Such an informative video Tara! I planted saffron for the first time in 2020, but the squirrels got most of them! I planted more the following year and about half of them made it! Squirrels sure love these corms!😅
Thanks for watching! OMG, yes, I cover EVERYTHING with chicken wire or they don't stand a chance. Once the corms start sprouting the squirrels seem less interestes.
So glad to have found your channel. I live in Tucson (9a/b) and am in my 3rd year gardening. Thanks for all this great information. I am growing saffron for the first time this year. 💙
I am so glad you found my channel too. While there are numerous channels that show you how to plant and harvest saffron, they really aren't any that I have seen that share saffron progress year over year...and I feel that's so important for people to know. I hope you have a wonderful experience, Saffron will love you hot desert climate!
Thank you. I’m going to try growing saffron! I just found your channel and subscribed because I live near Fresno and am always looking zone 9b gardening channels.
Thank you! I've been waiting to hear about the your saffron journey for this year. :) Very informative and well put together, as always! You shared the pic of all the daughter bulbs of various sizes. Did you plant them last year? 'd love to know/see how they turned out. How long does it take for those tiny ones to reach full/productive size?
@@eskimojo97 Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I will be checking on the smaller bulbs in a couple of weeks when I dig them up, and will post an update. However, I have a friend who has the daughter bulbs (1/2 inch diameter) flower for her the following year!
From my last year's bulbs (planted about 80 size 8/9), I got about 15 1/2" sized daughters and about 200 1/4" sized bulbs. I've already planted all of them (got a little impatient! 🙂)
Excellent video. Great information and well presented. Thank you so much. I look forward to my first saffron harvest this year and to trying one of your recipes.
So how long does the "green" phase of the growth cycle, after the bloom till the foliage dies back, last? I assume that optimizing conditions during this period is key to maximizing blooms next season. The bigger you can get the bulbs to grow the better.
I have been doing it every year so far but technically you should be doing it only once every 3-5 years. This year I have planted some in a permanent in-ground spot and will be leaving those undisturbed for a few years.
Im in Malaysia, I could easily plant my safron in a container and put it under a roof as my country is summer all year round but gets a lot of rain. my question is : 1. How frequent I should water saffron while they are in the resting/dormant period and how frequent I should water them when they come to life. 2. How long does it takes for them to multiply? 3. In your previous video, you shown that even the smaller one multiply but i don see any tree, has it wilted or they multiply without a tree growing. 4. How do you that a corm is still alive or already died. pls help 😅
Thank you soooo much! I live in south central Georgia, it's very hot and very wet. I guess I will be digging mine up every year. I question that you sort of answered but I wasn't clear on... do I need to wait until it puts on the greenery after it flowers to dig it up? Or maybe wait until the plant has died and dried up? Also, have you heard of anyone freeze drying the stamen instead of dehydrating them. After what you said about it getting more potent as it dries, I'm thinking freeze drying may stop that process. What do you think?
Hi Sara, I have never grown saffron in your climate so take what I say with a grain of salt. I definitely think you should let the greens grow as much as possible, but when the plants starts to die off and the leaves turn yellow that's the time you want to get it out of the ground because it needs to go dormant starting then. As far as freeze drying, again, I have not tried it so I can't speak to it. But the filaments are so delicate that they dry out so quickly, So I have not really considered any other method. If you try it, do let me know how it goes, if you remember to!
@@SaraHale-r5x if you are growing in ground, and have clay soil, you really should have all the phosphorus you need. In fact adding phosphorus may not be a good thing. Now if you're growing it in a container, with potting soil, that may benefit from the addition of bone meal. I can't say for sure if it helped, but my calms sure well larger this year. Check out my recent video on my 4th year experience growing saffron. It's in my playlist Growing Saffron
@@GreenLove1 thank you answering! There are 2 government funded studies going on in north west ga as we speak, to see if it can be grown commercially here. I can't wait to see what they determine! Me and my husband are seriously considering frowning them for profit. Like you said, there is very little information out on saffron growing, so I was very interested in your videos!
@@debrabaer5037 I am in California Zone 9B. Over watering is a much bigger problem for Saffron than under watering, since the former can cause the corms to rot. I would wait until the soil feels dry a couple of inches down before watering. Of course, the corms should have been very well watered at planting time.
