Saffron, Holy Saffron (Crocus sativus) bulbs, top size
$14.95
Family: Iris (Iridaceae)
Hardy to Zones 6 to 9
(Zang Hong Hua) Perennial cormous plant flowering to 6 inches, native to Southern Europe, Asia Minor and Iran. Blooming in Oct, the flowers are purple, cupping the long orange-red stigmas–the spice. Plant prefers rich, sandy, well-drained soil in the part shade or sun.
Source of the enticing spice “saffron.” Just a few threads will impart a lovely color to rice and other dishes, lending a delicious taste and fragrance. Traditional uses (always very low dosage): Stomachic, antidepressant, oral cleanser, sedative and analgesic. Saffron water is often used in ceremonies to cleanse and make ready for empowerment. As a dye plant, produces the golden yellow color associated with the robes of spiritual adepts.
Cultivation: Plant these bulbs immediately on receipt for emergence in the fall. Usually flowers the second year, although the biggest bulbs may flower soon after planting. The bulb sends up a spear-like growth of green (see photo accompanying this write-up). Plant bulbs “tip up” in well drained soil, 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Depending on when the bulbs are purchased and in what season they are planted, emergence may take as little as 3 weeks or as long as 5 months. The bulbs work excellently in pots, and planting in 3-gallon pots is a good way to assure success while increasing the size and number of bulbs in short order. This technique also protects the bulbs from predation by ground squirrels or gophers. Saffron can also be gainfully grown in raised beds protected by hardware cloth underneath. The soil used to fill the beds should be sandy yet rich, kept well-weeded and watered infrequently.
What you will receive: Bag of dormant bulbs, 6-count, top size, as pictured in the hand.
Here’s a link to a planta-med publication showing saffron to be as effective as commonly prescribed antidepressants in treatment of mild to moderate depression https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/a-0660-9565
Ian moore –
Oh no! Am I too late? Do you only have potted plants left? Thanks!
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Richo Cech –
Hello Ian, We had to plant all our bulb stock, it was growing vigorously and flowering. Yes, the potted plants are still available for fast shipping. Richo
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julie_carlson (verified owner) –
Grown in zone 6a. I’ve ordered these before and they grew beautifully. The reorder is because I failed to add a barrier. There are inverted concentric circles all over my patch of dirt and not a single bulb to be found. Hopefully it’s not too far into autumn to replant new bulbs.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Julie,
Thanks for the kind spirited communication. There are some rodent-protective measures given on the info sheet that will come with your bulbs. It is not too late.
Richo
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Linda –
I love the beautiful flowers , I live in zone 8 but after it gets cold the bulbs turn to mush . I want to have a field of them .but don’t know how to keep it alive. Any suggestions for success
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Richo Cech –
hi Linda,
Thanks for writing. I have had this problem in the past as well and solved it by improving drainage. Sand in the growing medium is very helpful. I also learned that 50% compost in the mix, whether in a pot or mixed into soil under the row) is very helpful both in terms of size of plants, encouraging flowering, and helping overwinter. That’s why when someone in a Z 6 asked about overwintering i recommended plenty of compost. Richo
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Question
Athena Argiris –
Will saffron bulbs be available
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Richo Cech –
Hi Athena,
Saffron bulbs are available starting in the autumn, which is when they are planted.
All the best,
Richo
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Emerita Bajado (verified owner) –
Hi, i just want to ask when is it going to be available?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Emerita, The commercial bulbs are delivered late sep to oct. If we dig organic bulbs they’ll be ready july to aug. richo
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joanne (verified owner) –
The tips of the green spears are turning brownish. The potted plants are still on screen porch and mostly shade. Plan to replant outside this weekend in anther pot. Any suggestions about the brownish tips? Not enough water? thanks in advance
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Richo Cech –
Hello Joanne,
That is just the natural cycle of the saffron. It is going to start to senesce around this time, eventually going down into dormancy. Re-emergence is in the fall. If the plants are sufficiently mature, they will flower at that time. Don’t overwater them, it causes the corm to rot. Keeping them in a sandy soil in pots of sufficient size is a good way to promote them. Transplant during dormancy.
