Crocus Sativus

[matchynishi]

My fall bulbs have started to come in, and with the iris and Colchicum came bulbs for Crocus Sativus - the Saffron Crocus! I'm in zone 4, so I've planted them in a container so I can take them in when it gets too cold for them. I'm so excited; hope they come up soon, as they're fall-blooming. Whatever happens, I'll definitely post an update, for

Comments

[wowomom]

I have some! Let us know how they do. I'm in Zone 7, Tennessee, so I've got a while before they start coming up. I've noticed that mine wait until the first frost before they sprout.

I'm on my 3rd year and still haven't gotten a very good harvest, though I get a few more flowers every year so I'm keeping up the hope for an authentic Spanish Paella seasoned with saffron....

[matchynishi]

Wow, 3 years! I hope I can manage to keep them healthy enough for that long... Although here in zone 4 the winter is colder than the bulbs can endure, the summer is almost always hot and dry, so I have hope. But being a first-timer, I have no idea how it will grow in my zone. The guide that came with it mentions that they may not flower this fall, but I'll be happy enough to just see the leaves come up lol.

aaah that sounds so delicious....

[wowomom]

I don't think I'm in a great place for it. It really doesn't show any signs of life until that first frost, but once it stays cold it dies back, or at least doesn't put out any new flowers. Unfortunatly, the first frost doesn't show up until the very end of October into November and then it's only 4-5 weeks until it's cold all the time rather than just at night.

Oh well. If I get 4-5 flowers this year I'll have more than enough for that paella. I've been wanting to make it at home since a trip to the Canary Islands 5 years ago. *grin*

[matchynishi]

Do you have it planted outside? Maybe this year you can try bringing it in after November or so? From what I read, once the flowers die back in the fall, it's supposed to grow leaves that last till spring, right? And then in summer it goes dormant... If I was you, I'd try digging out a couple of bulbs and bring them in a container for the winter as an experiment and see if there's improvement?

I wish you the best of luck in making that paella this year. XD

[dark_phoenix54]

I'm definitely interested in how they do! It would be so cool to grow your own saffron!

[matchynishi]

That's my mode of thinking too! xD I've only ever seen mom display a few threads of saffron in a ridiculously tiny box, holding it so preciously before... would be cool to display my own tiny box lol.

[matchynishi]

Definitely! :) It'd be awesome if you tried it too, maybe we can have a saffron-growers-club in this comm sometime. :p

[klgaffney]

I'm supposed to be receiving some bulbs myself, though they haven't arrived yet. I keep checking the site to see if they shipped yet! I'm zone 6/7a.

[matchynishi]

Oh wow, your zone is perfect for them, isn't it? *zone envy* XD I'm sure they'll arrive sometime soon, and then we can start the growth-comparisons. *_* Have you tried growing them before, or are you a first-timer too?

[klgaffney]

I hope so? It sounded like it should work out on paper, but NJ shore weather does whatever it wants. This is my first time too, so I don't know how much they'll flower, but here's hoping. At least even a little saffron goes a long way. =)

[matchynishi]

The pamphlet it came with said that they might not flower the first year. And I read somewhere that even if they flower, they might not have the saffron stamens... not that it keeps me from hoping, lol.

Yes, it's very flavourful... and also there's the bragging rights. ;)