Saffron advice?

[chriscross1966]

I've been given some  Saffron bulbs.l... they were a bit dried out and had started shooting in the dark when I got them so they are now in 3" pots of compost on a windowsill with the shoots just showing.....

I need to know what, where and how?

Many thanks!

chrisc

[chriscross1966]

[goodlife]

Uhh..they are growing bit wrong time of the year.. ::)..but there is nothing you can do about it other than let them do what they do.
They are hardy to go out, so it might be good idea and much easier to look after too.
I've been reading and reading about saffron last few years and I've always wanted some myself..but they've been bit pricey so far. But this year is THE YEAR that I'm going to get some too.. ;D
Suppliers don't sell them untill summer as they are autumn flowering bulbs, so they should still be totally dormant.
When I'm going to get mine they will go into large containers...and grown just like normal crocuses..they like good drainage but still plenty of moisture too.
Did you see the spice program, where Katie..the one from springwatch..did go to see the countries where they grow saffron commercially..the ground was almost desert-like..sandy, stony..and what the farmers did..as soon as the growth started to appear..they flooded the beds every so often so there was plenty of moisture..but no competing growth from anything else!! As and when the flowers appear..you just pick the long orange saffron 'bits' from the middle of the flower and dry them for storage. You don't need to pick the whole flower if you want to leave it for your eyes enjoyment ;) See if you can still find the program in Iplayer..it was in BBC.

[Jill]

I bought some last summer and all they produced last year was leaves.  The leaves are still looking green and healthy now.  Didn't expect them to be evergreen but am hoping for flowers in the autumn if they've sorted themselves out by then!

[goodlife]

Jill..where did you planted yours..in ground, pots? Are they kept outside all the time?

[goodlife]

When I went to GYO show last Friday..James Wong was giving a talk about saffron..and he mentioned that Saffron we get from here is not the Mediterranean/southern type but variety from Tibet..if my memory serves me correctly..slightly hardier that should produce perfectly well in this country and without any extra protection...but I do suspect the soil needs to be really well draining to survive our winter 'puddles'.

[goodlife]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/6206355/Saffron-mellow-yellow-and-delicious.html...... ;)

[grannyjanny]

James Wong MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[Jill]

Mine are in the ground just outside the back door in a very sunny spot, Goodlife.  Useful link that.  Thanks :)

[goodlife]

 ::)...you are truly Wonged..I bet there is picture of him on bed side table.. ;) ;D

[grannyjanny]

Oh to be Wonged by James ;D ;D ;D. No photo sadly.

[goodlife]

 ;D..just ordered some bulbs ;D 30 for £9.99..but they don't come untill July ::)
I've got some 'old fashioned' step aerobics 'platforms..once I turn them upside down they make excellent planters..long, sturdy, not too deep and black.
So those should do nicely ;)
..some of my best and oddest salvage treasures..local gym got rid of them some years back..and quess who got there in time before they ended up in landfill ;D

[lottie lou]

Who did you order your bulbs from Goodlife?

[goodlife]

Code Select Expand

Who did you order your bulbs from Goodlife?
Sutton's ;)

[Jayb]

Good luck with them Chrisc, hopefully they will put on a good bit of growth before they go dormant for the summer.

I was lucky enough to be sent some as a pressie last year. Although I was a few weeks late planting them they didn't seem to mind and flowered beautifully in late autumn. I planted them in 10lt pots and used general purpose compost, they have been out all winter. The leaves are just starting to look past their best. I'm going to keep them in the polytunnel during the summer so I can keep them fairly dry.

Some of the flowers got a bit mashed by the wet windy weather at the time and were beyond harvesting, this year I may keep a pot inside and see if they do better sheltered from any storms.

[goodlife]

Chrisc..another page that might interest you..
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Crocus sativus