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When to plant daffodils in Calgary: 1 September – 26 October

In Calgary, daffodil: plant from 1 September to about 26 October.

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).

Daffodil in Calgary: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in October–April; the coldest, February, averages -13.4 °C.

Planting1 September – 26 October
First autumn frost1 October
Coldest nightsFebruary, -13.4 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring29 April
Daylight13:35 on 1 September
Daylight at the winter solstice7:54

The same dates in Calgary hold for Garlic, Tulip, Crocus and Hyacinth.

Daffodil in Calgary: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant daffodils three times the bulb’s height deep (RHS): about 13–15 cm for large bulbs, 15–20 cm apart (University of Georgia Extension). The RHS advises planting them early in autumn, ideally in September in the UK, so do not leave them late: aim for the start of the window, 1 September.

In Calgary the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 32 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.

Daffodils are long-lived: clumps slowly expand over the years (RHS). Leave the leaves for at least eight weeks after flowering — they feed next year’s flowers (University of Georgia Extension).

Squirrels avoid daffodils, so they can be planted among tulips to reduce losses (RHS). Daffodils are toxic to dogs, cats and horses; the bulbs are the most poisonous part, and a large amount can cause convulsions and heart rhythm problems (ASPCA).

Sources: RHS, University of Georgia Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, ASPCA.

Daffodil in nearby cities

All the nearest cities on our list plant daffodil later than Calgary; the closest date is in Helena, 2 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Edmonton281 km6 September – 19 October5 days later
Kelowna405 km1 October – 27 November30 days later
Spokane449 km15 September – 23 November14 days later
Missoula465 km6 September – 12 November5 days later
Helena517 km3 September – 5 November2 days later
Saskatoon525 km6 September – 19 October5 days later

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Calgary

Planting stock goes into the ground from 1 September to about 26 October; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Calgary OpenStreetMap lists 15 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 4 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Calgary?

In Calgary, daffodil: plant from 1 September to about 26 October. 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 Calgary?

Last spring frost around 13 May, first autumn frost around 1 October.

Other crops in Calgary, with their dates