Plant of kesar
How To Grow Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice
Table of Contents
The most exotic and sought-after rare spice in the world, the saffron crocus is a beautiful bloom that people love all over the world. While the flower itself is small, if you’re growing saffron, it’s for the even smaller three stigmas that lie in its center. Once dried, the saffron loses 90% of its weight, making it worth more than several times its own weight in gold. It’s easy to learn how to grow saffron! This hardy little bloom is a delight to behold and well worth space in the garden!
Grown from corms instead of seeds, the saffron crocus is primarily grown in Iran. Over 90% of the saffron consumed around the world grows there. This is in large part due to the labor-intensive harvesting and drying of the stigmas, and the relatively cheap labor force in Iran. However, the saffron crocus bulbs (called corms) are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain for gardeners wanting to add this bloom to their gardens.
Packed full of nutritional benefits, this spice is said to help with heart disease and depression. Many even say that handling the flowers and stigmas can cause uncontrollable laughing and joy!
Farmers in the US have been growing the saffron crocus since the 17th century when the Pennsylvania Dutch first brought these little bulbs to the US. It’s possible to farm this spice here if labor costs permit. Grown in a raised bed garden or containers, this plant can fit anywhere! Just keep in mind, a family of 4 needs at least 150-200 corms for a year’s worth of cooking.
Quick Care Guide
Love saffron? Learn how to grow saffron in your garden! Source: kightp| Common Name(s) | Saffron crocus |
| Scientific Name | Crocus sativus |
| Days to Harvest | 6-8 weeks |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water: | Moderate water during production; no water during dormancy |
| Soil | Well-drained sandy to loamy soil |
| Fertilizer | Compost or bone meal |
| Pests | Rabbits, voles, mice, gophers, saffron bulb mite |
| Diseases | Corm rot |
All About Saffron Crocus
As the petals unfurl, the flower’s center opens to the sunlight.
Source: LindaHThe world-renowned saffron crocus is by far the most expensive spice in the world. It’s known not just for its vibrant red color, but also for its scarcity. With 220,000 flowers needed to make a single kilo of dried spice, this spice needs several fields in production to make a crop worth selling.
The Crocus sativus has traditionally been used in Middle Eastern, Indian, Greek, and Spanish cooking but has since been incorporated into food all over the globe. The plant is believed to have originated in Minoan-era Crete and thrives in other similar temperate regions of the world. You can plant saffron on farms, in the garden, or in containers. The crocus saffron will adapt to any number of growing conditions.
The saffron crocus is a short and stubby flower that produces a purple cup-shaped bloom in beautiful jewel tones. The leaves or foliage are more like green spikes that look like pine needles and the entire plant is 4 inches tall at maturity. There are three stigmas in the center of the plant and this is the portion of the plant that is known as ‘saffron’.
It is a brightly colored red-orange tri-pronged thread that emerges from the base. It is shockingly bright and incredibly easy to spot. Only a single flower is produced from each bulb, however, each bulb does reproduce as it goes into its dormancy season over summer.
The saffron life cycle can generally be broken down into 5 stages. Saffron crocus bulbs sprout 6-8 weeks after planting in late fall to early winter. It flowers and develops leaves and then begins to develop daughter corms while heading into dormancy.
Planting Saffron Crocuses
If you’re growing saffron crocus, it’s ideal to start the bulbs in the late summer or early fall. Your growing zone will dictate the exact time. If in USDA zones 3-6 plant them in August, if in USDA zones 7-10, try for September.
Plant saffron corms about 4 inches deep and 4 inches apart, although a bit closer together for dramatic effect won’t do much harm. Some people even grow 12 per square foot. Be sure to plant the bulb pointed size down in the planting hole.
Care
The yellow center gives way to three slender red stigmas. Source: graibeardIt’s quite easy to grow saffron crocus bulbs! A great addition to the herb garden, this brilliant spice is great for beginners and a hardy corm that will come back year after year. There are just a few rules to follow to make sure these little guys have the right growing conditions.
Sun and Temperature
For gardeners wishing to learn how to grow saffron crocus, most will find that saffron is easily grown in their climates. While not all will be able to grow saffron and leave the corms in the ground year-round, most will find that with a few adaptations, these plants will grow well almost anywhere. How is that? The saffron crocus thrives in temperate regions and is adaptable to growing zones 6-10. It needs a full day’s sun (at least 8 hours) and a steady warmth at the end of fall.
