Rather tempted by the Suttons offer for saffron bulbs - anybody growing them or tempted like me?
info@news.suttons-seeds.co.uk>
http://www.suttons.co.uk/Shop/Special+Offers/Saffron+Crocus+-+SPECIAL+Offer+230248.htm (http://www.suttons.co.uk/Shop/Special+Offers/Saffron+Crocus+-+SPECIAL+Offer+230248.htm)
can't be as simple as that surely, or we'd all be growing it already. :)
Tin Shed that link doesn't work but hopefully this one does! :)
http://www.suttons.co.uk/Shop/Special+Offers/Saffron+Crocus+-+SPECIAL+Offer+230248.htm?
Looks really tempting.... I thought saffron grew in hot countries though.
They're autumn flowering, I got mine from Garden4less (http://www.garden4less.co.uk/sativus-crocus-bulb.asp) last year. (They're currently £1.79 for 15 sold out).
Here's a thread from last October. (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,55864.0.html) :)
Quote from: lottie lou on June 08, 2010, 19:30:35
Looks really tempting.... I thought saffron grew in hot countries though.
It was grown comercially in Saffron Walden, Essex, hence the name.
£7.05 for 50 bulbs here:
http://www.gee-tee.co.uk/shop/crocus-and-iris/crocus-autumn-flowering/sativus
Tee Gee has his own company now!!!!!!!!!!!??? :o :P ;D
Quote from: Duke Ellington on June 08, 2010, 21:07:09
Tee Gee has his own company now!!!!!!!!!!!??? :o :P ;D
;D
Intresting article from last year, Saffron being produced in Wales. I think I remember they were featured on one of the garden type tv programes.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/6206355/Saffron-mellow-yellow-and-delicious.html
Thanks for giving the correct links Flighty and Bugloss.
Suttons doesn't seem like such a good deal after all - glad I asked!
Sholls - how are your crocuses doing and do you think it was aworthwhile investment in money and space on the allotment?
Wow - glad I looked here before I bought from Suttons.
I'm very tempted - cornwall being an area where lots of saffron was grown. So thanks very much for the other supplier Baccy Man. :)
Alison
I grew some bulbs once - the flowers are pretty and it's nice having crocuses in the garden in Autumn...
I also used the stigmas in cooking - but you only get a few per flower, and you have to pick them at the right time (I forget how or when).
I was hoping they would establish and multiply but unfortunately they died out in a couple of years.
I was interested but since that was my best spot I didn't try again.
You would need huge numbers of them if (like us) you get through a couple of grams a year.
That sort of quantity would also involve hours bent double with tweezers to pick them!
I've found a website that says you only get 100g of saffron from an acre of plants - that's 16 allotments.
So, you could grow 5 grams of saffron on your allotment and (assuming it's as good as the Spanish product) it would be worth about £25. Wouldn't cover the rent and water...
Pity.