October. For planting stock, the places nearby include Boreal Garden Centre (garden centre, 3 km) and Arctic Farmer Landscaping (garden centre, 4 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 Yellowknife: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in October–April; the coldest, February, averages -27.2 °C.

Planting	4 September – 4 October
First autumn frost	4 October
Coldest nights	February, -27.2 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	4 May
Daylight	14:09 on 4 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	4:58

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

Crocus in Yellowknife: 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 Yellowknife the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 37 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 Yellowknife, Whitehorse is 6 days earlier and Kelowna 27 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Edmonton	991 km	6 September – 19 October	2 days later
Whitehorse	1,107 km	29 August – 7 October	6 days earlier
Juneau	1,189 km	6 September – 12 October	2 days later
Saskatoon	1,235 km	6 September – 19 October	2 days later
Calgary	1,268 km	1 September – 26 October	3 days earlier
Kelowna	1,432 km	1 October – 27 November	27 days later

Where to buy crocus for planting in Yellowknife

Planting stock goes into the ground from 4 September to about 4 October; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Yellowknife OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres (collected 28 October 2026).

Boreal Garden Centre — garden centre
Drybones Drive 101 · 3 km
Arctic Farmer Landscaping — garden centre
Drybones Drive 106 · 4 km

Questions