Where can you grow saffron

How To Grow Saffron - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

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Saffron is a spice used mainly as a seasoning in dishes like curries, risottos and fish dishes, but is also used as a food colouring agent. It’s the world’s most expensive spice by weight, owing to the number of plants needed to harvest a modest amount. Saffron is thought to be native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia, but is grown widely across Iran, as well as parts of Spain, France, Italy and India.

Saffron strands are the stigmas of the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus. While they’re easy to grow you’ll need to buy a lot of saffron bulbs – around 150 flowers will produce one gram of saffron. Saffron crocuses flower in autumn.

How to grow saffron

Saffron crocus bulbs are widely available from mail-order bulb and seed companies. Plant them in summer in moist but well-drained soil and water well. To harvest the saffron strands, simply remove using tweezers, and dry them before using them to add delicate colour and flavour to a range of dishes.

Advice on buying

Crocus sativus bulbs

Buy as many saffron crocus bulbs as you can afford or have space for, as you’ll need a lot of crocus flowers to produce a teaspoon of saffron strands
Always check bulbs for signs of damage or disease before planting

Where to buy saffron bulbs

Suttons
Crocus
Dobies

You Will Need

Saffron crocus bulbs (Crocus sativus)
Trowel
Tweezers

Step 1

Plant the saffron crocus bulbs in late summer, in pots or borders, in a warm, sunny spot. Space them 15cm apart, at a depth of about 10cm, then firm down the soil and water in well.

Planting saffron crocus bulbs

Step 2

When the crocuses flower in autumn, harvest the saffron strands by removing the long, bright orange-red stigmas from the centre of the flowers using tweezers. Each flower produces just three stigmas, so harvest them carefully.

Harvesting the saffron strands

Step 3

Lay out the harvested stigmas on a paper towel to dry out thoroughly for a few days in a warm, dry place, then store in an air-tight container. Use sparingly in a wide range of dishes, both savoury and sweet, where they will add colour and flavour.

Drying the saffron strands

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: LindaH

The 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: graibeard

It’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: graibeard

The 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: antonychammond

Fortunately 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.

Outdoor saffron cultivation as a spice business

In history, spices were worth more than gold. In search of spices, many trade, historical routes were created. How much has the situation changed today? Is it possible to consider as a business idea - the cultivation of spices. They still have a fairly high price in relation to the cost of their cultivation, transportation and storage compared to other goods. The most expensive spice today is saffron. Speaking by and large, then, of course, the cost of saffron is very high, and cultivation is not so expensive. nine0003

How much does saffron cost?

Of course, growing saffron, like all spices, involves many nuances. However, in a business idea for growing saffron, you should understand the pros and cons. It is the most expensive spice in the world. It is also known about saffron that aphrodisiacs and some medicines are made from it. Its second name is “red gold”. Crocus is used to grow this spice. It is from its flowers that “red gold” is extracted by grinding during flowering. For a kilogram of spice, 70,000 crocus flowers need to be processed. And the wholesale cost will range from 450 dollars. - up to 700 dollars per 1 kilogram. Greek saffron is considered elite, Iranian saffron is considered cheap. nine0003

Entrepreneurs not only grow crocus flowers to extract saffron from them, but also sell planting material for growing crocus (for saffron). They plant the same areas as grains and other crops, but their harvest is expensive. Accordingly, the profit is higher. Plus, saffron is a perennial! However, although this plant is exotic, our territorial and climatic conditions allow this business idea to be realized on our lands.

Saffron yield in cultivation

To get 1gr. Saffron in a clean, dry, commercial form of the product, you need to collect about 150 flowers. If you look at a larger scale, then from 1 hectare of land you can get from 8 to 20 kilograms of a finished product - “red gold”.

As mentioned above, the wholesale price varies depending on the variety from $450 to $700. for 1kg. The retail price is correspondingly much higher. In the spice markets, it is difficult to find a price below $ 10 per 1 gram! That is, to grow 1 kilogram of saffron and sell it for $ 10,000, you need to plant 7 acres of land (70 X 10 meters). The financial calculation is obtained in this way: (20 + 8) / 2 = 14 kilograms per hectare - the average yield. 1ha (100m X 100m = 10,000m) / 14 = 714m. We plant 7 acres of a perennial crop and get $10,000 a year when sold at a retail price. nine0003

Ways to sell goods are, of course, primarily restaurants, spice markets, food markets, you can arrange sales through an online store (delivery of saffron in an envelope). You can make discounts when ordering 5 or 10 grams.

