Crocuses: The First Signal of Spring

When it seems the snow will never lose its icy clutches, the dainty crocuses push their heads out through the snow and shows a colourful revival of spring. These small flowers have strong aromas that attract bees in February or March and offer a variety in colour (reds, pinks, oranges, purples, yellows, and more) and bring a smile to Northeasterner’s heart.

Here are some facts and guidelines for growing crocuses in your own home garden. Crocus bulbs, called corms, do not only give winter garden colour, but they spread and come back every year—with some care—for an ever-larger exhibit.

History of Crocuses

The word “crocus” comes from a Latin word “saffron.” Its three stigmas and part of its style are usually dried and used for seasoning and colouring in cooking.  It takes thousands of crocuses to extract just an ounce of saffron, that is why it is amongst the world’s most luxurious and expensive spice by weight.

The crocus is an autumn-blooming range by the Latin name Crocus sativus. The well-known winter-blooming crocus is Snow Crocus that is also called Crocus chrysanthus.

Crocuses were first cultivated in southern Europe, near Greece. They are also familiar in Asia. There are around 80 species of crocus, only 30 of which are cultured.

How to Plant Crocuses

• Since crocuses start as bulbs or corms—they should be planted in the autumn in dense shade on the north part of the area where they will acquire a lot of light, particularly in those months o when the days are still short.
• Crocuses prefer well-drained and sandy soil which is below 60°F (16°C) otherwise bulbs will rot. It is recommend planting during September and October in herbs or rock gardens, and surrounding them with creeping phlox.
• Before planting crocuses, work in organic material such as peat, compost, or something like tattered leaves to a depth of almost 10 inches.
• Plant crocus 3 to 4 inches deep. After planting corms, water properly.
• Plant crocuses bulb in groups. Avoid spacing them in a solo line beside a border or walkway or border for single flowers get lost in the scene. Plant in groups of 10 or more than 10.
• Consider planting crocuses corms in meadows or lawns where they can outline carpets, or accumulate them in the edge of flower beds along the border.
• Sow taller spring-flowering shrubs and bulbs behind the early bulbs for the color disparity.

How to Take Care Crocuses

• Apply fertilizer in early fall if your spring is little and the days heat up swiftly; or, apply fertilizer after flowering the bulbs in late winter if spring is temperate and long and temperate.
• During the autumn, remain crocus beds watered if the climate gets dry, Cover the beds with mulch prior to the winter.
• In late February, eliminate mulches from snowdrops so the shoots are able to come through.
• If in mid Spring, celebrate Earth Day by growing crocuses in your lawn, don’t cut until their leaves died down.

Oscar Wilde shows his gratitude to Crocuses as:

And all the woods are alive with the murmur and sound of Spring,
And the rose-bud breaks into pink on the climbing briar,
And the crocus-bed is a quivering moon of fire
Girdled round with the belt of an amethyst ring.