Growing Saffron: ‘Crocus Sativus’

What’s the all the buzz about farming saffron?

We’ve been hearing the buzz, too! SAFFRON, one of the world’s most valuable spices, comes from the stamens of a particular variety of fall-blooming crocus (‘crocus sativus’). Its bright orange stigma and styles, also called ‘threads’, are collected when the flowers open- also in the fall.

This may seem unusual. Most of us are accustomed to spring-blooming crocus. ‘Crocus Sativus’ is special in this way. The fall harvest is well-timed for many, though. The spring is already so busy with harvests and seed sowing and planting. It’s nice to learn of fall-blooming plants! And the saffron harvest timing is perfect for use in warm dishes and soups all winter long.

The stigma and styles of this crocus are dried and used for cooking and fabric dying. If you’re interested in an off-season products with a long shelf-life, maybe saffron is something to look into for your flower farm.

The value of this crop is maintained by scarcity. Harvesting the flowers can be tedious, since it is a small flower, but growing your own can also be rewarding! You need just 3-4 saffron threads for a 6-person dish of paella. I don’t know that our flower farm will ever be a “saffron farm” but I do know that we’re going to enjoy this extra benefit of working the land under our care.

Learn more about growing saffron from MARTHA STEWART here.

Want to grow your own? ‘Crocus Sativus’ is EASY to grow. And it’s perennial in USDA zones 5-9. This fall planted bulb multiplies in successive seasons, offering you more and more saffron to harvest each year and new corms to sell if you like!

Crocus Sativus is one of many varieties offered in our ‘miscellaneous’ bulbs collection. We offer 250-bulb bags and 1000-bulb crates.

Have a question? Let us know in the comments below.

-The Team at Ampersand Bulb Co.