It’s after the stigmas have been harvested that growers need to watch out for the temperature.
In zones below USDA zone 6, the winters get too cold for the corms to overwinter in-ground. You’ll need to lift the bulbs and store them over winter to protect them from extreme cold. In zones 8-10, you’ll need to bring in the saffron crocus bulbs and artificially ‘winterize’ them in order for the saffron crocus bulbs to know to sprout the following season.
Water and Humidity
It’s wonderful to see a blooming crocus in the landscape. However, be careful not to overwater these beautiful and hardy little saffron flowers. In the days leading up to harvest, saffron crocuses need only a moderate amount of water, about a 1/2 an inch a week from the time of planting to harvest. After the saffron has been harvested, stop watering altogether. This will encourage the crocus to complete its life cycle and go dormant.
When watering, it’s best to use a drip irrigation hose to evenly water your harvest. Using a strong hose or watering can accidentally damage these fall-blooming plants.
Soil
Saffron crocuses are a fairly hardy plant and tolerate sandy soils to loamy soils. They can even be grown in poor soils if the soil is partially amended with compost or bone meal. The one requirement needed is that the soil is well-draining. Soil that retains too much water will invite rot, one of the very few problems to affect the wonderful saffron spice.
Fertilizing
For gardeners who want to learn how to grow saffron, this fall-blooming flower is pretty low maintenance. The saffron flowers do not require much in the way of fertilizing. However, if amending poor soil or fertilizing overwintered in-ground corms, add 1 inch of compost over the ground where the crocus corms have been planted. Alternatively, you can amend the soil with some bone meal at the time of planting. Given the quick bloom time of the plant, and the tiny crop, little is truly needed in order for these bulbs to produce.
Pruning
The only time a saffron crocus is pruned, is when it’s harvested.
Using sharp scissors or your hands, gently separate the flower from the stem and separate the petals from the stigma. Be sure to leave the foliage to allow the bulbs to slowly develop daughter bulbs as it heads into dormancy.
Propagation
The saffron crocus is exclusively propagated by allowing each corm to complete its full life cycle. After the saffron flowers have been harvested, the leaves need to be allowed to die back. It’s during this time that ‘daughter’ bulbs develop. If desired, you can dig up these new corms and select the healthiest to store for the next year’s growth, or cover with mulch and leave them until the following fall if your climate is amenable.
Harvesting and Storing
The stigma is the part we use for culinary color and flavor. Source: graibeardThe saffron spice is a somewhat labor-intensive spice to pick and store. This is why the spice costs so much despite it being a rather easy plant to grow. The bright red stigmas of this wonderful plant are a beautiful and eye-catching sight, and easily signal when they’re ready to be picked.
Harvesting
The time window for harvesting saffron crocus is pretty short. You’ll ideally need to visit your garden mid-morning while you’re in the harvest window. Saffron is best harvested in the morning on a dry day when the sun has not yet begun to beat down on the flower. This is usually about 6-8 weeks after the corms are planted. Wait until the bloom is partially open to pick the flower. Snip the bottom portion of the flower without taking any of the leaves. You’ll want to first open up the flower, letting all the parts fall onto a table or napkin, and pick out the stigma gently either by hand or with tweezers.
Storing
Saffron threads are finicky, they can’t take too much sunlight before their quality starts to degrade. After picking, immediately store them indoors in a shaded area.
Saffron threads can be used immediately after picking (within a 24 hr period), or it can be dehydrated for long-term storage. If drying there are two methods available.
For a small crop, try drying on a paper towel on a shaded table or shelf. They should be dry within 3 days. If using a dehydrator, spread the threads out evenly on a dehydrator sheet and dehydrate for 3 hours at 45 degrees.
After drying, the stigmas need to be sealed in an airtight container in a dry place. Try wrapping the stigmas in foil or another light blocking material to store them for the long term as sunlight degrades the quality of this spice. Commercial sellers use black plastic to shield them from the sun.
Don’t be surprised when your saffron loses much of its weight! The dehydration process strips 90% of the weight from the stigma!
Troubleshooting
These lovely flowers are beautiful ornamentals as well! Source: antonychammondFortunately for people who grow saffron crocus, these bulbs have relatively few predators and growing problems. Aside from the hungry rabbit or gopher, this hardy little bulb is sometimes affected by rot or mites, but rarely at that.
