Saffron is one of the most expensive and luxurious spices in the world, with some claiming that an ounce is more expensive than an ounce of gold!

Thankfully, there is a way around the price. Crocus sativus is an autumn-flowering variety that produces this rare spice, and thanks to our easy to grow bulbs, planting saffron bulbs is a fuss-free process.

When to plant saffron bulbs

As Crocus sativus is an autumn-flowering variety, the planting time will differ from the spring-flowering crocus. To see your bulbs bloom in October and November, start to plant your bulbs in late summer.

How to plant saffron bulbs

If your goal is to make the most of these bulbs and harvest your efforts once they’re in full bloom, then make sure you plant several handfuls of bulbs in the desired area of the garden. It’s estimated that you will need to plant around 150 crocus sativus bulbs to harvest about one ounce of saffron.

When planting saffron bulbs, dig a hole about 10cm and space your bulbs apart by 15cm. Find an area of the garden that reaches plenty of sunlight for them to thrive in the later months of autumn. Cover with soil and water well.

To harvest the saffron once the blooms have appeared, remove the bright red long stamens with tweezers. Be careful, as only one flower will produce three stamens. Dry out on a tissue in a cool, dry room for several days and then place them in an airtight container in the cupboard for future use.

Where to plant saffron bulbs

You can plant your saffron bulbs anywhere you’d like around the garden, given that you provide them with enough space apart to grow. This could be in beds, borders, containers, or even in the grass.