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When to plant saffron

Plant saffron for fall 4 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost.

Your dates for saffron

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant saffron where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

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Saffron planting dates by zone

JFMAMJJASOND Zone 4b Zone 5b Zone 6b Zone 7b Zone 8b Zone 9a
Fall plantingDates use each zone's typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code for your own.
Dates from each zone's typical (median) frost dates.
ZoneFall planting
Zone 2a *Jul 11 to Aug 8
Zone 3a *Jul 20 to Aug 17
Zone 3b *Jul 30 to Aug 27
Zone 4aAug 3 to 31
Zone 4bAug 6 to Sep 3
Zone 5aAug 9 to Sep 6
Zone 5bAug 15 to Sep 12
Zone 6aAug 22 to Sep 19
Zone 6bAug 27 to Sep 24
Zone 7aAug 30 to Sep 27
Zone 7bSep 6 to Oct 4
Zone 8aSep 12 to Oct 10
Zone 8bSep 18 to Oct 16
Zone 9a *Oct 1 to 29
Zone 9b *Oct 14 to Nov 11

* Outside zones 4 to 8, the hardiness range our sources give for saffron. Plants there may not survive the winter or get enough winter chill, and are usually grown as annuals or in pots.

Where frost is rare

No extension planting calendar was found for saffron in zones 9-11. The cited hardiness ranges stop at zone 8, so growing it where frost is rare is unproven by these sources.

How to grow saffronYour full planting calendar

Sources