In article , Rhubarb wrote:

Should these be planted in spring, summer or fall? I have not bought
any yet and I notice that the bulb sites I have visited do not have
any listed for spring sales, but I had assumed that since they are
fall blooming they would be planted in spring. I want to buy some
when they are available, but also a friend offered to give me a few of
hers and I want to know when the best time to dig up a few of those
would be.

Because of the customer expectation that autumn is the time to plant most
bulbs, even the autumn crocus are prepared for sales at that time. So the
best time to plant them is almost a moot point since they're sold mostly
in autumn so have to be planted in autumn. Whether you mean Colchicums or
autumn-blooming true crocuses like saffron crocus or Crocus speciosum,
they would very likely be most happy to be gotten into the ground between
July & August; but if you can get them in the ground in early September
(when they're more apt to go on sale) they'll still bloom that very first
autumn (here in the Northwest anyway), but bloom even better for autumns
thereafter. If you get them in the ground as late as November it'll do
them no harm, though they'll be well sprouted & will need a delicate touch
to get them in the ground, & may not bloom much if at all until the
following autumn. In zones further south, heat-tolerant bulbs like autumn
crocus & freesia should probably be planted March & April, but again, the
mass marketing won't be until the end of summer, & fortunately they're
forgiving of being planted at that time.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/