Information On How To Grow Saffron Crocus Bulbs

Plant the saffron crocus bulbs in late summer, in pots or borders, in a warm, sunny spot. Space them 15cm apart, at a depth of about 10cm, then firm down the soil and water in well.

How do you plant saffron crocus bulbs?

Find a large container and fill it with a commercial potting mix that drains well. ...
Site your bulbs where they will get full day sun or very light shade. ...
Dig holes and plant the crocus bulbs 3-4" deep and 2-3" apart. ...
After planting, water your bulbs well, thoroughly soaking the area.

What is the best time to plant saffron bulbs?

Make sure to plant Saffron Crocus bulbs at least 6 weeks before chance of frost. The bulbs (corms) don't store well and should be planted soon after you receive them. August is the best time to plant in colder locations (zones 3-6).

Where does saffron grow best?

Saffron Crocus do best in full sun and well-drained soil that is moderately rich in organic matter. Ideally, the site should be relatively dry in summer, when the corms are dormant. Plant the corms 4in deep and 4in apart.

Is Saffron hard to grow?

Saffron crocuses are not a difficult crop to grow. They're propagated from corms, a fleshy bulblike root that's planted in summer for an autumn harvest. You need to have reasonably warm and dry summers and autumns, although a little rain is fine.

Can you get saffron from any Crocus?

Saffron is harvested from the saffron crocus, scientific name Crocus sativus. This is a different plant entirely from the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), also known somewhat confusingly as meadow saffron.

How often do you water saffron crocus bulbs?

The saffron flowers might start blooming after about 6-8 weeks. During blooming season, you generally don't have to water your saffron crocuses, but you can water them when there hasn't been any rain for 3-5 days.

How much saffron do you get from one plant?

One saffron bulb produces a single flower, which in turn yields just three spindly stigmas – the female part of the flower that makes up the spice. Each stigma has to be delicately plucked from the flower, requiring time and effort an order of magnitude greater than that required for any other spice.

Can you leave crocus bulbs in the ground?

Do You Store Crocus Bulbs? Crocus plants require a chilling period of 6 to 8 weeks before sprouting time. The corms are quite cold hardy but in soil that drains poorly, leaving them in the ground can cause rot. ... If you purchase your crocus too early in the season for planting, you can save them until planting time.

How quickly do saffron bulbs multiply?

If your site is good, and the plants are healthy, they will multiply fairly rapidly. Dig up and divide the corms every 2 to 5 years, during their late July or August dormant period.

Is it profitable to grow and sell saffron?

Saffron carries a high entry cost, but in subsequent years this crop with three marketable elements can provide a big profit margin. Saffron is the most valuable spice on Earth. It can sell for $10 to $20 per gram. (Gold was recently trading around $40 per gram.)

What climate does saffron grow in?

Climate. For saffron cultivation, we need an explicit climatological summer and winter with temperatures ranging from no more than 35^oC or 40^oC in summer to about –15 ^oC or –20 ^oC in winter. That's why saffron can be cultivated in dry, moderate and continental climate types but not in tropical or polar climate types.

Can I grow saffron indoors?

Generally, saffron corms should be planted in the fall, and indoors is the perfect climate for them as they do not tolerate wet soil. Lay 1-2 inches of fine gravel or coarse sand at the bottom of a 6 inch planter. Fill the rest of the container with rich, well draining potting soil.

Is saffron a perennial?

The domesticated saffron crocus, Crocus sativus, is an autumn-flowering perennial plant unknown in the wild. It probably descends from the eastern Mediterranean autumn-flowering Crocus cartwrightianus which is also known as "wild saffron" and originated in Crete or Central Asia.

Why is saffron expensive?

Saffron is one of the most precious spices in the world, retailing for more than $500 an ounce. It is so expensive because it is an extremely labor-intensive crop. Crocus sativa, or the saffron crocus, flowers in the fall. Each flower has three tiny, threadlike stigmas in the center.

What is poor man's saffron?

Calendula is sometimes called "poor-man's saffron" since the petals can be used in cooking to add a golden hue. "Although not botanically related to marigolds, calendula (Calendula officinalis) is called "pot marigold" because its bright yellow flower petals resemble marigolds."

Are saffron crocus poisonous?

Stigmas should be harvested mid-morning when the flowers are fully opened. The saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) should not be confused with "meadow" saffron or autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) which is poisonous.

How much are saffron crocus bulbs?

Crocus Sativus (Saffron Crocus) Top size bulbs

25	bulbs	$16.50
100	bulbs	$58.00
250	bulbs	$130.00
1000	bulbs	$460.00
2500	bulbs	$1,050.00

Why are my saffron crocus not flowering?

It is possible that some bulbs will not flower in the first year as occasionally some bulbs may need a full season to enable them to reach the size and maturity needed to produce a flower. To encourage flowering feed the plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer before the foliage dies back in April/May.

How often should I water crocus?

Crocus should be planted 1-2 inches deep, 2-3 inches apart. After planting water thoroughly to settle the soil and to encourage the start of root growth. Sufficient moisture is vital to the health of your bulbs; lacking ample rain, it may be necessary to water new plantings once a week in fall.

How long does saffron last?

Store saffron in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to six months for maximum flavor. Saffron, like other herbs and spices, is sensitive to light, so wrap the packet in foil to protect it further. Saffron will not spoil, but it will lose increasingly more and more of its flavor with age.