Roots and bulbs ordered now will ship October 2021.
Saffron, Holy (Crocus sativus), top size (~1 inch diameter)
BULBS ship starting October. If you order BULBS before that time, they will be backordered and shipped when ready. We ship bulbs inside the US only.
Family: Iris (Iridaceae)
Hardy to Zones 6 to 9
(Zang Hong Hua) Perennial bulbous 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 dyeplant, produces the golden yellow color associated with the robes of spiritual adepts.
Here’s a link to a planta-med publication that just came out 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
Cultivation: Plant these dormant 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 spearlike 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 groundsquirrels 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 6 or 20 dormant bulbs, top size as per image, appx 1 inch diameter, available within the US only
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Question
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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Question
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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Question
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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Question
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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Question
Krish Devan (verified owner) –
Hello Ricoh, based on your recommendations, I was looking for Chicken Grit, and I found “Manna Pro Chicken Grit with Probiotics”. WIll this work to plant the Saffron bulbs in? I live in Seattle. Should I move the pot inside where it’s 68 F, or keep it out during this Winter? Thank you
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Richo Cech –
um, please don’t get any product that has additives. just pure coarse sharp sand mixed with a little compost, or use cactus mix as per directions in “the medicinal herb grower” or. . . it only took me a moment to find a link to pure ground quartzite poultry grit (without additives) online, I don’t really want to paste the link here, keep trying.
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Question
Hema Satra (verified owner) –
for saffron potting mix what is substitute for sand?
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Richo Cech –
Hema, I’m glad you reminded me about Saffron because HEADS UP to all who have purchased it, we are going to be disseminating these very soon–watch for tracking to your e-mail. Anyone else wanting Saffron, now is the time to purchase–it will sell out. Regarding a substitute for sand in the potting soil, I don’t think its a very good idea. Saffron grows in very sandy environs and without it can rot. Horticultural grit is basically coarse, sharp sand and you can use this, purchased at any good nursery. You can also use CHICKEN GRIT which can be purchased online or at any good nursery. But in the end, it is all sand. Richo
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Question
Deborah –
Ricoh, are these organic?
Thank you
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green –
These are imported from Turkey. They are just raw bulbs, untreated, and really its the highest quality you can get worldwide. r
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Question
kaisernorstad –
How are they propagated? Dividing? Seed? Nodes?
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Richo Cech –
offshoots from the corm
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Question
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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Question
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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Question
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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Question
Arash Jacob –
This is excellent! How many bulbs can I place in a 3-gal pot?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Arash, in a 3-gallon pot I’d put 6 bulbs. richo
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Nikki Catron –
What zones is saffron good to grow in?
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Richo Cech –
Hardy to Zones 6 to 9
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Question
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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Question
A –
can i plant saffron now its nov. I have been so busy I forgot to plant them earlier? if not what do i do with them? should i put them in the refrigerator and wait until spring????
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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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Question
DEFIANT FARMSTEAD –
got a reminder set in my calendar to check back late summer and early fall… want to purchase 10 bags of 6 when available! excited!
any books or articles on how best to grow?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Yes, we will have the dormant bulbs in September if all goes as planned. Here’s a link to my blog on Saffron https://blog.strictlymedicinalseeds.com/how-to-grow-and-use-saffron/
richo
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Janette Gross (verified owner) –
I purchased the Saffron, Holy (Crocus sativus), bag of 12 bulbs, Organic last May. They were planted per instructions by three of us in different gardens. The two other people said they got green leaves but no flowers then the leaves turned brown and died. Mine grew and grew but I don’t think it’s the right plant. The soil was new so there weren’t other bulbs in the pot. What I have looks like some kind of alium. I can send photos as they are still growing!
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Janette,
The description you’ve given sounds like normal for saffron. They make green leaves (that look like allium) which die back in time. The bulb is still underground and flowers will emerge, then more leaves, which will again die back.
Richo
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Janette Gross –
Thanks for your reply. Right now they have what looks like a flower bulb at the end of very long stems – about 15″ high. It doesn’t look anything like a crocus!
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Admin Richo Cech –
That sounds like one of the growth stages of Saffron (Crocus sativus).
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peter Friday –
How can I get it to Nigeria?
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Admin Judy –
Unfortunately, we can’t ship roots and plants internationally.
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Question
Ann Marie Scheible –
when can i get more saffron bulbs
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Admin Richo Cech –
Usually August to September every year.
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Joseph Vu –
Please let me know when they are in stock. I need them !
