When to Plant Saffron Crocus in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Saffron Crocus guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- 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 Tropical
Saffron Crocus is not recommended for Tropical.
Cannot be grown outdoors here. Saffron crocus needs a cold winter with frosts and a hot dry summer dormancy (Green Harvest); Green Harvest calls it unsuitable for the tropics and The Seed Collection says it will not flower in tropical or subtropical climates.
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How to Grow Saffron Crocus in Tropical 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).
Tropical Growing Tips for Saffron Crocus
Recommended Varieties
- Crocus sativus corms (Diggers, Garden Express, Mr Fothergill's)
Key Challenges
- No cold winter
Pro Tips
- Buy dried saffron; the corm needs frost and a dry summer (Green Harvest).
Pests and problems for Saffron Crocus in Tropical
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 Cairns?
Cannot be grown outdoors here. Saffron crocus needs a cold winter with frosts and a hot dry summer dormancy (Green Harvest); Green Harvest calls it unsuitable for the tropics and The Seed Collection says it will not flower in tropical or subtropical climates.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.