Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Cazzy on June 08, 2010, 18:44

Title: Grow your own saffron
Post by: Cazzy on June 08, 2010, 18:44
I just got an email from Dobies of Devon advertising this.

They are selling 35 autumn flowering crocus bulbs at almost £10.  I thought that was rather pricey but its been years and years since I bought them.

Does anyone grow them for saffron and would the regular cheap ones from say the pound shop work just as well?

Title: Re: Grow your own saffron
Post by: Yorkie on June 08, 2010, 19:01
I don't know about the specific questions, but this seller recommended on another thread for alliums, has them from £8 per 100 bulbs (can be bought in 25's) (I didn't check the p&p cost though)

http://www.peternyssen.com/stock.php?catid=9&season=Autumn&groupid=44
Title: Re: Grow your own saffron
Post by: Cazzy on June 08, 2010, 19:40
I don't know about the specific questions, but this seller recommended on another thread for alliums, has them from £8 per 100 bulbs (can be bought in 25's) (I didn't check the p&p cost though)

http://www.peternyssen.com/stock.php?catid=9&season=Autumn&groupid=44

Thanks Yorkie, its £4.95 for delivery, I tried quickly to find Dobie's delivery charge but I don't see it on the page, so put them in the basket and went to checkout to see if delivery would show up there and it didn't......... for that reason alone I wouldn't use them, I'm sick of places who don't give you the total price before you fill out personal and card details   [/rant]
Title: Re: Grow your own saffron
Post by: spottymint on June 08, 2010, 19:41
Hi

The saffron crocus is a specific, autum flowering crocus. Not the cheap spring flowering type bought in the £1 shop/the ones Yorkie has posted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffron

http://www.dobies.co.uk/Shop/Flower+Bulbs/Saffron+Crocus+230169.htm?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=freedirectory&utm_campaign=Flower-Bulbs&utm_term=230169&of_tid=L-aDlrGZaBt7m0hCkW7vzQkda3NcNP4z6tXMhKJKeC1FoCZZuXR9fP4bV3H7tgZC

http://www.gardeningmegastore.co.uk/gams/mia/d/saffron+crocus+special+offer+pack+70+bulbs+only+%C3%A2+1495+special+offers/pid/12020182?afid=88888

I think only the true saffron crocus would be worth growing, anything else may not have the same taste or potency & ? if edible ?
Title: Re: Grow your own saffron
Post by: Cazzy on June 08, 2010, 23:13
Spottymint, thanks so much for the links.

The wiki one mentions "Rain immediately preceding flowering boosts saffron yields; rainy or cold weather during flowering spurs disease and low yields"

I'm in Glasgow and wonder what rain from start to finish with lots of cold spells would yeild, maybe I have to read up a bit more on this.










Title: Re: Grow your own saffron
Post by: seanh on June 09, 2010, 09:32
I don't know about the specific questions, but this seller recommended on another thread for alliums, has them from £8 per 100 bulbs (can be bought in 25's) (I didn't check the p&p cost though)

http://www.peternyssen.com/stock.php?catid=9&season=Autumn&groupid=44

Thanks Yorkie, its £4.95 for delivery, I tried quickly to find Dobie's delivery charge but I don't see it on the page, so put them in the basket and went to checkout to see if delivery would show up there and it didn't......... for that reason alone I wouldn't use them, I'm sick of places who don't give you the total price before you fill out personal and card details   [/rant]


Generally £3.95 from Dobies. 
Title: Re: Grow your own saffron
Post by: iggyboy on June 09, 2010, 17:39
Saffron is really expensive to buy so I shouldn't think the less expensive bulbs would produce the quality you appear to be looking for. As for the weather being a problem, how about growing the crocus under cover? Either under a cloche or better still in a polytunnel or greenhouse.