Growing Crocus in the Garden

These particular crocuses were tiny little bulbs (actually corms) that we planted outside of our apartment in east Tennessee. We didn’t have much space to do anything and just experimented with a few just to see if we could get a little color along our short walkway. They would pop up in the early spring and give us a little show with their purplish blossoms.

Crocus are extremely easily plants to grow and they bring a lot of color to the early spring garden.

Planting and Growing Crocus

Crocuses should be planted in the fall, about 2-4 weeks before the ground freezes. This will give the corms enough time to establish roots before the winter.
Crocuses like well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. It’s best to pick a sunny location for your crocus but they can tolerate some shade. If your soil is heavy clay add some compost to improve drainage. I use soil conditioner (fine pine bark shavings) to improve drainage when needed.
Crocus corms should be planted about 3 inches deep, with the pointed end facing up. Space the corms about 2-3 inches apart.
Water the corms well after planting, and then water them periodically throughout the fall and winter if the weather is dry. Crocuses don’t need a lot of water, but they do need some moisture to establish roots and grow. I’ve never really had to worry about watering in the winter as Tennessee gets a good bit of moisture in the winter but other climates may be different.
Crocuses don’t need a lot of fertilizer, but you can add a general balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) to the soil before planting, or you can apply a small amount of fertilizer in the spring when the plants start to grow. Or you can simply add a little compost each spring.

Crocuses are very low-maintenance plants. Just divide the corms every few years to prevent overcrowding and encourage new growth and you will have many crocus blooms to enjoy!