BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Gardening Growing Saffron

A new fun project for me - I'm planting saffron crocus plants to see if I can grow my own saffron. I bought these in late September and am just getting around to planting them now. You can see that the bulbs are a bit impatient with me .

Has anyone else tried to grow their own saffron?

Hi Lisa and all,

It makes a lot of sense to grow your own saffron due to the costs on the market and especially if you use this spice in your kitchen.

As I understand, you need some patience as it is a plant that builds up over the years to give more blossoms and yield more stamens.

I have never grown it but at my next garden club meeting I will bring it up and see if I can get any first hand advice from those who have. Saffron paella or risotto - delicious!

Cheers now

Right, Lestie, I think I'll only get a few threads, but that's ok .

Saffron project day 2 - the planter finally thawed (it had been on the back porch) so I was able to put the bulbs into it. It's now sitting by the back sliding glass door.

Tomorrow the little saffron plants will get their first taste of sunshine!

Lisa,

Please keep this thread updated, I would love to try growing saffron. I just don't use it because it's so expensive.

Thanks

See, and this way you could make as much as you wanted .

Look! Look! The little saffron bulbs are actually growing! They're making little green leafy bits!! Happy happy happy.

Wow! They are growing fast Lisa!

Yes indeedy!

Here's the latest photo of my saffron bulbs, taken yesterday. They're growing well!

Fabulous! I'm excited.

After you had them inside the back porch was the weather okay to put them outside? Curious as it's freezing and icy here in New York.

I love watching plants grow.

Allyson -

We're in Massachusetts so it won't be warm enough for them to go outside until April .

Our saffron plants are growing but no flowers are forming yet. I've heard a rumor that they might have two cycles - a first cycle where they just grow greens and then a second cycle that has the flower stage. Thoughts?

Oh my gosh! Our babies are growing. lol

I just googled - growing saffron - you were the second article (nice), but the first was the following link from Vegetable Gardener - they had an informative article on growing saffron further down the page. You may have already seen it though - and according to VG planting is Summer and harvesting is Fall - interestng as your plants are thriving right now.
Saffron growing info

I have never grow up saffron.But now i am going to try it.

I am eager to see Lisa's next pictures of the plants.

Just waking up, gorgeous, fluffy snow falling. Did brief yoga and admired the #saffron crocus growing by the window. It's growing well!

Goodness they are growing well....and we shared the same fluffy snow today!

Well, the saffron went through its life cycle without any flowers and died off. But I'm heard this is normal at the beginning. Now to wait to see if they come back in a few months.