When to Plant Saffron Crocus in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Saffron Crocus guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Feb to Apr
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 15 cm apart
- Soil pH
- About 6.5 (Green Harvest).
Saffron is the dried red stigma of the autumn flowering saffron crocus, a corm that is planted in late summer, flowers in April and May and goes dormant through a hot dry summer (Diggers, Mr Fothergill's, Green Harvest).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant corms from February to April, 10 to 15 cm deep and 15 cm apart, in full sun (Diggers, Garden Express). Diggers, Garden Express and The Seed Collection all list arid areas as suitable; the dry summer suits the dormant corm, and drier NSW is named by Green Harvest. Water in autumn and winter while leaves grow. Flowers in April and May.
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How to Grow Saffron Crocus in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Deep, rich, very well drained soil; raised beds or pots on heavy ground (Green Harvest, Diggers).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- About 6.5 (Green Harvest).
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 hours (Diggers).
- Spacing
- 15cm apart, 20cm between rows
- Watering
- Water after planting and while leaves are growing in autumn and winter; keep dry through summer dormancy (Green Harvest, Diggers).
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Saffron Crocus
Recommended Varieties
- Crocus sativus corms (Diggers, Garden Express, Mr Fothergill's)
Key Challenges
- Water in autumn and winter
Pro Tips
- Plant late summer, 10 to 15 cm deep, full sun, very free draining (Diggers).
- Pick flowers the morning they open and pull the stigmas with tweezers (Garden Express).
- Lift and divide every 3 to 4 years (Diggers).
Pests and problems for Saffron Crocus in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Saffron Crocus
When ready: Purple flowers open in mid to late autumn; each lasts only 1 to 2 days (Mr Fothergill's).
How to harvest: Pick flowers in the morning as they open, pull the three red stigmas out with tweezers, dry them (Garden Express, Diggers).
Storing and preserving saffron crocus
How to keep it
- Drying stigmas. Spread stigmas on paper in a warm dark airy place 1 to 5 days, or in a dehydrator at 35 to 46C, then jar airtight away from light. Keeps: A couple of years (Diggers).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Saffron Crocus
When do you plant saffron crocus in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Apr
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Feb to Apr
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Feb to Apr
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Feb to Apr
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Apr
- Mediterranean (Perth): Feb to Apr
When should I plant Saffron Crocus in Alice Springs?
Plant corms from February to April, 10 to 15 cm deep and 15 cm apart, in full sun (Diggers, Garden Express). Diggers, Garden Express and The Seed Collection all list arid areas as suitable; the dry summer suits the dormant corm, and drier NSW is named by Green Harvest. Water in autumn and winter while leaves grow. Flowers in April and May.
How do I know when Saffron Crocus are ready to harvest?
Purple flowers open in mid to late autumn; each lasts only 1 to 2 days (Mr Fothergill's).
What are the best Saffron Crocus varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Crocus sativus corms (Diggers, Garden Express, Mr Fothergill's).
Are saffron crocus salt tolerant?
Only a little. Saffron crocus are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.