Anonymous wrote:I have regular crocuses but never tried to eat any part of them. Are saffron ones different?

Yes, they are different. Crocus sativus is the one grown for it unique, large, orange stigma which is used as a spice. Other varieties of crocus (Crocus crysanthus, Crocus pulchellus, Crocus vernus, etc., etc.) won't have the bright orange stigma.

I have regular crocuses but never tried to eat any part of them. Are saffron ones different?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t, but they are a spring bloomer so I think you need to get them into the ground soon.

Saffron crocus blooms in September. The leaves may emerge in Spring, but the harvest will be in Fall. You can plant them any time and often in the first year they will behave unpredictably unltin the second full your in the ground.

https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/how-to-harvest-saffron-crocus?srsltid=AfmBOop-h8K18g8cmpCIqX-th_gC16y5wF0jdyesYhMBzlcuQqTJCCBG

^^ until the second full year

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we have the right climate for it.

While they prefer a Mediterranean climate, they are hardy here in our Zone 7b, and just require relatively dry condiitons. They do fine if you put them in well drained soil and don't overwater them in summer. North of zone 6, you will struggle (have to move them indoors like dahlias in the North) and south of Zone 8 is possible, but they stuggle if they don't get a cold enough winter.

I've grown them for years in my DC yard, and though the bunnies love to nibble on the leaves, I usually get enough of a harvest for my own use.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t, but they are a spring bloomer so I think you need to get them into the ground soon.

Saffron crocus blooms in September. The leaves may emerge in Spring, but the harvest will be in Fall. You can plant them any time and often in the first year they will behave unpredictably unltin the second full your in the ground.

https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/how-to-harvest-saffron-crocus?srsltid=AfmBOop-h8K18g8cmpCIqX-th_gC16y5wF0jdyesYhMBzlcuQqTJCCBG

The Amish in Lancaster and Berks counties grow a lot of saffron, they have for centuries.
This is a good climate for it.

This article has info about how it’s grown and harvested:
https://www.saveur.com/pennsylvania-gold/

This article is self explanatory:
https://www.finegardening.com/article/how-to-grow-saffron?srsltid=AfmBOoqax47qVnTo1G7KHYzG41QxnNfOZvS25oJtRxPlBkNFPSV8NPiq

A recent article about growing:
https://www.aramcoworld.com/articles/2026/jf26/pennsylvania-gold

I don't think we have the right climate for it.

I don’t, but they are a spring bloomer so I think you need to get them into the ground soon.

Martha stewart does it! Try her blog.

Does anyone grow saffron in their garden?
I just bought some saffron crocus corms and would love some tips