Saffron

James Waddick jwaddick@kc.rr.com
Fri, 07 Nov 2014 06:52:32 PST
Dear PBSers,

	The recent messages about saffron, Crocus sativus, have been a bit surprising considering the range of comments.

	Crocus corms are replaced each year. Blooming corms fade away after dormancy. New corms contain all the elements of the next year’s growth including flowers. This shouldn’t be a surprise, but maybe it needs to be restated.  So any Crocus corms bought in the fall contain the bloom for next bloom season whether that fall or next spring.

	If you look closely it is really fairly difficult to confuse Crocus sativus with any other crocus species. The flowers are THAT distinct.  Although other crocus and even other genera are given the common name of “Saffron”, the true saffron comes ONLY from C. sativus.

	Planting depth  varies a lot from climate to climate. Same for multiplication/production of new corms. 

	What really threw me was the statement that they can develop foliage up to .5 m in length. Really ?

	I have been growing Saffron for over a decade here in Kansas City, in the middle of the US in a fairly cold climate (Zone 5/6). My bulbs originally came from a commercial saffron farm in PA - maybe the same Lancaster County farm mentioned earlier. They have been undisturbed all this time and regularly produce plenty of saffron for our use. We harvest over 200 flowers this year alone. 

	So I am sort of surprised at the range of comments here and lack of some actual experience in growing these common bulbs.  Seems to be a number of communication problems.

	It would certainly help if each person who tells about their own actual bulbs tells us where in the world they are growing these things. Experience, climate and individual differences matter a lot.

			It helps to share specific experiences. 		Hopefully		Jim W.


On Nov 7, 2014, at 8:05 AM, Bulborum Botanicum <bulborum@gmail.com> wrote:

> Crocus corms die after flowering (like tulips) and build completely new ones




James Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd
Kansas City, MO 64152-2711
USA
Phone     816-746-1949








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