Saffron

Plant family

Umbellifers (Apiaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Light germinator

Germination temperature

15 - 20 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

40 cm

Row spacing

50 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm

Instructions

Description

Saffron belongs to the iris family (Iridaceae) and has purple flowers with beautiful veins. It is also called red gold, because the extraction of saffron threads is very complex and therefore expensive. The orange-red stigmas protrude above the petals. Saffron is a perennial crocus.

Growing tips

The plant needs the most stable, warm climate, and during flowering the temperature should not fall below 15 ° C. The soil should not be too moist, otherwise they quickly rot the tubers, but the humidity should not be too low. Needs some watering only in extreme heat, otherwise very sparingly, and between May-August not at all. Also, saffron needs a lot of light. In mid-October, the saffron plant blooms for about 3 weeks. During 2-6 days in these 3 weeks, the intense flowering phase occurs. The flowers that appear overnight must be harvested at dawn the next day - preferably in closed form. This is the only way to ensure the high quality of the saffron threads. After harvesting the flower, the red stigmas can be carefully and meticulously cut off by hand and then dried. Saffron must be stored away from light. Saffron is propagated by dividing its tubers. Plant every 4 years in a new place preferably in late spring or early summer. Tolerates temperatures down to -10°C. Do not eat the other parts of the saffron as they are mildly toxic, as are excessive amounts of the saffron filaments. Other autumn crocuses are good neighboring plants.