Saffron

[HotStuff]

Just watching the Spice Trail on BBC1 and they're talking about Saffron. After doing a quick Google it seems you can grow your own Saffron in this country. Has any one tried doing this?

[ginger ninger]

I have 12 saffron crocus in a nice bulb bowl but this is the first year I've grown them. They have lot's of leaf growth but no sign of any flowers yet. So I live in hope because I use a lot of saffron.

[HotStuff]

Apparently they flower in the Autumn, so harvest is September/October time.

[ginger ninger]

Apparently they flower in the Autumn, so harvest is September/October time.

Mmmmmm, that could explain why I haven't got flowers on mine then

[VirginVegGrower]

Just watching the Spice Trail on BBC1 and they're talking about Saffron. After doing a quick Google it seems you can grow your own Saffron in this country. Has any one tried doing this?

I watched that too and am interested, it's a specific type of crocus not any old - have tried googling La Mancha bulb to no avail.

[Two_Sheds]

It's crocus sativus that you need, and you can grow it in the UK, there's a farm in Wales, but 150 flowers will yield two tablespoons of saffron

[HotStuff]

And for those whose glass is half full, here's an interesting article on growing Saffron.

Saffron

[Two_Sheds]

And for those whose glass is half full

taken from your link: "the one thing that will for sure kill off saffron is having its bulb stay damp for any nontrivial amount of time during the plant's dormant period. If a dormant saffron bulb sits in wet soil, it will very quickly rot completely away"

... because it's never damp in the UK is it?

[HotStuff]

Hmmm, I note the way you've carefully ommited from that quote that the dormant period is roughly April to September.

"We need to know this because the one thing that will for sure kill off saffron is having its bulb stay damp for any nontrivial amount of time during the plant's dormant period. If a dormant saffron bulb sits in wet soil, it will very quickly rot completely away, leaving naught but a damp husk for the puzzled gardener's probing fingers to find. So from roughly April to September (more exactly judged by the plant's actual performance), it needs to be in dry soil."

And from your article:

" Saffron Walden, in Essex, was a major saffron-producing centre from the 14th century onwards, the main areas being Norfolk and Suffolk."

So our climate can't be that much of a problem

[Jeanied]

Ginger and I got our saffron bulbs at the same time. Mine are in a bulb bowl in the garden - still full of leaf. So I guess I need to put them somewhere they won't get too wet shortly, and wait for a few golden strands in the Autumn.
I wonder if you can use the saffron fresh, or do you have to dry it?

[CaroltheCarrot]

Pretty sure you have to dry them Jeanied, low oven or dehydrator would work I would think

[fruitylou]

Ginger and I got our saffron bulbs at the same time. Mine are in a bulb bowl in the garden - still full of leaf. So I guess I need to put them somewhere they won't get too wet shortly, and wait for a few golden strands in the Autumn.
I wonder if you can use the saffron fresh, or do you have to dry it?

I have used it fresh and there was no problem or noticible difference

I grow it, I have only grown it for a year but its great fun and pretty too, apparently its a bit hit and miss as to whether it flowers every year and hates being crowded, about half of mine flowered in autumn and I had enough for two meals. I bought mine from my local garden centre that specialises in bulbs but suttons had it on offer a while back so they probably still sell it.

[Two_Sheds]

you've carefully ommited from that quote that the dormant period is roughly April to September

It wasn't carefully omitted at all - we have rain April-Sept here, don't you? August is probably our wettest month of the year in fact, closely followed by July.

I perhaps should be more optimistic and say yes it grows really well in this country so go buy some bulbs from Suttons

However, I have a feeling it will be like UK soya beans - OK in theory, but not very successful in reality
It's a very expensive spice, a positive goldmine: surely someone would be growing it already in this country on a massive scale, if they could?

[Jeanied]

But surely that's what they did in Essex Two Sheds - until the industry died out for something more profitable? East Anglia is also the dryest part of the country IIRC.

I'm keen to see how well my bulbs do - I must admit I was surprised to see them growing at all!

[ginger ninger]

But surely that's what they did in Essex Two Sheds - until the industry died out for something more profitable? East Anglia is also the dryest part of the country IIRC.

I'm keen to see how well my bulbs do - I must admit I was surprised to see them growing at all!

I've just split mine into a larger pot with a lot more grit for drainage Jeanied. They were getting rather over crowded. With luck this should encourage them to come into flower for this year.