Growing Problems
Growing saffron crocus is thankfully a pretty easy task! This plant is blessed with very few growing problems. However, it’s important to keep in mind your growing area if growing in regions dissimilar from its native environment of Greece. It performs best in USDA zones 5-8; while it can grow in zones 9-10, be careful not to plant too early as it will need cool temperatures to flower. If it’s too hot, the corm may produce just leaves and none of the flowers we crave.
Pests
Most of the pests that affect the saffron crocus are small mammals. The bulb of the saffron plant is a very delicious nugget of nutrients that can be dug up and eaten by a variety of animals such as rabbits, gophers, voles, and mice. These corms are especially susceptible to attack during the winter months when food is scarce.
The saffron bulb mite is a small .8mm long beetle-looking bug that causes the plant to grow in a stunted manner.
The flowers will grow shorter with thinner leaves as well. It’s best to prevent it as the short-lived plants cannot be truly cured once the problem shows itself, but you can consider spraying the corms with miticide before planting.
Diseases
While fortunate to not suffer from too many diseases, corm rot is a definite concern for growers with soil that retains too much water. Corm rot is actually a collective term for several different fungal diseases including Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. They all manifest themselves by rotting the bulb and foliage of the plant and making them appear yellow or brown in appearance. These rots, similar to root rot, can be avoided by planting in well-draining soil and reducing watering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where does saffron grow best?
A: Saffron grows best in well-draining soil with full sun and a moderate amount of nutrients.
Q: Is it profitable to grow and sell saffron?
A: It can be profitable to grow and sell saffron.
However, as much of the cost is from the labor-intensive process of harvesting, that will be a big factor in its profitability.
Q: Is saffron easy to grow?
A: It’s pretty simple to grow saffron crocus if you have a sunny location with well-draining soil.
a step-by-step guide to grow saffron |
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Wondering how to grow saffron? Our expert guide to growing and harvesting saffron will help you cultivate this fragrant spice with ease.
A luxurious, vivid spice that has been around for centuries, saffron comes from a flower called crocus sativus, also known as the ‘saffron crocus’. A beautiful, purple flower with bright red threads (stigmas), these threads are what make the saffron spice. Saffron can only be harvested by hand over a short period of time in the fall season, with each flower only producing a very small amount of the spice, which explains why saffron is one of the most desired and expensive spices in the world.
Here we explore how to grow saffron at home and address some of the most common questions asked about this unique and valuable spice.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
How to grow saffron
Below we take you through our simple step-by-step guide on how to grow saffron.
- To grow saffron at home, you will need to buy some crocus sativus (saffron crocus) corms or bulbs, the more you have, the more saffron you will be able to harvest.
- Plant the bulbs in late summer. They can be planted in grass in well-drained soil, as well as in pots or in a cool greenhouse. If planted in grass, the plants are great for edging a path or border, or work well in clusters in a flower-bed or rockery.
- Plant the bulbs in small clumps, around 5cm deep and 5-10cm apart.
- Once planted, ensure the soil gets plenty of sunshine and does not become waterlogged.
- The flowers will bloom in fall before the leaves. The bright red threads must be picked and dried quickly as the flowers unfortunately wilt after just one day.
Delicately remove the threads using tweezers, each flower produces only three stigmas. - Leave the threads on a paper-towel indoors for a few days until they are fully dried out, then store in an air-tight container in a warm, dry place. You can then crush the stems to make a powder and add the saffron to many a recipe, both sweet and savory, with the spice adding a sweet, earthy taste.
- After the plants have flowered, leave the plant to die naturally and prune when it turns yellow.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Is saffron easy to grow?
If you have the right planting conditions saffron is easy to grow. Once you have planted the bulbs the plants need little attention, you just need to remember to pick the precious threads as soon as the flowers bloom.
Where does saffron grow best?
Saffron grows best in an area of well drained soil that gets plenty of direct sunlight - make sure the soil does not become waterlogged as this will ruin the plant growth.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
How fast does saffron grow?
Your bulbs need to be planted towards the end of the summer season and the threads harvested in autumn. The flowers can bloom as little as four weeks after planting but generally it will be between six to ten weeks.
How much saffron do you get from one plant?
