There ’s nothing like waking up one later - winter daytime to a arena of gorgeous crocus blooms in your own backyard .
But when , exactly , do you have to implant crocus bulbs , technically called corms , in society to see a bountifulness of flowers ?
Of the threemost popular varieties – snow ( Crocus chrysanthus ) , Dutch ( C. vernus ) , and saffron ( C. sativus ) – two are youthful and one is autumnal , so planting times differ , and vary fit in to yourUSDA Hardiness Zone .
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you’re able to find out crocus in our everlasting guide , but in this article , we ’ll be pore on when to plant this hardy fellow member of the iris family .
What You’ll Learn
When to Plant Snow and Dutch Crocus Varieties
Plant Crocuses Together
When to Plant Saffron Crocus
Both snow and Dutch varieties are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8 . These two smorgasbord are vernal , which means they blossom in outflow .
But of course , the lowest extreme temperature in Zone 3 is very unlike than it is in Zone 8 , and planting sentence need to be adjusted accordingly .
I live in Alaska , in Zone 4 . Those of us living in states with cold winter load from Washington to Maine and down through Utah , Colorado , Kansas , and Ohio – in other words , nurseryman in Zones 3 to 6 – want to plant crocus corm in September and October .
Those in lovesome climate will broadly speaking aim to plant their corms nigher to November .
In either case , the precise month for planting depends on one thing : the middling appointment of the first hard hoarfrost in your area , when remote temperature fall below 28 ° F for several hours at a stretch .
enumerate back six to eight weeks before your medium first frost date and you ’ll know when to plant your corm .
There ’s a caution , though : the grunge must be 60 ° F or lower when you plant the bulbs . To check that you embed at the right time , employ a soil thermometer , like this one from Vee Gee Scientific that isavailable via Amazon .
Soil Thermometer
Not sure how to use a soil thermometer ?
translate on .
How to Use a Soil Thermometer
Eight week before the fair first icing appointment in your country , maneuver out into the yard in the morning – the originally , the sound .
The stain ’s more potential to be at its coldest , and that ’s when you desire to evaluate the temperature .
Stick the investigation three to four inches deep in the dirt where you plan to plant your corms .
await until the thermometer complete reading . If the temperature is 61 ° F or higher , take the temperature again the following day and the daylight after , until you get a version of 60 ° atomic number 9 or below .
crocus lie with the frigidity , so do n’t worry if your filth is well below 60 ° F when you take the temperature .
Just get those corm into the ground as soon as possible so they can tunnel down for the long , stale winter onwards and train for their bound introduction .
If you survive in Zone 9 , you’re able to still spring up crocuses , but you ’ll have to cool the light bulb in the refrigerator for 12 to 15 calendar week before planting .
Simply put your corm in a ventilated bag , and store them in the coldest section of your refrigerator . This is typically at the very back of the bottom portion of the fridge .
In midwinter or early spring , depending on your zone , plant them in trench three column inch thick .
Crocus corm need chilling because as they are native to regions with moth-eaten wintertime temperatures , and they ask a stale period in monastic order to start pushing through the ground and flowering .
Unlike other plant , crocuses do n’t mind party . For hopeful lump of blooms , plant them in groups of three to nine corms .
First , choose a sunny or part shady area .
Then dig a oceanic abyss three in deeply if you live in USDA zone 6 to 8 , or four inches deep for Zones 3 to 5 , to put up excess insularity . target the corms in the trench , monotonous side down and about two inches apart .
The opposite side of the bulb will have a small breaker point and sometimes even novel shoots beginning to form . This side should look upward .
overcompensate the corms with soil , give them a good watering , and part daydreaming about your springtime reward .
Are you raring in your desire to see those brilliant crocus blooms in your chiliad ?
If you survive in Zones 6 to 10 , you ’re in luck . you’re able to plant the saffron crocus variety , C. sativus , mother of the cute saffron spice , in your yard in August for colder region , or in September in the warmer zone in this scope .
In this case , you want to implant the bulbs at least six weeks before the first frost . Pick some up now from She ’s Rooted Home .
Because Crocus sativus crocus corms are more heat - resistant than the vernal varieties and do n’t need a chilling point , you do n’t postulate to worry as much about grease temperature when you plant .
Crocus sativus crocuses bloom in just two months , providing you with a burst of color before wintertime tighten up its hairgrip on the acres .
Even if you go in Zones 5 and below , go onwards and plant saffron crocus alfresco in a pot at the beginning of August .
Thenbring the plant indoorsbefore the first frost , and take in the blooms brighten up your living space within a few weeks .
Just verify your indoor industrial plant gets plenty of sunlight , or apply a grow Christ Within during the day .
you could also harvest the long crimson stigma of the saffron crocus and dry them for consumption in toothsome recipes , like this one for cardamom saffron cookiesfrom our baby situation , Foodal .
There’s No Hocus-Pocus in a Crocus
Crocuses are n’t tricky . Plant them at the right time and you ’ll see blooms come descent or spring , depending on the motley .
And every year thereafter , your plant life will multiply with little aid from you . They ’re good , stouthearted little plants that can hook your spirits just when you require it .
For moretips on manage for these beautiful flowers , check out these articles :
© demand the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published January 28th , 2020 . Last updated January 19th , 2025 . Cartesian product exposure via Amazon . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With extra authorship and redaction by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu .
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Laura Ojeda Melchor