Everything looks both tempting and foggy. Just to get started, you need to get at least a little experience in growing saffron in order to become a specialist. On a small piece of land, even in a flower bed, plant crocus bulbs. Either way, you don't lose anything. On the contrary, you get little experience and the most expensive spices in the world, which not only have a divine aroma, but also increase sexual desire in both men and women. Like other spices, it has healing properties, the most notable of which is relieving fatigue, increasing mental clarity, and can be taken as a tonic. nine0003

Saffron has biological characteristics during growth

Biological characteristics inherent in saffron should be considered in more detail. Flower color: deep yellow, lilac, blue, white, white-blue, lilac. A flower with six petals directed upwards grows from a teardrop-shaped bulb, moreover, it can be several flowers from one bulb. The leaves are dark green with a white vein in the middle. Flowering occurs only in clear weather. Recall that saffron is from the genus of perennial corms, herbaceous plants of the Iris family. Flowering occurs in early spring and late autumn. There is an opinion that goji and stevia can also be grown along with saffron. They get along well and do not affect each other, give excellent yields. nine0003

An important point is the propagation of this plant: it occurs by "children" and bulbs separated from the mother bulb. More: spring varieties are planted in August, and autumn varieties are planted in the month of July. Reproduction is a separate process from planting. If the leaves have already turned yellow, then the bulbs are dug up and stored until planting, while drying them. It is clear that it is necessary to check all the bulbs before buying and planting them for the threat of infection with fungi or other parasites. nine0003

Favorable conditions characteristic of saffron for large yields.

The temperature regime must correspond to the peculiarities of growing saffron. It needs good lighting, warming up with sunlight. The soil for growing saffron should be fertile and drained, in no case marshy. You can add a little sand and old, specially prepared manure. Don't forget about sowing. Saffron should not be planted in the same area for more than 5 years in a row. The soil will be extremely depleted and the crop will not bring income, in addition, the seedlings themselves may even die. Crocus can even withstand slight cold snaps. It is also recommended to carry out several nutritional "procedures" using mineral fertilizers. But very carefully, without fanaticism. For maximum naturalness - minimal chemistry. nine0003

The harvest takes place in October. An important point: the flowers must be collected on the day of flowering. Flowering lasts no more than two weeks. A new flower should be plucked exactly on the day it bloomed. Then stigmas (stamens) are extracted from the flowers - red-orange threads. These threads are then dried in the sun.

How to open a shop for spices and seasonings from around the world for business.

In this type of business, a lot depends on the amount of land, the quality of the soil, the fertility of the soil, and the climatic conditions in your area. And most importantly - it all depends on you: if you are set for success and high earnings, then everything will work out. nine0003

Growing saffron - what the plant likes, planting and care, how and when to harvest

Growing saffron is an exciting process. In addition, saffron is known as an exquisite and very expensive spice. But that's not the only thing he's good at.

The flower from which it is extracted is beautiful and unusual. It decorates the autumn garden, and then a piece of it gives the dishes a peculiar taste. We will talk about how to grow saffron further.

Contents:

1 What is saffron
2 Cultivation of saffron
3 Where, when and how to plant saffron crocus
4 Care of saffron and method of container growing

What is saffron

The history of this flower, in contrast to its lifespan, is very long. The saffron flower is mentioned in the writings of ancient Egyptian and Assyrian healers.

Flowering saffron outdoors

Translated from the Greek "crocus" - thread or fiber. And the second name "saffron" in Arabic sounds like "zeferan", that is, "yellow". nine0003

The value of a crocus is its stigma. These are peculiar small antennas of red-orange color. They stand out well against the background of the blue flower. Only from them is real saffron made.