The reason why saffron is so expensive and desirable is each flower only produces a tiny amount of the spice. Around fifty flowers will produce one teaspoon of the spice so the more flowers the more spice you can harvest! The good news is a small amount of saffron can go a long way, the spice has a strong taste so you only need to add a pinch to your cooking to taste the flavor.
Zara joined Homes & Gardens in February 2022 as a Content Editor. After studying English Literature at University, she worked as an Ecommerce Website Editor, Content Writer and Buying Intern at multiple independent businesses within the luxury retail and lifestyle sectors.
Her role at Homes & Gardens unites her love, experience and passion for the world of design and desire to create inspiring written content. She enjoys nothing more than discovering new trends, brands and products, whether that be in fashion, interior design or lifestyle.
Crown of Thorns of the Savior. Infographics - Orthodox magazine "Foma"
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Under the heading The Essence of Things, "Thomas" briefly talks about Christian symbolism using examples of specific artifacts and shrines.
The crown of thorns is a crown of a plant with thorns (thorns), which was placed on the head of Jesus Christ by Roman soldiers before his crucifixion. nine0003
In His sermons, the Savior spoke more than once about His Kingdom, referring to the Kingdom of God, Heaven.
The Jews, while bringing Christ to Pilate's trial, brought him a political accusation of rebellion against Caesar: He ... forbids giving tribute to Caesar, calling Himself Christ the King (Lk 23 :2).
Pilate, wishing to clarify the circumstances of the case, asks Him: Are you the King of the Jews? (Jn 18 :33). And he receives the answer: My kingdom is not of this world; If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight for me, so that I would not be delivered to the Jews (Jn 18 :36).
The answer was exhaustive for Pilate, and, trying to demonstrate to the people gathered by the Jewish elders the whole absurdity of the accusation brought against Jesus and wishing to release Christ, he orders his soldiers to arrange this foolish coronation: a scarlet cloak, a rod, a “crown” and traces of beatings.
The soldiers placed on the Prisoner a “crown” woven from branches of a prickly bush with sharp long thorns, blindfolded Jesus and beat him on the head with sticks.
The crown of thorns caused unbearable torment and very heavy bleeding. nine0003
Pilate wanted to show the people: Behold, Man! (Jn 19 :5) — He is an ordinary weak man. Alas, the hearts of the people hardened, and, persuaded by the elders, they shouted in the face of the tormented and desecrated Tsar: take, take, crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar (Jn 19 :15).
1. The crown was divided into three parts in order to preserve at least part of the shrine during the years of the French Revolution. All three survived. The gold staples of the case cover the places of dissection of the Crown. nine0003
2. Thorn wounds are visible on the Shroud of Turin, the burial cloths of Christ. The surgeons counted 13 wounds on the forehead and 20 on the back of the head.
3. A crown woven from strong rods of a prickly plant without thorns, to which sprigs of the fragrant jujube plant are added, is stored in a special sealed case.
4. There is still debate about which plant the Crown is made from. The most common versions are: real jujube, or unabi; hold a tree, or Christ's thorns; sarcopotherium prickly; hawthorn. nine0003
5. Initially, the Crown consisted of about 70 four-centimeter spikes. Before selling to Louis IX, the Venetians cut off the thorns. They ended up in various temples and monasteries around the world.
6. Half of the annual budget of France - 135,000 livres - was given by King Louis IX of France to redeem the Crown from Venetian merchants. The shrine came to them after the sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204. To meet the Crown of Thorns, Louis traveled 40 kilometers from the capital - barefoot and in a simple shirt - and carried the shrine on his shoulders all the way to Paris. nine0003
Every year green leaves blossomed on the Crown. This was reported in 1201 by the sacristan of the Emperor of Constantinople, Nicholas Messarit.
7. In 1806, the Crown of Thorns was placed in the vestry of Notre Dame Cathedral. The crown of thorns is taken out for veneration on the first Friday of every month, every Friday of the Catholic Great Lent and on Good Friday.
Video version of the infographic.
Why did the Crown of Thorns become sacred? How did it happen that the relic was pawned and by whom it was redeemed? What role did the Crown of Thorns play in the fate of the scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal? Where can one come into contact with the shrine today? The historian, theologian, head of the pilgrimage cultural and educational center ap. Thomas in Europe Timothy Katnis.
