Saffron crocus grows best in full sun conditions with rich, well-draining soil and temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
These cheerful little flowers are mildly toxic to pets.
Saffron Crocus Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing a saffron crocus.
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Light
Full, bright autumn sun is necessary for saffron crocus' vibrant violet blooms.
If you’re planting indoors, place in a sunny window with direct sunlight.
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A half inch of water weekly should be plenty, and overwatering can lead to root rot.
Do not water during the rest of the year.
If temperatures dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s best to overwinter the corms indoors.
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Humid weather will also negatively impact saffron crocus.
you’re able to also amend the soil withNPK fertilizerin the spring.
Propagating Saffron Crocus
Typically, a saffron crocus corm is productive for four to five years.
During that lifespan, it continues to reproduce underground, giving you more plants each year.
Divide the corms to either spread out and replant in the same area or plant in a new area.
Plant them three inches deep and three inches apart in a location with full sun and well-draining soil.
Cover each corm with soil and a thin layer of mulch.
You’ll have blooms in just six to eight weeks.
Bulbs are similar to stems covered in a papery material, while corms are solid storage organs.
Both corms and bulbs can beordered online.
see to it each corm has an area of at least three inches.
With adequate water and full sun, you’ll have blooms in six to eight weeks.
Furry friends, including squirrels and chipmunks will have a go at feast on the sprouts.
During the winter,moles and voleswill go after the corms.
Additionally, there is a saffron mite that will feed on corms.
Planting corms deep into the soilat least five inchescan prevent the mite from reaching them.
Dry them for several days on a paper towel, then store them in an airtight container.
If the corms are properly overwintered, you’ll have blooms year after year.
What Do Saffron Crocus Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Saffron crocus flowers have a sweet fragrance that is subtly reminiscent of honey.
Thankfully, these are mostly avoidable.
Corm Rot
Corm rot is when the corm of a plant begins to decay.
All infected plants should be discarded since corm rot can spread to healthy plants.
Saffron crocus is actually incredibly easy to grow.
You’ll plant the corms in the late summer for blooms in the fall.
In zones 6 through 9, saffron crocus will come back every year.
However, in colder zones, you’ll need to overwinter the corms to have repeat blooms.
You will need a big garden to get a significant amount of saffron from your crocus plants.
150 flowers are used to harvest one gram of saffron.
Saffron.University of California Master Gardeners.
