When to Plant Saffron in California
California spans USDA hardiness 5b to 11a (zones 5b to 11a on this page). Plant saffron by your local frost date, not the calendar — pick your zone below for exact start-indoors, transplant, and harvest dates.
Jump to: Zone 5b · Zone 6a · Zone 6b · Zone 7a · Zone 7b · Zone 8a · Zone 8b · Zone 9a · Zone 9b · Zone 10a · Zone 10b · Zone 11a
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 5b
Average last spring frost
April 30
Average first fall frost
October 5
Direct sow
Nov 27
Projected first harvest
Jan 16
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 5 guide (both 5a and 5b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 6a
Average last spring frost
April 25
Average first fall frost
October 10
Direct sow
Nov 22
Projected first harvest
Jan 11
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 6 guide (both 6a and 6b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 6b
Average last spring frost
April 20
Average first fall frost
October 15
Direct sow
Nov 17
Projected first harvest
Jan 6
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 6 guide (both 6a and 6b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 7a
Average last spring frost
April 15
Average first fall frost
October 20
Direct sow
Nov 12
Projected first harvest
Jan 1
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 7 guide (both 7a and 7b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 7b
Average last spring frost
April 10
Average first fall frost
October 30
Direct sow
Nov 7
Projected first harvest
Dec 27
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 7 guide (both 7a and 7b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 8a
Average last spring frost
April 1
Average first fall frost
November 10
Direct sow
Oct 29
Projected first harvest
Dec 18
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 8 guide (both 8a and 8b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 8b
Average last spring frost
March 20
Average first fall frost
November 20
Direct sow
Oct 17
Projected first harvest
Dec 6
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 8 guide (both 8a and 8b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 9a
Average last spring frost
March 1
Average first fall frost
December 1
Direct sow
Sep 28
Projected first harvest
Nov 17
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 9 guide (both 9a and 9b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 9b
Average last spring frost
February 15
Average first fall frost
December 15
Direct sow
Sep 14
Projected first harvest
Nov 3
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 9 guide (both 9a and 9b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 10a
Average last spring frost
January 30
Average first fall frost
December 30
Direct sow
Aug 29
Projected first harvest
Oct 18
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 10 guide (both 10a and 10b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 10b
Average last spring frost
January 30
Average first fall frost
December 30
Direct sow
Aug 29
Projected first harvest
Oct 18
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Full zone 10 guide (both 10a and 10b) →
Saffron planting calendar for California, Zone 11a
Zone 11a doesn't get a seasonal frost — saffron plants on a warm/cool-season calendar instead of frost dates.
Best planting window
Year-round
🌴 Your zone never frosts, so planting is timed to the cooler vs. warmer seasons rather than a frost date.
Saffron is ready to harvest in about 50 days.
Not sure which half-zone you're in? Set your ZIP in HomeSown for dates tuned to your exact location.
Varieties to grow
1 variety of saffron in the HomeSown library. Tap any for its full grow guide.
🌱 Grow saffron with a calendar built for your exact yard
HomeSown turns your ZIP code into a personalized planting calendar, watering reminders, and pest help. Free to start.
Start your free garden →