When to plant daffodils in Geneva: 18 October – end of December

In Geneva, daffodil: plant from 18 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Les Pots Classes (garden centre, 1 km) and Botanic (garden centre, 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 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.

Daffodil in Geneva: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -1.7 °C.

Planting	18 October – end of December
First autumn frost	17 November
Coldest nights	January, -1.7 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring	20 March
Daylight	10:49 on 18 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:37

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

Daffodil in Geneva: 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, 18 October.

In Geneva 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 Geneva, Aosta is 68 days earlier and Neuchâtel 11 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Annecy	32 km	15 October – end of December	3 days earlier
Sion	94 km	19 September – 19 November	29 days earlier
Fribourg	102 km	7 October – 30 December	11 days earlier
Aosta	105 km	11 August – 22 October	68 days earlier
Neuchâtel	107 km	29 October – end of December	11 days later
Lyon	112 km	26 October – end of December	8 days later

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Geneva

Planting stock goes into the ground from 18 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Geneva OpenStreetMap lists 16 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops, 8 markets and 23 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026).

Gamm Vert — garden centre
Chemin des Trois Noyers 33, 74100 Vétraz-Monthoux · Mon–Fri 09:00–12:00, 14:00–19:00; Sat 09:00–19:00; Sun 09:00–12:30, 14:30–18:00 · 8 km · magasin.gammvert.fr
Botanic — garden centre
Rue des Biches 14, 74100 Ville-la-Grand · Mon–Sat 09:00–19:00; Sun 09:30–12:30, 14:00–18:00; Aug 15 closed · 10 km · botanic.com
Botanic — garden centre
Rue du Mont Blanc 500, 01630 Saint-Genis-Pouilly · Mon–Sat 09:00–19:00; Sun 09:30–12:30, 14:00–18:00 · 11 km · botanic.com
Botanic — garden centre
Rue René Cassin 35 · Mon–Sun 09:00–12:00, 14:00–19:00; Aug 15 14:00–19:00 · 6 km · botanic.com
Gamm Vert — garden centre
Route de chez Montagnon 64 · Mon–Sat 09:00–12:00, 14:00–19:00 · 14 km · magasin.gammvert.fr
Gamm Vert — garden centre
Rue des Vieux Moulins 3, 74160 Saint-Julien-en-Genevois · Mon–Fri 09:00–12:00, 14:00–18:30; Fri 09:00–12:00, 14:00–18:00; Aug 15 closed · 8 km
J. Vaudaux — garden centre
Route de Taninges 138, 74100 Vétraz-Monthoux · Mon–Fri 08:30–12:00, 14:00–18:30; Sat 08:30–17:00; Sun closed · 11 km
Les Pots Classes — garden centre
Rue de la Faucille 4, 1201 Genève · Tue–Fri 10:00–19:00, Thu 10:00–20:00 · 1 km

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