Fall-blooming crocus bloom quickly

In the heat of August it is hard to imagine the coolness of autumn.  The dry, searing August sun broken only by thunderstorms and high humidity will soon make way to falling leaves and cooler temperatures and newly emerging fall crocus flowers.  Fall-blooming crocus form chalice-shaped cups that bloom within just weeks of planting. It is hard to believe that a newly planted bulb will bloom just a few weeks later, but that is exactly what fall-blooming crocus do.

They not only bloom quickly, but return each year, and you can look forward to their return each fall.

Fall-blooming crocus should be planted in August to give your garden a few extra weeks of flowers right about when most of the main garden plants have finished blooming for the year.

Autumn Gold (Sternbergia lutea) fall-blooming crocus is a bright yellow contrast to fallen leaves. The saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) blooms with pale blue or lavender petals. While the charm of the fall-blooming saffron crocus is reason enough to grow it, it is also an easy way to grow the world's most expensive spice. Each saffron crocus flower produces three bright red stigmas.

Just a few stigmas from the flower are enough to flavor an entire batch of saffron buns or a dish of paella.  Saffron turns baked goods a deep yellow and is even used in teas.

Autumn Rose crocus (Crocus kotschyanus) is a showy pinkish- red bloom that mixes well with fall-blooming asters or mums.

The pure white blooms of Autumn White crocus brighten up darker areas of the fall garden.

You may have to order fall crocus by mail.  They are widely available from mail-order nurseries such as White Flower Farm, Gurneys (513-354-1491) and Raintree Nursery.

Plant crocus about three inches deep, though colchicum can be set deeper, up to four inches deep.  The bulbs dry out and die quickly, so plant them as soon as they arrive.

For best effect plant masses or sweeps of bulbs, perhaps as many as a hundred in a lawn. Plan on planting about 16 bulbs per square foot.

Choose an area that is sunny or partly sunny with well-draining soil to prevent bulbs from rotting. You can lighten clay soils with compost mixed with some sand. Ideal soil pH is between 6.1 and 7.5.

Water well after planting and water once a week when there is no rain.

Within a few weeks you can enjoy flowers in the fall, and good saffron buns in the winter.  So think of the cool days of autumn when crocus bloom, and August feels cooler already.