@@GreenLove1 I have read that watering in isn't good. I have 50+/- croms to plant..so many squirrels too..going to try #3 tub and set close to the house with a glass top, our winters have changed where we used to have lower temps and more snow..i want to be able to transport to my garage if weather becomes too difficult. Thank you for responding, your reels were very informative for me
How exciting! Glad you found my videos helpful. Would love it if you remember and have a moment to check back in here with your experience of growing in Zone 6, which is probably very different than growing in zone 9! Hope you have a wonderful harvest, and don't forget to enjoy the scent of the blooms!
Hello Tara. Greetings from Wisconsin. I have wanted to try growing saffron for a number of years. After watching your videos I will give it a try. You have equipped me with wonderful knowledge. Yes we are in a cold climate of zone 5. So I’ll grow saffron in containers. You explained to dust the soil off and wrap them in paper, but if your soil is dry can you leave the corms in the soil if you properly store them in a cool dry indoors?
That's wonderful that you want to try growing Saffron. I think it's fine to have some dry soil on it, but put it in a paper bag and keep loosely covered in a dry place. We are trying to mimic the conditions saffron is used to - which is a completely dry environment during its dormancy. You don't want any fungal activity to develop. Do check in, if you remember, on your experiences growing saffron in a cooler climate! And good luck with it!
Thank you so much Tara! I stopped and started your video about 50 times so I could take notes. 💖
Aww, so glad you found it informative, Judy! Thanks and please feel free to ask if you have any questions!
Such an informative video Tara! I planted saffron for the first time in 2020, but the squirrels got most of them! I planted more the following year and about half of them made it! Squirrels sure love these corms!😅
Thanks for watching! OMG, yes, I cover EVERYTHING with chicken wire or they don't stand a chance. Once the corms start sprouting the squirrels seem less interestes.
Very informative
So glad you found it helpful!
So glad to have found your channel. I live in Tucson (9a/b) and am in my 3rd year gardening. Thanks for all this great information. I am growing saffron for the first time this year. 💙
I am so glad you found my channel too. While there are numerous channels that show you how to plant and harvest saffron, they really aren't any that I have seen that share saffron progress year over year...and I feel that's so important for people to know. I hope you have a wonderful experience, Saffron will love you hot desert climate!
Thank you. I’m going to try growing saffron! I just found your channel and subscribed because I live near Fresno and am always looking zone 9b gardening channels.
@@cfender2597 hi there, and thanks for subscribing! Saffron is a lot of fun to grow! Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!
Thank you! I've been waiting to hear about the your saffron journey for this year. :)
Very informative and well put together, as always!
You shared the pic of all the daughter bulbs of various sizes. Did you plant them last year? 'd love to know/see how they turned out.
How long does it take for those tiny ones to reach full/productive size?
@@eskimojo97 Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I will be checking on the smaller bulbs in a couple of weeks when I dig them up, and will post an update. However, I have a friend who has the daughter bulbs (1/2 inch diameter) flower for her the following year!
From my last year's bulbs (planted about 80 size 8/9), I got about 15 1/2" sized daughters and about 200 1/4" sized bulbs. I've already planted all of them (got a little impatient! 🙂)
Wow, good luck! Hope you harvest lots of blossoms. If you remember to check back in here with your results, that would be awesome!!
Thank you!
You are very welcome!
Excellent video. Great information and well presented. Thank you so much. I look forward to my first saffron harvest this year and to trying one of your recipes.
Glad you found it helpful! I hope you have a great harvest, and yes- do enjoy it in some recipes, so rewarding!
thank you so much
for posting these videos......
You are welcome! So glad you liked it!
So how long does the "green" phase of the growth cycle, after the bloom till the foliage dies back, last? I assume that optimizing conditions during this period is key to maximizing blooms next season. The bigger you can get the bulbs to grow the better.
The green phase lasts till around April..and yes, it makes sense that providing optimal conditions during that time would make a positive difference!
dhanyawad..
Thank you
You are so welcome!🧡💜
Hi very informative video.thanks for sharing your experience.pls tell about how many times does one plant flowers
I have read that the bulbs produce blooms for about 3 years before disintegrating. I have not personally verified this.
