Hello allotment people !!!
I've just been given a couple of dozen saffron bulbs (crocus sativus) and I was wondering if anyone knew whether I could still plant them and get an autumn flowering this year?
If its too late for that, should I still plant them now anyway, for flowering next autumn, or would it be best to keep them out of the ground and plant them next summer.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated :)
I don't know about flowering this year, but unless there's a specific reason, most bulbs are better off in the ground than out of it.
Very much doubt they'll flower this year, but you should plant them anyway. Mine took a while to bulk up enough to flower. I grow mine in deep pots, as they're easy to lose (nothing above ground to see in spring/summer). Figs with saffron is probably my favourite homegrown meal!
If you look in the packets in shops you will often see them flowering. They may well flower this season, but NEXT year may be a different matter altogether. Sadly they (and the other Autumn flowering TRUE crocus) do not survive very long here.
OK thanks peeps.
I'll stick them in the ground and see what happens. Although, my heavy clay may be the end of them (apparently they like a free draining soil).
What about putting some sharp sand in the bottom of the planting hole?