In ancient times, saffron was used:

For dyeing fabrics yellow. The plant got its name because of its stigmas, after drying, they look like thin threads. With the help of two such threads, three liters of water can be dyed.
For aromatherapy. The smell of saffron was supposed to relax and calm the believers in the service of the gods. nine0046
As a condiment. Subtle sweet aroma with barely noticeable bitterness enriches the taste of food and improves digestion.
For food preservation. In ancient times, there were no refrigerators and food could be preserved for a short time with the help of saffron.
For medicinal purposes. The saffron seed is still used in the East to relieve pain and as a heart remedy, as in ancient times.

Thanks to all these qualities, saffron was a very popular spice. Its cost has always been very high. This is because it can only be grown and harvested by hand. nine0003

Expert opinion

Yuliya Yuryevna

I have a large garden and vegetable garden, several greenhouses. I love modern methods of plant cultivation and soil mulching, and I share my experience.

Ask a question

For the correct cultivation of saffron, it is important to get acquainted with the biological characteristics of such a plant, as well as to study the structure and appearance of the flower.

Common saffron is sometimes also called common crocus. This culture belongs to perennial herbaceous plants. Family - Iris. The bushes of this flower are small, about 15-30 cm. The culture propagates by small bulbs, about 2-3 cm in diameter. nine0003

A characteristic feature of the plant is the absence of a stem. A bud and foliage immediately begin to develop from the top of the bulb. Up to three buds can appear from one bulb. Flowers can be purple, lilac, yellow or orange.

Since the spice is prepared from the stigma, they are of the greatest interest and value. The pistil of the bud has three tubular orange or reddish stigmas. Although the saffron flower is very beautiful, it fades rather quickly. In the future, fruits are formed - saffron seeds, which are in the box. nine0003

The most common species bloom in the spring, although some varieties release buds in the fall. There are a lot of varieties of the described plant.

Where does saffron grow? The highest quality spice is obtained from the Kashmir variety, which is cultivated in India. The stamens are dark red, quite long and very fragrant. This species is the most difficult to grow, for this reason, the spice obtained from the described culture is not often found on the market and has a high cost.

There is also a Spanish variety. It is also considered quite high quality and in demand. This species is represented by several varieties. The first Coupe where I use only the upper parts of the stamens.

When harvesting the spice from the Superior variety, the whole part of the stigma is used, so the finished product is not so rich in smell and taste. However, it is this variety that is often found on sale.

We would like to note that there are inexpensive substitutes for the popular spice. This, for example, American saffron - herbaceous plants for open ground. Still, under the indicated name, turmeric roots or crushed marigold buds are often sold. nine0003

It is important to add that you should not try to prepare the spice yourself from crocuses grown in a flower bed. There are a lot of varieties, some of them can be poisonous. If the flower variety is not absolutely known, it is better to grow saffron only for decorating the house and garden.

Growing saffron

Saffron is created in several steps:

Planting a bulb. Crocus sativus bulbs are used for this purpose. It looks like autumn colchicum, which is very poisonous. nine0003

Stigmas help distinguish plants. Crocus saffron has fewer of them, only three. But his rival boasts of six red stigmas.

Cultivation. When planted in spring, the plants are dormant all summer. At this time, they accumulate strength to bloom with their precious flowers. The buds appear immediately along with the leaves.

Collection. This is the most important stage in the preparation of the "golden spice", as saffron is still called all over the world. Three precious stigmas must be removed from the flower on the very day when it blooms. If you miss the moment, then the stigmas, like the flower, will fade. nine0003

To collect the stigmas, the flower is cut or plucked from the plant. It should not be pulled out with an onion. The bulb after harvest remains in the ground or is dug up for winter storage. With the help of tongs, miniature scissors or sensitive thin fingers, the stigmas are removed from the flower and deposited in a separate container.

Drying. No less important is the mode of drying the stigmas. This process must be carried out in a warm, ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight. nine0003

Storage. It is recommended to store saffron threads in a glass container, which should not be exposed to light for a long time.

Each step in the cultivation of saffron, carried out in accordance with the rules, will lead to the desired result in the form of a fragrant seasoning.

