Saffron Corms - Grade 1 Large

Grow your own saffron, one of the world's most prized spices, right in your own garden. Hand-graded for first-season flowering and heavier harvests, these premium saffron corms are hand-selected at 3.5cm diameter and above. Packed with energy from their seasons growing in Nelson, they are primed to produce beautiful purple flowers in their first autumn after planting.
 

Each flower produces the vibrant crimson saffron threads prized for baking, risottos, paellas, soups and more. Suitable for garden beds, raised beds, pots and containers, saffron thrives in a sunny position with well-drained soil. As a hardy perennial, the corms will naturally multiply over time, rewarding you with increasing blooms and harvests each season.

Size: 3.5 cm+ diameter
First-Year Expectation: High strike rate for autumn flowers in year one; typically yields multiple blooms per corm

Planting & Care

• Position: Full sun.

• Soil: Free-draining soil.

• Planting Time: Summer (December–February).

• Planting Depth: 10cm deep, spaced 10cm apart.

• Flowering: April–May.

• Watering: No additional watering required when grown in the ground. Avoid excess moisture during summer dormancy.

• Harvesting: Pick flowers in the morning and carefully remove the three crimson threads. Dry thoroughly before storing in an airtight container.

• Maintenance: Lift and divide corms every 3–4 years to encourage continued growth and flowering.

Best For: Cooks wanting an immediate harvest, beginners wanting guaranteed results, or container gardening

Planting: Plant 10cm deep and 10cm apart in full sun during summer. Flowers appear April–May.