Has anyone grown saffron crocuses successfully?

Question

If so, in what type of climate were you located? Any tips on success?

Answer 1

I live in zone 7 east coast. lots of clay. Still I ordered some bulbs years ago and they produced for 3 years well. I gave some of the threads to the librarian who was from India and she said it was of decent quality. Not like at home, but better than shipped in or store bought.

I reordered and kept it up for several more years but have let it all go now. Have you googled? I think I could have done better if I had raised a bed to improve drainage. The librarian was from Kashmir where the elevation was high and their was a fair amount of snow. Here is a good link. there are many more.

http://growingtaste.com/herbs/saffron.shtml

Thanks for reminding me. I would like to do this again.

Answer 2

The answer to your question is yes it can be grown indoors. The best time to plant crocus bulbs is during the late summer or early fall. Mature plants produce small purple flowers, with three red-gold stigma strands in each flower. Saffron spice is made from these dried strands. Crocus corms are available in size grades. Very small bulbs require a further season before they flower, but corms of an inch in diameter and larger will produce flowers in their first season. Step 1: Place your bulbs in a room with a temperature between 60 and 65 degrees F. Saffron crocus foliage prefers this temperature after flowering. Step 2: Provide a light source and keep lights on between 12 and 14 hours per day. The developing corms need this period of light daily to photosynthesize correctly. Step 3: Look out for the emerging flower buds, which develop within a few weeks after planting. The crocus flowers will open after three to five days, at which time you will be able to harvest the saffron strands. Step 4: Snip or pluck the flowers as they bloom. Step 5: Pull back the petals from the flower and remove them. Use a pair of scissors to cut the red stigma strands as close to their base as possible. Step 6: Carefully place the strands on pieces of white paper. These strands are particularly delicate, so handle them very carefully. Place each piece of white paper on a clean work surface in a room. Do not open any windows, as a breeze will blow the strands away. Step 7: Examine the saffron strands weekly. These strands are very light and will typically dry out completely within a week. Saffron will go moldy if not dried correctly, so allow for a longer drying period if you live in an area with high humidity. Step 8: Place a pouch of silicon desiccant into an air-tight glass jar and place the saffron strands into the jar. Ensure that the jar is sealed tightly.

Answer 3

All crocuses do better if the bulbs are buried in a wire cage to protect them from chipmunks etc. It takes alot of flowers to make a little saffron.