Saffron is renowned for being one of the most expensive spices in the world. Despite its reputation, the plant is not difficult to grow at home, and you can even grow saffron in pots in smaller spaces, such as on a deck, balcony, or indoors.
The spice comes from the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). These pretty plants produce purple blooms in fall, yet each one produces only a small amount of saffron. Don’t expect a huge harvest of the spice from pots, but a little saffron goes a long way, and a stigma or two from the plants can be enough to flavor dishes.
I grew saffron in pots while working in the production garden at a prestigious members' club in the heart of the Cotswolds. The spice was cultivated in containers in an unheated greenhouse, predominantly for its beauty rather than to harvest the spice. If you want to grow saffron in containers yourself at home, this guide reveals the key factors to get right.
Can you grow saffron in pots?
If you have wondered this question, then the answer is yes, you can grow saffron in pots. There are some key factors to get correct for happy bulbs and stunning flowers, but growing saffron crocus as part of any container garden ideas (either outdoors or indoors) is achievable in US hardiness zones 6-9.
Saffron in pots makes it possible to cultivate the spice in a small space, such as a deck, patio, or balcony. It also helps protect the bulbs from common pests.
The likes of mice, voles, moles, chipmunks, rabbits, and squirrels are known to cause issues, so you can grow saffron in pots indoors or in a protected space if they are prevalent in your garden.
How to plant saffron bulbs in pots
Plant saffron bulbs in late summer or early fall. You can buy saffron crocus bulbs from bulb and seed retailers to plant in containers, and the plants will produce blooms in their first year, taking 6-8 weeks from planting to flowering.
Use a large container to grow saffron in pots. It needs to be large enough to accommodate the number of bulbs you want to plant, as saffron bulbs need 2-3 inches of space in the container. A large container allows you to plant more bulbs, and it takes lots to produce small amounts of saffron.
Another vital factor is having drainage holes in the bottom, as saffron crocus struggles in waterlogged soil. Make drainage a priority if you want happy saffron.
Fill the container with a well-draining potting mix formulated for containers, such as this organic potting mix at Amazon. Using loose, well-draining soil is essential; never use garden soil in pots as it holds far too much moisture, and the crocus bulbs risk rotting in sodden soil.
Saffron corms should be planted three inches deep, with the pointed end facing upwards and the rounded end at the bottom.
When growing saffron in the ground, you plant them at least three inches apart to avoid competition for nutrients. When it comes to saffron in pots, you can follow the same rule or place them a bit closer, at two inches apart, to see how they perform in a contained space.
Give the container a good watering after planting to help the bulbs settle and get off to a strong start in their new home.
Place the container in a sunny spot in the yard, or indoors in a bright location where the bulbs can get temperatures of at least 70°F. However, saffron crocus can also happily grow in partial shade, but the reduced light levels may impact blooming.
Buy saffron crocus bulbs at Amazon
Buy saffron crocus bulbs at Dutch Grown
Tips for growing saffron in containers
If you grow saffron in pots, plants do require attention and maintenance throughout the season to keep them healthy and flowering.
- Water - Saffron in pots requires watering when the top two inches of soil are dry. Either use your fingers or a soil moisture meter to judge when to water plants in containers and give them around an inch of water a week, but avoid overwatering plants and waterlogging the soil. Do not water saffron in pots during their dormancy.
- Feed - During the growing season, feed plants sparingly with a high-phosphorus fertilizer, such as a bloom booster, tomato feed, or seaweed fertilizer. Avoid using high-nitrogen feeds or over-fertilizing plants, as saffron does not need lots of feeding and can be sensitive to too high levels of nutrients.
- Prune - After blooming, leave the foliage in place and wait until it dies back to cut it off. The leaves continue to photosynthesize and put energy into the bulbs until they turn yellow and die back as they enter dormancy.
- Overwinter - Saffron in pots should be overwintered in a protected position, as the bulbs are not as protected from cold weather in containers, compared to when planted in the ground. Plants are hardy in US hardiness zones 6-9, when in the ground, so when growing saffron in pots at the lower end of those zones, it is best to move the containers into a greenhouse, porch, or bright conservatory for winter.
- Harvest - Each saffron crocus flower develops three long, slender, red stigmas in the center of the flower. Remove these from the flower with a pair of tweezers, and lay them in a warm place to dry.
FAQs
Can I grow saffron indoors?
You can grow saffron in pots indoors to enjoy the blooms and potentially get a small harvest of the spice to add to dishes. Plant the bulbs in late summer or early fall into containers, and place the pots somewhere that gets at least four hours of sunlight a day and temperatures of 70°F.
Another spice you can grow at home is cardamom. It is a member of the ginger family, and the spice is made from the seed pods of cardamom plants.
There are different types of cardamom plants, and if you want to cultivate them at home, then this expert guide to how to grow cardamom tells you all you need to know to give the plants the ideal conditions to thrive.
This hand-painted Pepinn resin pot planter is 20 inches wide and looks great on a patio or deck.
