[surbie100]

Last year I bought 60 bulbs and put them in pots and the ground. I got a better harvest from the ones in the pots and the ones in the ground are not in the right place for my growing plans, so today I thought I'd shift them, though it's earlier than you're supposed to.

Each of the big bulbs also have 3-5 additional new bulbs. They aren't all massive, ranging from the size of the original bulb to the size of a broad bean.

Am hoping the same will be true of the ones in pots. 

[sunshineband]

You will soon have enough saffron to be in business at that rate Surbie!!  What a success story 

[sunshineband]

I tried growing it in a large pot a couple of years ago, but it didn't seem to like it much and faded away  I must see if I can find a space somewhere at the plot for a semi-permanent crop as we love saffron

[Dopey113]

I tried a few years ago, got some Spanish bulbs (I was told they were the best ones to get) planted them up (about 30 of them) not a single one came up, dont know where I went wrong!! shame because I like the idea of having home grown saffron

[surbie100]

Sorry to hear that. I got mine from Suttons. They were lovely fat bulbs and most of them flowered in the first year. I'd recommend them - I even tweeted my thanks. 

[Goosegirl]

That's really interesting! I assumed they would reproduce at the same rate as our usual spring crocuses but they seem to have exceeded that. I'm just mentioning this because, in the distant past, the large field next to us used to be absolutely covered in spring with blue crocuses and people came from miles around to see them. I had the theory that the field was used by the canons from the nearby Cockersand Abbey (or possibly even the Romans or Anglo-Saxons) so they could trade the valuable saffron for other necessities, so that may explain how they covered such a large area in not too long a time.

[surbie100]

They doubled their number on average in the pots and flowered better, but they more than quadrupled in the soil. Maybe one was warmer than the other.

[Snoop]

Very pretty! Must make a lovely sight, having so many in your raised bed.

[Annen]

Which bits do you pick? the yellow or the longer orange bits? Have you got a pic of the whole bed in flower? As Snoop hints, it must look good.


My neighbour has them in their gravel garden and they pop their heads through every autumn.


On second thoughts I don't think they are saffron crocuses, they aren't as open as your pictured one.

[Mrs Bee]

Wow. Clever you.

[surbie100]

Which bits do you pick? the yellow or the longer orange bits? Have you got a pic of the whole bed in flower? As Snoop hints, it must look good.

Thanks  You pick the 3 orange stigmas, all the rest is not for eating (I always wonder how people found that out!). It can only be picked by hand, which is partly why it's so expensive.

They dry over 2-3 weeks inbetween kitchen paper and then it's ready to store.

I'll try to get a pic of the bed in flower - at the moment it's just one or two coming through. Am really looking forward to this harvest. Risotto, poached pears and cake here I come!

[Goosegirl]

Yo surbie! That's some crop. Can't wait for next year's pics. 

[Snoop]

That looks fantastic, Surbie. I bet it must be lovely to cook with.

[snowdrops]

How wonderful, you'll be able to move to Saffron Walden & re populate it with saffron😃

[sunshineband]

Mine took a while to get going but are up now and have a decent tuft of leaves showing. D'you think they will flower this year?

Quite excited to see them as I was beginning to give up hope, but I think it might have been down to very dry conditions over in their corner.

Fantastic harvest for you Surbie -- how lovely