Richo
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joanne (verified owner) –
Planted the crocus bulbs in pots and placed on screen porch away from all weather and sun. The little spears are coming up. Do I water these at this time of year… zone 7, heading into winter.
Also, added sand to soil mixture but unclear on the ratio of sand to dirt. thanks
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Richo Cech –
hi joanne, thanks for taking such good care of the saffron. This is going to be green all winter. frost does not really bother it. water sparingly. the more sand you used, the more water it can take. the less sand you used, the more important it is to keep it dry. there are lots of places on the web where you’re going to get exact recipes but not here–much of that is going to be misleading. reason being, it really all depends on a hundred factors so you need to rely on observation as to what the plant seems to like and need, experimentation, and intuition. richo
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TurfQueen –
How would/should I plant these if I’m in zone 9b/10a in SW Florida? In ground or in pots? What kind of soil, and when if at all, should it be brought indoors? We do get a lot of rain, though this 2023 summer wasn’t much, but now here in October we’re actually getting a bit more rain than usual.
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Richo Cech –
Hello TurfQueen,
Thanks for writing. If you click on the photo you get the monograph that gives things like recommended zones and preferred soils. You can plant in pots or directly in the ground. Choose a sunny and well-drained location. Here’s a bit more:
Cultivation: Plant these bulbs immediately on receipt for emergence in the fall. Usually flowers the second year, although the biggest bulbs may flower soon after planting. The bulb sends up a spear-like growth of green (see photo accompanying this write-up). Plant bulbs “tip up” in well drained soil, 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Depending on when the bulbs are purchased and in what season they are planted, emergence may take as little as 3 weeks or as long as 5 months. The bulbs work excellently in pots, and planting in 3-gallon pots is a good way to assure success while increasing the size and number of bulbs in short order. This technique also protects the bulbs from predation by ground squirrels or gophers. Saffron can also be gainfully grown in raised beds protected by hardware cloth underneath. The soil used to fill the beds should be sandy yet rich, kept well-weeded and watered infrequently. Richo
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deenaclass (verified owner) –
I was a little nervous when I planted these immediately upon receiving (first week of August) and didn’t see anything happening for a while. I planted in a compost/sand mix in a big ceramic pot. We had a brutally hot August and unseasonably warm September though….and right as temps started to cool at night in late September, up they came! 🙂 Now, first week of October, every bulb has some above-ground growth and is looking good!
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Richo Cech –
hello deena, thanks for sharing this. After years of working with saffron, I’m still not sure of the cycle, so your report is a valuable data point. One thing for sure, its easy to determine the viability of saffron bulbs at planting. . . richo
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deenaclass (verified owner) –
Thanks, Richo! Yes- these were very obviously alive and healthy when they arrived (I just worried that I may have gotten ahead of myself by planting when it was still so hot here)! But I imagine they were just taking that time to establish underground and now they’re coming up strong and beautiful (like every plant or seed I’ve ever ordered from you all over the years!) 🙂 Glad the data point about southeastern growing is helpful!
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Kim –
Can I grow Saffron and Turmeric bulbs in northern New Mexico?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kim, the growing conditions in n new medico are not unlike the traditional growing conditions for saffron so i would say yes to that. as for turmeric, it is a plant of the tropics, and even those of us with tropical greenhouses find it frustrating at times. I don’t think hyou can grow it successfully (in terms of rhizome production) outdoors in NM. Richo
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Isabella –
Hello! Is saffron able to be cultivated in the tropics? Can’t seem to find a clear answer anywhere. Maybe in a pot to avoid the 6 months of rain, but does it need a cold period? If so, will refrigerating the bulbs a 4C work?