Tales of Masterpieces - Titian "Denarius of Caesar" -100 paintings
Home - Stories about masterpieces - 100 paintings
Titian Vecelli already in the tenth year of his life began to try his hand at painting Drawing, he was looking primarily for lively, golden, sunny colors.
He painted differently than other - famous and recognized - artists, and therefore one of the respected and well-known painters in Venice at that time said the terrible words to little Titian: "You have no talent!". With such a fatal definition, Titian began his artistic life. nine0003
Now all art critics unanimously assert that Titian is undoubtedly at the head of the Venetian school of painting.
The truth, freshness, transparency of his wonderful colors are so incomparable that no painter in the world has surpassed him in coloring.
Titian is called the alchemist of colors, and his paintings are called pink pearls with smoky golden tints. Like plants and flowers, sparkling robes grow on people in his paintings.
nine0002 The French writer Stendhal named 20 shades of yellow in the Titian painting with oranges:“The fusion of shades, the amazing fidelity in the transition of tones, the inimitable art of applying paint put Titian to the height of perfection.
The mystery of its color is still almost inexplicable. In vain they tried to subject the paints to chemical decomposition, for which they even sacrificed several of his priceless works. The analysis gave the most ordinary results, and the secret of his coloring remained in ingenious inaccessibility. nine0003
In the years 1516-1518, commissioned by the Duke of Ferrara Alfonso d'Este, Titian painted the painting "Caesar's Denarius", which, possibly, adorned the closet door in one of the rooms of the ducal palace. Duke Alfonso d'Este was one of the most interesting figures in Italian history of the 16th century. A clever politician, an expert in military affairs, the creator of the best artillery in Italy (it is not for nothing that he is depicted in a portrait leaning on a cannon), the sovereign ruler of the small duchy of Ferrara. He was a brave man not only in military affairs, if, due to political considerations, he risked marrying Lucrezia Borgia (daughter of Pope Alexander VI), who became famous not only for her unbridled orgies, but also for the dexterity with which she sent her husbands and countless lovers.
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Like all the Dukes of d'Este, Alfonso I was very concerned about the decoration of Ferrara, attracting the best architects and artists of Italy to work.
This is how the great Titian was also attracted, choosing for the plot of his picture the gospel text, which tells about the dispute between Jesus Christ and the Pharisees:
Then the Pharisees went and deliberated how to catch Him in words, and, watching Him, they sent crafty people who, pretending to be pious, would catch Him in any word, in order to betray Him to the authorities and the power of the ruler. And they send their disciples to him with the Herodians. And when they came, they said to him:
- Teacher! We know that you are just and do not care about pleasing anyone, for you do not look at any person, but you truly teach the way of God. So tell us: what do you think, is it permissible to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Should we give or not?But Jesus, seeing their craftiness, said:
- Why are you tempting Me, hypocrites?
Show Me the coin that pays taxes.They brought Him a denarius.
And he says to them: Whose image and inscription is this?
They say to him: Caesars. nine0150 Then he said to them:
- so, give what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God.
The political morality of this gospel parable boiled down to the recognition of the independence of secular power from church power. The words "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" for the Duke of Ferrara, who fought with the Pope, confirmed this independence. In addition, he chose them as a motto, which appeared on Ferrara coins.
However, the meaning of the picture is much broader, and for Titian himself it was also a deeply ethical work. Without violating the "letters" of the gospel text, Titian brings into the picture a very special spirit, a special idea. He expresses this idea in the clash of living human characters at the moment of strong psychological conflict. nine0003
For his work, Titian chose the knee-figure form common in Venice.
And this form, more than any other, focuses the viewer's attention on the semantic side of the picture.
The faces contrast with each other The face of the Savior is painted in a three-quarter turn to the right and is strongly illuminated - the Pharisee's face is shown in profile, and deep shadows are placed on Him.
The very closeness of the faces of Christ and the Pharisee reveals the moral conflict between them in all its tension. Just a comparison of the thin, noble fingers of the Savior with the rough, knotted hand of the Pharisee gives a vivid idea of the difference in their spiritual appearance. It is the color that Titian reveals the psychological essence of the personality. nine0003
The color of their bodies is also different: with the Savior it is light and tender, with the Pharisee it is rough and brownish. But the most beautiful thing is precisely the contrast of the tone of the hands: the white, tender hand of Christ stands out against the bright red background of his mantle, the hand of the Pharisee is depicted against the blue background of the mantle of the Savior.
