The story of saffron and the places it’s grown is quite remarkable. The most common remark I’ve had when people learn about my backyard farm is, …wow, I thought you needed a hot place!” I thought that too, but just hoped for the best
I ordered 300 corms in the beginning, about five years ago, and planted them into a variety of large pots that were on hand in the yard. |
And they didn’t! But I did get about 50 flowers, more than the 10% usually expected, and to my amazement they were even multiplying as they came through the soil. You can see the circle of them as they emerge. That’s ‘cause the pots are round, so no rows of saffron here!
Planted beginning of August. The first flower came at the end of September! Seems almost too good to be true, doesn’t it?
Those corms are hungry, and the grass-like leaves should be very vigorous after the flowers have finished. Their job is to feed the corms, before they go dormant in the summer. The leaves are so vigorous, they smother weeds, another benefit of growing these plants.
No water during our summer climate on the Pacific Northwest, and when the rain
begins in September leaf growth and flowers begin to emerge.
7-8 cms benefits
9-10 cms benefits
Grow saffron, grow your mind!
Some growers dig their small corms every year, others leave them to grow and multiply for several years, up to four or five.