Growing saffron indoors is one of my favorite gardening projects because it’s both rewarding and surprisingly simple. With just a few corms and the right conditions, you can grow saffron at home and harvest your own threads. Below is everything I’ve learned about soil, spacing, care, and harvesting.
Soil – Saffron thrives in sandy loam soil. When growing saffron indoors, I like to use cactus potting mix.
Spacing – Spacing really depends on whether you want the corms to reproduce. Corms are the bulb of the saffron plant, and if they have enough space, they will multiply. If you are looking to produce corms, you will need a shallow plant pot about 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) deep and 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) in diameter. This size pot will fit 4–6 corms, spaced 3–4 inches (7–10 cm) apart.
If you are growing saffron mainly for flowers and saffron threads, you can also grow them in 4-inch (10 cm) pots, with one corm per pot. Keep in mind that if you are growing saffron for corm production, they will need a dormancy period, which includes a cold winter and hot summer.
When to Plant – The flowers of the saffron plant are not heat tolerant or cold tolerant. If your house is too hot or too cold, it can affect their growth. For this reason, if your home does not have heating or air conditioning, it is best to follow the natural outdoor growing season. Another reason for this is to ensure the plants receive the proper amount of sunlight. You can still grow saffron indoors—just choose the right season.
Northern Hemisphere: Plant in late summer to early fall (August to September)
Southern Hemisphere: Plant in late winter to early spring (February to March)
Care
Sun – Saffron needs 6–8 hours of direct sunlight. In the Northern Hemisphere, this would be a south-facing window with full sun and no shade. In the Southern Hemisphere, this would be a north-facing window with full sun and no shade. If you do not have a suitable window, you can use a grow light. Depending on the strength of the grow light, plants will need 6–8 hours under high-quality grow lights or 9–12 hours under lower-quality lights. You will know the correct amount of light based on how quickly or slowly your plants are growing.
Water – Saffron plants do not like wet soil, as it can cause the corms to rot. Water with 1 inch (2 cm) of water or less per week. The soil should be lightly moist, and you should only water when the top of the soil feels dry. Be cautious if your home is humid, as the plants will need less water. If your home is dry and hot, they may need more. If growing in small pots, it is a good idea to check them halfway through the week.
Fertilizer – You do not need to fertilize saffron when growing it indoors. The potting mix will provide everything the plant needs.
Transplanting – Corms can be transplanted once they are fully dormant. This occurs after the flowers have withered and dried, and the soil is dry.
Harvest
Harvest – From planting to harvest takes 1.5 to 3 months. Once you see the flowers, you must harvest the threads as soon as the flowers open, because each flower only lasts 1–2 days.
Seed – If someone or a website is trying to sell you saffron seeds, it is a scam. Saffron cannot be grown from seed.
It’s okay if your saffron plants take time to settle in. Saffron grows on its own schedule, and each season brings something new. Start small, adjust as you go, and with patience, your saffron will thrive.