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Admin Richo Cech –
OK, we will be offering these in September. r
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Question
Mary –
hello 🙂 wondering if you may have a suggestion as to why my saffron bulbs expired? I planted them as indicated, they came up quickly and bloomed and then the foliage died back. I have them in a greenhouse set at 60 degrees. they were watered regularly. I checked the pots this week and the bulbs are non existent. I plan to reorder and do not want to make the same mistake. thank you for your time.
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Admin Richo Cech –
It sounds like the bulbs may have rotted. Regular watering is OK if the medium is very fast-draining (sandy) but if kept at greenhouse temps and in standard potting soil and watered regularly the bulbs can indeed go away.
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BETSEY SORRELL –
thank you! might you suggest a recipe for a proper soil mixture? and an average watering frequency?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Standard fast-draining potting soil page 108 of “The Medicinal Herb Grower”:
8 parts hydrated coir or peat
8 parts compost
2 parts coarse, sharp sand
8 parts horticultural grade pumice (1/8 inch minus)
small amounts kelp, rock phosphate, ground limestone or oyster shell
In the case of Saffron, I let them go quite dry between waterings. Have vibrant ones in greenhouse have been watered twice since October.
Richo
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Question
Kelly –
Hi, I’d love to get some of these for the coming spring. Do you know when they will be in stock again? Also, would you recommend this variety (or any other) for large scale cultivation as a sale crop?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Kelly, Saffron bulbs are normally fall-planted, and we start offering the oganic bulbs in July or so. We do have potted plants that are nice right now, but they will lose their leaves come spring…
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Kelly –
Thanks! I’ll wait for your winter catalog and hope to get my hands on the bulbs in July.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Rightio!
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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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Tirumala Kosaraju –
Are these bulbs organic?
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Admin Richo Cech –
No, if they were certified organically grown we would say so. They are untreated material from Turkey. If you want organic bulbs instead, we can do this for you, but you would have to ask. The organic are smaller.
Richo
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Tirumala Kosaraju –
I want the organic bulbs.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi there, then order the bulbs online at http://www.strictlymedicinalseeds.com and request ORGANIC in the order comments field at checkout. We’ll give you the biggest ones we can find.
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All Hallow's Crocus
J Oliver Burns (verified owner) –
Saffron crocus emerging, just ten days after planting in late October
Photo has been removed
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Question
Saralyn Bellmer –
Do you know when you will be getting these back in stock?
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Admin Richo Cech –
CURRENTLY IN STOCK!
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Admin Judy –
Back in stock now while supplies last.
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Question
Anne –
Are there any special consideration for zone 9-10 gardeners, please?
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Diana –
Hello Anne,
I find that anyone out-of-zone growing holy saffron do best to plant in pots. That way if it is just way too hot you can bring the pot into a shady spot on porch or under tree. Pots work well for saffron–protects the bulbs and really gives enough resources for good growth–I’ve grown them this way several times with good success.
Richo
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Question
zeropointembodiment –
When will you have Saffron available again or do you know another source for bulbs? I waited too long to place my order…….
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Admin Richo Cech –
We should have these again in September.
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Question
Jagruti Pandya –
Saffron is indeed a beautiful plant to grow but how well does it do in Florida weather? I appreciate your input.
Thank you.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Jagruti, You can grow it as an annual but since the plant requires a cold winter to perennialize, Florida is probably not a good choice for perennializing saffron. Richo
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Karpagam Gunasekaran –
Is Northern california (Zone 9b) cold enough for perennializing saffron ?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Yes, it is cold enough.
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Lorie Anderson –
When do you harvest the stigmas and what is the best way to store them ? Thank you !
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Lorie, You harvest the stigmas when they are fully formed and before they start to droop. Harvest during dry weather, not morning dew. They can be set in a small saucer indoors until they dry somewhat, then put in a glass pill bottle for storage. I’ve never had them go bad.
Richo
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jushin8848 –
Do you have internatioal delivery service to South korea. If what about quarantine and extra delivery chare?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello, No, Saffron bulbs are available inside the USA only.
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Elena –
Can you perennialize them in a fridge?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Yes, I have occasionally refrigerated the bulbs to keep them from sprouting, you probably could harvest the dormant bulbs, refrigerate them from November to May and then replant. richo
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marianne –
were these grown in the US? if so whereabout?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Marianne, No, the organic saffron from our plantings gets sold earlier in the year, these are conventional bulbs from Iran. If you want us to dig you some organic bulbs you can indicate this on your order and we’ll fulfill accordingly. Richo
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Carla Ford –
Will these be back in stock this year?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Carla,
Yes, Holy Saffron bulbs ship in season, in the fall. We will enable this product as soon as we dig.
Richo
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