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When to plant daffodils in Fort Collins: 21 September – 5 December

In Fort Collins, daffodil: plant from 21 September to about 5 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Horsetooth Stem and Roots (garden centre, 4 km) and Poudre Pet & Feed Supply (farm supply, 6 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).

Daffodil in Fort Collins: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–March; the coldest, January, averages -8.2 °C.

Planting21 September – 5 December
First autumn frost21 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -8.2 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring26 March
Daylight12:14 on 21 September
Daylight at the winter solstice9:16

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

Daffodil in Fort Collins: 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, 21 September.

In Fort Collins the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 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

Around Fort Collins, Rapid City is 9 days earlier and Dodge City 8 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Cheyenne69 km13 September – 4 December8 days earlier
Denver90 km15 September – 14 December6 days earlier
Pueblo258 km28 September – end of December7 days later
Grand Junction340 km27 September – 7 December6 days later
Rapid City420 km12 September – 28 November9 days earlier
Dodge City534 km29 September – end of December8 days later

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Fort Collins

Planting stock goes into the ground from 21 September to about 5 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Fort Collins OpenStreetMap lists 10 garden centres, 4 farm-supply shops, 2 plant nurseries, 3 markets and 6 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Fort Collins?

In Fort Collins, daffodil: plant from 21 September to about 5 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 Fort Collins?

Last spring frost around 25 April, first autumn frost around 21 October.

Other crops in Fort Collins, with their dates