Comments on: DIY Saffron

Question: DIY Saffron

djacobs — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 10:24:20 -0800

What's the best time of the year to buy and plant Saffron Crocus bulbs?

By: tangerine

tangerine — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 10:48:50 -0800

Short answer: in summer.

White Flower Farm's: Growing and Harvesting Saffron Crocus

Colorado State's Bulbs: fall flowering crocus

By: Sallysings

Sallysings — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 10:50:16 -0800

A search on google turned up this link.

"We start shipping Saffron bulbs in early September. Bulbs
planted later in the fall will produce leaves in the spring and flowers the
following fall."

By: wryly

wryly — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 11:00:47 -0800

It's frustrating to find that Saffon Crocus shoul be planted in Autumn, Summer, and Spring -- if you believe all that you find through google.

According to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden website -- your profile indicates you're in Brooklyn -- you plant them in Spring and flowers appear in October.

By: djacobs

djacobs — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 11:50:08 -0800

"It's frustrating to find that Saffon Crocus shoul be planted in Autumn, Summer, and Spring -- if you believe all that you find through google."

This is exactly what was going through my head. Thanks for the BBG link.

Has anyone planted these bulbs in a "4 seasons" environment? Do they need to brought in for the winter, like Dahlias or Elephant Ears? Should I buy them now and keep them in the fridge or wait until April?

By: TimeFactor

TimeFactor — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 13:41:55 -0800

I've only seen them for sale here in New England in the fall for planting in the fall. And they're hardy here, which is roughly a zone colder than Brooklyn, but require extremely good drainage to make it through the winter or they rot in the ground (it's the standing water in winter/spring that kills a lot of borderline hardy plants). If you can find an appropriate spot (on a slope is best for winter drainage) you can leave them in the ground. They aren't tropicals like Elephant Ears which need to be wintered indoors.