Plant crocus corms in fall, 3–4 inches deep, pointy end up. Set them in clusters, not a single line. The ground should be cool, not frozen.
Fall, cool soil, and a cluster
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Fall, soil cooling, a few weeks before it freezes | Frozen ground, or a midsummer plant-out |
| Depth | 3–4 inches to the base of the corm | A shallow scratch squirrels reopen the next day |
| Spacing | 2–3 inches; groups of ten or more | A dotted line of single flowers |
| Fall bloomers | Late summer for speciosus and saffron | Waiting until November for those kinds |
University of Wisconsin Horticulture: plant when the soil has cooled and the ground is still workable. After care and foliage stay on How to Grow Crocus. Snow vs Dutch lives on Types of Crocus.
When should you plant crocus bulbs?
In fall, once the soil has cooled and before it freezes. Fall-blooming true Crocus goes in late summer.
How to plant crocus
Old Farmer’s Almanac: pointy end up, 3–4 inches deep, then water once to settle.
- Confirm you have Crocus corms, not Colchicum. ‘Blue Pearl’ and ‘Pickwick’ are spring kinds; C. speciosus ‘Conqueror’ is a fall bloomer on a late-summer clock.
- Choose full sun or the light under deciduous trees. Skip a wet clay sump, or raise the bed.
- Dig 3–4 inches. Set each corm pointy end up. In a cluster, leave about 2–3 inches between corms.
- Backfill. Firm. Water once if the soil is dry.
- Lay hardware cloth or chicken wire if squirrels work the bed. Weight the edges.
- Mark the patch so you do not cultivate the corms in spring.
- For speciosus and saffron, plant in late summer so they can root before they bloom.
How deep do you plant crocus bulbs?
About 3–4 inches to the base of the corm, pointy end up. A little deeper in light sand, a little shallower in heavy soil.
What fails at plant-out
- Frozen ground.
- A puddle that sits on the corm.
- Pointy end down.
- Bone meal in the hole on a squirrel lawn.
- Mowing the leaves the week flowers fade.
Water once if the soil is dry. Check the wire before a squirrel week.
FAQ
Can I plant crocus in a lawn?
Yes. Use Tommies or Dutch kinds in a patch you will not mow until the leaves yellow. Scatter in groups, not a stripe.
Which way up do crocus corms go?
Pointy end up, roots down. If you cannot tell, plant on its side; the shoot will find the light.
Should I soak crocus corms before planting?
No. Plant them dry in draining soil and water once to settle. A soak in a jar invites rot.
Related guides
Recommended plants
This note is part of Crocus Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors