On 19 Feb 2014, at 11:36, My Tong wrote: > I purchased quite a few saffron bulbs at an end-of-season sale and planted > them in November. They came up and developed foliage, but no flower so far. > It's February now, so does that mean they won't flower till the fall of > this year? Much of the saffron crocus sold commercially is undersized and won't flower until it's built up strength. Feed them well, but judiciously, this spring and maybe they'll flower this coming fall. If you get no flowers this year, be patient and give them more time. As for winter chilling, we get adequate chilling here in Victoria BC for saffron crocus to flower. The Bay area may be too warm in winter, but if you plant your saffron on the north side of the house, close enough to the house to be in shade all winter, that may help. Many crocuses seem to prefer a rather lean, sandy, sharply drained soil. If your native soil doesn't meet those requirements, this summer try replanting your saffron with a bed of clean sand under them, back filling the whole with more sand. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Z. 7-8, cool Mediterranean climate