When to Plant Saffron Crocus in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Saffron Crocus guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs 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 Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant corms from February to April, late summer to early autumn, 10 to 15 cm deep and 10 to 15 cm apart in full sun on deep, rich, very well drained soil (Diggers, Garden Express, Mr Fothergill's). Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia are where Australian saffron grows (Mr Fothergill's); flowers come in April and May once temperatures fall below about 20C (Mr Fothergill's).
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How to Grow Saffron Crocus in Cool Temperate 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).
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Saffron Crocus
Recommended Varieties
- Crocus sativus corms (Diggers, Garden Express, Mr Fothergill's)
Key Challenges
- Corm rot in wet soil
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 Cool Temperate
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 Melbourne?
Plant corms from February to April, late summer to early autumn, 10 to 15 cm deep and 10 to 15 cm apart in full sun on deep, rich, very well drained soil (Diggers, Garden Express, Mr Fothergill's). Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia are where Australian saffron grows (Mr Fothergill's); flowers come in April and May once temperatures fall below about 20C (Mr Fothergill's).
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 Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.