Where, when and how to plant saffron crocus

Saffron flower photo

How to grow saffron in the country? Crocus saffron or simply saffron prefers:

Light. The sunniest place in the garden is what you need for it. Spices need the sun to add flavor and color later. nine0003

Drainage. This is a prerequisite for growing autumn crocus. The plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture. It also does not respond to temporary dryness of the soil.

Moderate watering. In autumn, the air temperature is not very high, so frequent watering should be avoided. The plant needs one good moisturizing once every seven days.

The soil around the plant must not be wet. Allow it to dry out a bit between waterings, but not dry out.

Fertile permeable soil. On light soils, crocus sowing grows better than on clay soils. When creating soil for planting, it is necessary to add clean, clay-free sand. nine0003

In order to grow saffron:

It is necessary to calculate the required amount of planting material. Saffron is a very economical spice. For any dish, three stigmas are enough.

The number of bulbs depends on how many meals a family prepares with saffron per year. As a trial planting, it is enough to purchase 10 bulbs.

Purchase planting stock. It is best to purchase bulbs from a reputable garden center. With this method, the grower sees what he is buying and can select bulbs without signs of disease or damage. nine0003

Buying online is also a good option if the store specializes in selling branded planting material. But in this case, all efforts can be nullified by the poor performance of the delivery organization. The bulbs are quite easy to dry out or damage during transportation.

Prepare the site. In the garden soil you need to add sand and a little humus. Heavily fertilized soil will cause the flower to gain green mass at the expense of flowering. After that, all ingredients must be thoroughly mixed and loosened. nine0003

Lat. Crocus sativus

A bed is dug to a depth of 10 cm. Small crushed stone or expanded clay is poured on its bottom with a layer of 3-5 cm. The soil mixture is poured on top. The bulbs must be at least 5 cm below the ground.

Plant bulbs. Planting is done in May in well-warmed ground. Crocus bulbs are neatly placed in the groove with the bottom down and sprouts up.

Plantings are covered with the remaining earth from above. It is not necessary to compact the earth. The main thing is that the bottom of the bulb is in good contact with the soil. nine0003

After that, the earth can be slightly moistened with warm water with the addition of potassium permanganate to a pale pink color.

Collect flowers in time. This is one of the most important and delicate stages.

For the sake of this moment, saffron crocus is grown.

Proper preparation and landing is 30% of success. The rest is for good planting varietal material and competent care.

Saffron care and container growing method

After planting, the plant must be well cared for. Despite the fact that it is at rest all summer, it needs:

Regular removal of weeds. Weeds take nutrients from the soil that are necessary for the development of crocus. Weeds shade plantings, which is harmful for bulbs. In such a climate, they can quickly rot.

Keeping the soil loose. This procedure ensures the permeability of the soil to air and eliminates stagnant water.

Moderate watering. The frequency of watering depends on the condition of the soil. It doesn't have to be constantly wet. Once every five or seven days will be enough. nine0003

Saffron spice

Top dressing. As top dressing when growing saffron crocus, it is best to use mineral fertilizers. Well suited for this purpose, such as Fertika, Aqua, AVA.

Organics are applied to the soil during planting. During the growing season, organic fertilizers such as manure or humus are not recommended.

Prevention of pests and diseases. The pests of the crocus seed include, first of all, mice. They love his delicious onions. In order to avoid attack by rodents, you need to plant saffron in containers made of metal mesh. Now in the garden centers there is a wide variety of them. nine0003

The best prevention against diseases is treatment before planting. As a preparation for treatment, you can use ordinary potassium permanganate or phytosporin.

Other pests, aphids and slugs, appear when the plant care regime is not followed. Stronger drugs have to be used against them:

Actellik
Aktara
Golden spark

Shelter for the winter. Crocus seed plantings are able to withstand frosts down to -25 ° C. In areas with such and more severe conditions, it is better to cover the bulbs for the winter with peat, humus, wood chips. The thickness of the cover layer should not exceed 10 cm.

Under no circumstances should the cover be made of polyethylene or other air- and moisture-tight materials. Under such shelter, the bulbs rot.

An alternative to outdoors is growing crocus in containers and pots. With this content, the bulbs will be under the supervision of the grower and will remain until the next harvest without damage.

The container for planting saffron must be wide enough and at least 15 cm deep.