Grow Your Own Saffron

Saffron has the reputation of being “The World’s Most Expensive Spice.” If you’ve ever purchased it in a store, you’ll know that they are often sold by only a few strands - often in a tiny jar. This prized spice adds a delicate earthy, floral flavor to dishes alongside a vibrant yellow color.

Why Grow Your Own Saffron?

Saffron is an interesting, delicious, and economical crop. They don’t take up too much space and make for a great ornamental addition to your garden. This perennial will produce for three to five years but the bulbs (also referred to as corms) also multiply, meaning you can actually extend your harvests forever, if you’d like.

Whether you already love to cook with saffron (and want to save yourself MANY bucks) or you are familiar and want to start (and also save yourself many bucks), saffron is worth growing. And it’s so easy to do!

What is Saffron?

Saffron is the dried stigma of the saffron crocus. If you can recall back to your botany days (did you have botany days?), you’ll remember that stigmas are the part of the flower that receives pollen and begins the process of fertilization. The saffron crocus produces three bright red stigmas per flower and they must be harvested by hand. By now, the reason saffron is the most expensive spice is starting to make sense, right? To put it into even more perspective, it takes roughly 75,000 flowers to make one pound of saffron spice.

Where Does Saffron Grow?

It’s a bit of a big question mark as to where exactly this plant first appeared, but most evidence points to the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, or Persia. Many believe ancient Greece is the country of origin, as the first known images of saffron were found on Minoan pots and frescoes dating back to the 8th century BCE. Today, the saffron we buy in stores is primarily grown in Iran, as well as parts of India, Spain, Italy, and France.

But now - your saffron can grow in your very own garden! Saffron crocus is hardy in growing zones six to ten but also can be grown in zones four and five with some extra winter protection.

How to Grow Saffron

Saffron is sold as bulbs (or corms), similar to tulips or daffodils. They are also typically planted in fall, but unlike tulips or daffodils, they are fall blooming. You can expect to see your full blooms one year after planting. In some cases, if you have an especially warm fall, you may see blooms in the first year just a few weeks after planting! This is totally normal.

Saffron requires well-draining soil in order to grow. It will help avoid rot in the bulbs, which can be one of the biggest issues you face in long term cultivation of saffron. If you need to amend your soil ahead of time, mix in plenty of compost and bone meal. Adding sand to your soil or mounding it up can also help with the drainage. You’ll want to pick a spot with full sun, though they can tolerate partial shade.

Planting Saffron

Once you have your planting location, it’s time to plant your bulbs! Dig a hole two to four inches deep and about an inch wide, with each hole two to three inches apart. Place the bulb in the hole with the pointy end up and gently fill in the hole with the displaced soil, covering the bulb in full. Water well for the first several weeks after planting, but remember that too much water can cause rot, so reel it in if your soil is staying especially soggy.

Caring for Saffron

Mulching is important for most perennials in most growing zones and saffron is no different. While it’s essential in colder zones, saffron in growing zones six and seven will also benefit from being covered in mulch in the winter. Mulch helps to conserve moisture and protect the soil from freezing temperatures. In spring, you may begin to see leaf emergence. As the temperature warms up, remove the mulch to help the leaves take off. In the summer, keep bulbs watered regularly, but for the most part you can just let them do their thing as they get ready to send up their blooms in the fall!

Harvesting and Storing Saffron

Saffron must be harvested by hand and is best harvested from the flower as soon as it opens. Harvesting saffron is actually one of our favorite things to do - we find it quite meditative! The best time to harvest is mid-morning on a dry, sunny day. The crocuses will bloom for about three weeks in the fall and this is your window! Gently pluck the bright red stamens from the flower with your fingers or tweezers.

You’ll either want to use them in cooking immediately or dry them gently for storage. We recommend air drying them on a paper towel for two to three days in a warm, dark place. The sun can degrade the gentle flavor of this amazing spice. Once dried, store the threads in an airtight container in a dark place. If stored properly, saffron can last for two to three years.

Tips and Tricks for Growing Saffron

Growing saffron is easy to do but some basic understanding of how to care for it can simplify the process! Keep these tips in mind when growing your saffron and you’ll be awash in this amazing spice in no time!

Watering

Saffron will want to be well-watered after planting and as it gets established. For the long-term care of this plant, however, they only need water about once a week and typically the rainfall will do. The biggest thing to watch out for with saffron is to make sure they aren’t planted in standing water and that the soil drains well enough so you can avoid rotting the bulbs. Saffron does not need as much water during its dormant season in the summer.

Fertilizing

Amending your soil ahead of planting with bone meal can help with the development and establishment of this perennial crop. Saffron is pretty low-maintenance, but fertilizing at key points throughout its growing season will help ensure a strong and healthy crop every year. We recommend applying a balanced fertilizer (a 5-5-5 or 10-10-10 will do just fine) in late spring and again immediately after flowering.

