[loopy]

I bought some saffron bulbs, which should have been planted in August, but for various reason we didn't get around to it.

Now wondering what to do with them - should we plant them now and if so will they produce a normal crop next autumn, or should we not plant them and keep them in a garage or somewhere until next August and then plant them?  Or will they not keep?

We could plant them outdoors, or we could plant them in pots under a large glass lean to on the back of the house - i'm aware that if we had planted them in August that the bulbs would stay outside over winter and grow again naturally next year but not sure if they would survive if they've not actually had any growing life this year?

Really hoping someone knows the answer to this as would be a shame to just throw them away!

thanks Loopy

[Fleecewife]

I know nothing about growing saffron, but with any other bulb it would die by next year if not planted out.  I think your best bet is to pot them up as you suggest (at the correct depth) then put them into their permanent places when the soil is workable in the spring.  The roots will not be disturbed if you just slip the whole rootball out and pop it into a hole the same size.   You probably won't get much of a crop next year, although you might be lucky, but they will be back to normal by the following year.

[jinglejoys]

There was a question on the gardening programe Radio4 about growing saffron this week.Unfortunately I was only half listeneng but there was a warning about slugs and somehing about ridging up.
    It will either be in the one repeated this afternoon or you may have to listen gain on the intenet if it was a repeat of last weeks

[landroverroy]

I also heard the article on Gardners' Question Time and the general opinion was that it's not worth trying to produce saffron in this country.