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Richo Cech –
hi isabella, cultivating saffron is usually recommended only up to a zone 9. My experience is that the bulbs have foliar and dormant periods based as much on an internal clock as on seasonal factors. I think you could grow it in the tropics in the rainy season and let it go dry and dormant during the dry season. richo
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Cally –
Are these super Negin saffron bulbs?
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Richo Cech –
hi cally, “negin” is a brand name. what we are offering here is verified crocus sativus. this is the plant that “negin” is made from. richo
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Paul worland –
Can we keep in the refrigerator until ready to plant when we get back in a couple weeks?
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Richo Cech –
hi paul, yes, these are due to ship out late sep to early oct. r
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Poka Gal –
What is the rate of reproduction for these bulbs? In other words, if I plant 6 bulbs this fall, how many will I have next fall? Also, I live in Zone 8. Do I need to pull them up and pop them in the fridge for a couple of months?
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Richo Cech –
hello poka, thanks so much for writing. all i can do is speak from my own experience here in a dryish sub-montane zone 8. They overwinter best outdoors in-situ. I’ve noticed that when the big corm that you plant (the kind i sell) goes to flower, then it may well dissolve during the winter, leaving a shell of papery husks and 4 to 6 small rooted cormlets. These can take an additional 2 years to size up to flower. It is true that any sizeable bulb may split into 2 big ones or persist and make a ring of cormlets. best transplant window appears to be september to october in mediterranean climes. r
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jhall-2798 –
i’ve been growing saffron in pots successfully in zone 10a. growing them in pots so they can be moved if the weather gets like it did this winter with all the rain we received
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Eimi (verified owner) –
Hi Richo,
I got 12 bulbs from you last November, planted them as soon they arrived, and they started growing right the way. The issue is now the leaves are SUPER long and limp and they just flop over. A few shoots even sort of snapped/bent at the base because of the “weight” of the leaves. I planted them in 3 gallon pots with plenty of space between each bulb. The soil is a sandy garden mix. They have been indoor under grow lights because of winter. I *might* have somewhat over watered them… Are the ultra leggy leaves normal? Is there a way for me to check on the health of bulbs without completely digging them out? They are all seems to be growing still. Thanks in advance for your advice.
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Richo Cech –
hello eimi, sounds good, really. the lights appear to have speeded the natural cycle somewhat. Development of long leaves and some flopping would be normal. The leaves photosynthesize and feed power to the corm, and the corm swells in preparation for dormancy. reduce watering and let them go dormant, put outside in the spring, they will flower in the late summer. richo
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Lila McClellan –
what do you mean by aerial parts? Is it the new shoots that emerge from the tip?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Lila, Aerial parts are the parts of a plant, any plant, or tree, that are above the ground level. richo
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Kath –
How much saffron will I get from six bulbs and do they multiply? I’m not sure how much to order. Thank you.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kath,
Six bulbs will make 6 plants. Not all of the bulbs will create flowers in the first year but they will all create flowers in the second year. Saffron spice is composed of the staminate parts of the flower–deep red, aromatic, and a little goes a long way–a tiny pinch will flavor a whole pot of rice. The plants do multiply by cormlet–offshoots from the main bulb–it is reasonable to expect to divide the bulbs after the second year of growth, and at that point there will be many. My advice to everyone is to start small and learn before going big. I would put 3 bulbs in each gallon pot for starters. And hurry, these are nearly sold out for the year. Richo
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Kimberly Wood –
I live in Milwaukie, OR, even with a well drained pot, I am concerned they will be constantly soggy from frequent rains. How much sun is needed in the winter? Should I place the pot under cover of a deck roof so I have control over how much water it gets? Seems like every new plant I look into I have concerns about it rotting due to the fact that our yard is basically a mud pie for several months straight and our ground soil is heavy clay.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kimberly, Love Milwaukee. I do think most people have better luck putting them to pots–its classic. You can get some chicken grit at the feed and seed. That is the epitome of coarse, sharp sand. Mix it with organic compost 50-50 and put it in the pot and keep it under the eaves so it doesn’t get too wet. These things will sprout and flower even without planting, so the main thing is to not get in the way of the natural process by giving the plant too much moisture and clingy soil. xnay on the ingclay. r
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Daisy S –
Will you be shipping for 2021?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Daisy, Yes, and thanks for asking. We’re still on track for this. Richo
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Sarah Jacobson –
I am in Taos, NM in Zone 5b/6a. Will your October ship date be too late to plant these? It gets cold at night, starting September.