Pest Management

Saffron can be affected by a pretty diverse range of pests. Anything from rodents to insects can affect your saffron harvest. In the winter and early spring, the bulbs and leaves can be a good early source of food for many rodents. While this damage can often be minimal, you may consider covering your bulbs or leaves in mulch or frost cloth if you notice this damage occurring.

Saffron can also be affected by mites, thrips, and various beetles. Often, unhealthy bulbs fall to these pests in the first place. Ensuring that your bulbs are well fertilized, evenly watered, not competing for nutrients (planted far enough apart from each other and well-weeded) will go a long way in protecting your saffron bulbs. If you do find yourself having problems with pests, consider applying a regular application of neem oil or knocking any pests off of your plants with a heavy stream of water.

Dividing Saffron Bulbs

Dividing your saffron bulbs is essential to the long term care of this perennial. If left to grow without being divided, the original bulbs (and their attached multiples) will lose vigor and produce fewer and smaller flowers over time until the stand no longer produces. To avoid this, saffron bulbs should be divided every three to five years.

Division should happen in the late summer, while the bulbs are dormant. Withhold water for a couple of weeks before digging so they’re able to dry out. The dried foliage should be cut back to soil level. Using a garden fork or spade, gently angle your tool into the soil at least three inches away from the clump of bulbs. Insert your tool to a depth of eight inches and gently lift the soil to bring the bulbs to the surface. Separate the central bulb (this is the original) from the smaller bulbs surrounding it. Inspect your bulbs for any signs of damage or disease and replant only the healthiest ones. The original bulb can be replanted but if it’s over five years old, you may consider discarding it to save room for the younger, healthier bulbs.

Companion Planting with Saffron

Companion planting is the practice of planting different crops near each other that help each other grow. Depending on the pairing, your crops can tackle pests, nutrient requirements, pollination needs, or maximizing space! Saffron is a great candidate for companion planting for a number of reasons. This gorgeous ornamental can be companion planted alongside other aromatic plants. Lavender, marigolds, and rosemary will all appreciate similar environments to saffron as well as repel pests with their strong smells. Not to mention the gorgeous landscaping you’d be designing!

Saffron FAQ’s

More questions? We’ve got more answers!

How much saffron can be harvested from one plant?

Each flower will produce three stigmas, or strands, of saffron in a growing season. Growing many saffron bulbs, say 25 or 50, will provide you with a good amount of saffron per season. This may not sound like a lot, but the extremely potent flavor allows a little bit to go a long way in most recipes. In fact, too much can cause a dish to be bitter.

Can you grow saffron indoors?

You indeed can grow saffron indoors! It’s similar to growing saffron outdoors, however you’ll need to provide ample lighting to ensure healthy blooms. We recommend ensuring your plants get five to six hours of light per day. In most cases, you will need to supplement natural light with grow lights. Saffron is easy to grow indoors because it is a cool season crop that doesn’t require high heat or as much sun as summer crops. It may be difficult to grow saffron as a perennial indoors, but you can certainly get a season or two out of your crop. Grow and harvest as directed.

How long does it take for saffron to bloom?

How long saffron takes to bloom depends on when you plant and what kind of autumn you have. If your autumn is especially warm or you plant early, they can bloom just four to eight weeks after planting. But, if you plant later or you have a cool fall, it may be a full year before you see blooms.

Cooking with Saffron

Many of us are not particularly familiar with saffron as it’s expensive to access for most people. But, in many cultures, it has a special place in a wide variety of sweet and savory dishes. In India, saffron is added to curries or syrups as an addition to desserts like Gulab Jamun. In Morocco, it adds a unique flavor to tagines. It also shines in paellas, risottos, and even sweet buns that are eaten in Sweden in celebration of St. Lucia.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to cooking with saffron - all you have to do is experiment with it! Which is of course easier to do if you have access to a large amount directly from your garden.

Ready to Grow Saffron?

Let’s do it! Growing saffron is easy and accessible to any type of gardener:

Saffron is hardy in growing zones six through ten but can also be grown in zones four and five with some extra winter protection.
Grow your saffron in an area with full sun and well draining soil.
They are fall planted and fall blooming and can be fertilized twice a year - in late spring and again after flowering in fall.
Saffron should be planted two to four inches deep and two to three inches apart.
Saffron wants a good amount of water as it's getting established, but does not need as much water during its dormant season in the summer. Be sure to not overwater which causes rot.
Saffron needs to be divided every three to five years to ensure longevity in blooming.

And now you’re ready to grow saffron! Check out Sow True Seed’s saffron crocus, Crocus sativus, bulbs available for pre-order with October shipping - just in time for planting!

	*Article Written by: Hannah Gibbons*
	About the Author: Hannah Gibbons, an employee at Sow True Seed since 2020, has nearly a decade of experience in the agricultural industry. Their passion for environmental education and regenerative agriculture has been the cornerstone of their work, aimed at making gardening accessible to all.