Just adding a comment for the algorithm :) 💜🧡
You are awesome, thank you💚💚💚
Thank you! When do you divide your saffron and replant?
I have been doing it every year so far but technically you should be doing it only once every 3-5 years. This year I have planted some in a permanent in-ground spot and will be leaving those undisturbed for a few years.
Im in Malaysia, I could easily plant my safron in a container and put it under a roof as my country is summer all year round but gets a lot of rain.
my question is :
1. How frequent I should water saffron while they are in the resting/dormant period and how frequent I should water them when they come to life.
2. How long does it takes for them to multiply?
3. In your previous video, you shown that even the smaller one multiply but i don see any tree, has it wilted or they multiply without a tree growing.
4. How do you that a corm is still alive or already died.
pls help 😅
Check out my playlist called "Growing Saffron". - I pretty much answer all your questions in the more recent videos!
Thank you soooo much! I live in south central Georgia, it's very hot and very wet. I guess I will be digging mine up every year. I question that you sort of answered but I wasn't clear on... do I need to wait until it puts on the greenery after it flowers to dig it up? Or maybe wait until the plant has died and dried up? Also, have you heard of anyone freeze drying the stamen instead of dehydrating them. After what you said about it getting more potent as it dries, I'm thinking freeze drying may stop that process. What do you think?
Also, did you find adding the bone meal useful ?
Hi Sara, I have never grown saffron in your climate so take what I say with a grain of salt. I definitely think you should let the greens grow as much as possible, but when the plants starts to die off and the leaves turn yellow that's the time you want to get it out of the ground because it needs to go dormant starting then.
As far as freeze drying, again, I have not tried it so I can't speak to it. But the filaments are so delicate that they dry out so quickly, So I have not really considered any other method. If you try it, do let me know how it goes, if you remember to!
@@SaraHale-r5x if you are growing in ground, and have clay soil, you really should have all the phosphorus you need. In fact adding phosphorus may not be a good thing. Now if you're growing it in a container, with potting soil, that may benefit from the addition of bone meal. I can't say for sure if it helped, but my calms sure well larger this year. Check out my recent video on my 4th year experience growing saffron. It's in my playlist Growing Saffron
@@GreenLove1 thank you answering! There are 2 government funded studies going on in north west ga as we speak, to see if it can be grown commercially here. I can't wait to see what they determine! Me and my husband are seriously considering frowning them for profit. Like you said, there is very little information out on saffron growing, so I was very interested in your videos!
@SaraHale-r5x So glad you found the videos helpful! And that is fascinating about the government-funded studies, Hope the results are positive.
What zone are you in? I am in 6B and do the watering situations apply for every zone? Ty!
@@debrabaer5037 I am in California Zone 9B. Over watering is a much bigger problem for Saffron than under watering, since the former can cause the corms to rot. I would wait until the soil feels dry a couple of inches down before watering. Of course, the corms should have been very well watered at planting time.
@@GreenLove1 I have read that watering in isn't good. I have 50+/- croms to plant..so many squirrels too..going to try #3 tub and set close to the house with a glass top, our winters have changed where we used to have lower temps and more snow..i want to be able to transport to my garage if weather becomes too difficult. Thank you for responding, your reels were very informative for me
How exciting! Glad you found my videos helpful. Would love it if you remember and have a moment to check back in here with your experience of growing in Zone 6, which is probably very different than growing in zone 9! Hope you have a wonderful harvest, and don't forget to enjoy the scent of the blooms!
Do you sell your saffron?
No I don't !
Hello Tara. Greetings from Wisconsin. I have wanted to try growing saffron for a number of years. After watching your videos I will give it a try. You have equipped me with wonderful knowledge. Yes we are in a cold climate of zone 5. So I’ll grow saffron in containers. You explained to dust the soil off and wrap them in paper, but if your soil is dry can you leave the corms in the soil if you properly store them in a cool dry indoors?
That's wonderful that you want to try growing Saffron. I think it's fine to have some dry soil on it, but put it in a paper bag and keep loosely covered in a dry place. We are trying to mimic the conditions saffron is used to - which is a completely dry environment during its dormancy. You don't want any fungal activity to develop. Do check in, if you remember, on your experiences growing saffron in a cooler climate! And good luck with it!