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Richo Cech –
They come up and sometimes flower almost immediately. it is not too late. we will be sending these as soon as possible. r
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Margrit –
Hello, I am in Southern Vermont Zone 5b and want to order and plant these bulbs. Can you make suggestions for me to help them winter safely. I could plant in a raised bed with a cover or in pots and protect in a greenhouse? Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Margrit,
It is true that your zone is a bit cold for saffron. If you have an unheated greenhouse that raises your zone by 1 so you could plant in sandy soil in pots in the greenhouse and that would do it. Potted culture on saffron is reliable as long as the plants don’t get overwatered, and its nice that the pot protects the bulbs from critters. Richo
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Richo Cech –
yes, very likely shipped and planted early october and emerging and flowering soon thereafter (not 12 months).
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Richo Cech –
Yes, they make aerial parts right away, and many do blossom right away. No, not 12 months. r
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Sam (verified owner) –
I got these bulbs from you last fall. They were obviously very healthy fresh bulbs. I dug in a bit of composted manure and sand to the planting site so it drains well and they are thriving. Thanks Richo.
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Richo Cech –
our pleasure
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Cheryl Olson –
I boughtvsome bulbs from another company ( i know I should have bought from you). They gave me no instructions as to when to plant and Ive emailed thrm several times. i bought then back in Late feb early March.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Cheryl, Saffron is dependent on a particular cycle for success. The bulbs should be planted in the late summer for emergence in the fall and then they perennialize after that–flowers in the fall, then leaves through the winter and into the spring, then dormant, then flowers again in the fall. Reputable suppliers are going to get you fresh and viable dormant bulbs in the late summer–that’s how we do it–bulbs issued in the winter would probably be no good, as this is the timeperiod when the plant is supposed to be actively growing. Hope that makes sense. richo
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Lila McClellan –
I am in zone 5 in the rocky mountains of Colorado. So, does saffron need to be watered when it is dormant in the summer?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Lila, these are sold out for the year and no, you don’t need to water them during dormancy. In fact, dry dormancy is helpful, with too much water, the corms can rot. richo
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Lila McClellan (verified owner) –
I have another growing question: If I have safron bulbs in pots in a greenhouse which we keep heated in the cold winter months, will the dormancy period change? Right now, the green house is in the 80°s during the day in in the winter it gets to the 40°s or 50°s. I was reading your coment about how safron is affected both by the heat , moisture and light.
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Richo Cech –
hello lila, potted saffron can easily rot in the winter in a heated greenhouse. make sure to keep in very fast-draining soil and water infrequently. sounds like you let the winter greenhouse get cool, though, and that probably helps. i’ve learned not to try to overwinter them in a tropical greenhouse. r
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Lila McClellan (verified owner) –
ok thanks. since they will be in pots I can move them to our unheated garage (which doesn’t have a door) in the summer which is cooler than the greenhouse. when do you think I should do that?
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Richo Cech –
put the saffron in the light when it is aerial (flowers, leaves) and put it down for dormancy when the leaves die back.
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Margrit Mikulis –
When will this product be back in stock?
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Richo Cech –
Late September to Early October. We will enable the product once we have bulbs in stock. Make sure to hit “waitlist.”
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jasperdshide (verified owner) –
Every one of these bulbs came covered in healthy shoots and roots and all but one put out flowers right away!
I can’t stress enough how important it is not to overwater these guys, they seem to grow almost entirely on their own reserves until they’ve solidly established themselves. Until then any excess moisture will just rot the bulbs (ask me how I know!).
I’ve been doing a great deal of experimentation with the remaining bulbs and find that they’ll grow quite happily under virtually any conditions other than soggy soil. The corms establish themselves just fine at any depth I’ve tried – I’ve even got one half-buried in a 1/2” deep watering tray! It responded by establishing an entirely horizontal network of roots and grew just as well as the ones planted in the more traditional manner.
Anyway, great bulbs.
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aurorabotica –
Planted once I received on Oct 17 and three weeks later flowers bloomed! I was delighted as I had planted the bulbs following the exact instructions + soil mix, no water after the initial planting. I’m in Zone 9a, Nevada County, CA. Can’t wait to see how the rest of the bulbs come up (and of course taste the cured Saffron!) thank you!
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ritawarrioriam (verified owner) –
I planted my bulbs in 3 different places 2 weeks ago I AM WOWED !!! al plants are up and i have flowers so saffron, Thank you!! You never let me down. Happy! Happy! Happy! 🙂
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Eemie –
When you say sandy soil will cactus soil work that I buy from nurseries – a bag of cactus soil?
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Richo Cech –
Yes Eemie, Cactus mix is “officially” composed of 50% fast-draining elements (coarse, sharp sand and pumice) and 50% compost. It works to make your own or buy it commercially. Avoid anything with additives. richo
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Melissa –
I would love to grow this in Florida zone 9b. I saw a reply that it survives in pots. If I order now and put in my refrigerator or freezer in a plastic bag (with a few breathing holes punched in it) of sandy soil, then take out in early spring, maybe March, and grow it in a pot on a porch protected from our hot rainy summers, would that work? Should I put it back in the fridge by mid summer when it gets super hot? If
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Richo Cech –
Hi Melissa, Saffron is mainly grown in Iran, India and Greece–very hot countries–you don’t have to do all these things–saffron will do fine in a 9b. You can order the bulbs, we will send them when we have them, and you will have to plant them right away, as they will be ready to sprout. Richo
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hema satra –
I live North part of IL about 50 miles west of Chicago and it gets very cold in winter would I be able to grow saffron in container?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Hema, Saffron does like to grow in containers. I don’t think temperature affects the corms when they are buried in sandy soil in an outdoor pot. It is too much wet that will rot them. One of the best things about growing saffron in containers is that for all practical purposes the bulbs are protected from burrowing creatures that would otherwise eat them.
Richo
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tuffy –
once this bulb goes dormant for the Summer season, should it be watered at all? I assume the greens brown out/”die” once the summer comes?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Tuffy, Yes, you are right, the plant goes dormant in the spring and doesn’t need to be watered until it emerges again in the autumn. Richo
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Crystal (verified owner) –
I received my saffron bulbs last fall, planted immediately, and they shot up nicely (I even had a nice blossom!), but they are just looking so sad and droopy right now.
I believe my problem is the soil I planted them in – I did a mixture of cactus and orchid mix. Where I got that idea I have no darn clue, but would it be safe NOW to repot in the appropriate soil mixture? Or is this just what happens before they die back?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Crystal,
Good work! Yes, that’s what happens before they enter dormancy. Allowing them to naturally senesce means that they will fix maximum resources in the corm. Re-emergence (and hopefully another flower show) is in the mid to late summer.
Richo
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello A,
Your saffron bulbs have surely already sprouted aerial parts, as they are timed by nature to do this in the late summer. If they have no aerial parts, then it is useless to plant them. If they do have aerial parts, as I suspect they must, then plant the bulb in the soil and leave the shoots protruding up into the light an inch or so. You won’t be seeing any flowers this year, but the bulb will take root and you’ll have a good chance of flowers next year.
r
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Tirumala Kosaraju –
I want the organic bulbs.
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Susan –
Saffron is grown in Afghanistan, where it is quite dry, windy, and sunny. I plan to grow in Tucson, where we have similar weather.
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Admin Richo Cech –
This is a good idea. We’ll have high-grade saffron bulbs starting in September.
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