Growing SAFFRON, did I finally BREAK EVEN?!

[@f.demascio1857]

Ive never considered growing Saffron. Ive always presumed im not in the right climate (Virginia 7b). Your videos started popping up, so i watched. Lo and behold, i learned that i HAVE SAFFRON GROWING! In my lawn! We've noticed these beautiful blooms in our lawn each fall. Always admired, but never knew what they were. They are Saffron. I harvested threads today. Thinking i should dig them up & divide.

[@GreenLove1]

@@f.demascio1857 how amazing! Don't dig up now. Wait till the green growth grows and dies off, then you can dig up and divide!

[@thelemonwho]

How did 3000 people miss the LIKE button?!? (Must be wearing gardening gloves or something!)

[@GreenLove1]

@@thelemonwho omg, that is one of the nicest things anyone has ever commented on my videos! Thanks so much for making my day!

[@Francina214]

Purple and orange are my favorite color combo. You are very easy to listen to. Thanks

[@GreenLove1]

Thanks so much, yes, I love those colors too! Interesting combination though, that mother Nature has chosen for the beautiful saffron flower, don't you think?!!

[@Francina214]

@@GreenLove1 i do indeed.

[@peytoia]

im so happy for you!! this has got to be incredibly exciting. congrats on the large return of bloom-size bulbs!!

[@GreenLove1]

@@peytoia yes!! Thank you!!! I was so happily surprised! Patience pays off in the garden...and growing saffron has got to be one of my most rewarding experiences in the garden!

[@mohammadrafiq2108]

I like the video and other comments. You are simple lovely and the way to explained the things are friendly. Please continue it . God bless you.

[@GreenLove1]

@@mohammadrafiq2108 very kind, thank you! 🙏

[@3dogsandababy]

This is such interesting information! As you said, there isn’t a whole lot of information available about growing saffron so thank you so much for sharing! I have just started my saffron growing my journey so fingers crossed they will do well in my area.

[@GreenLove1]

@@3dogsandababy oh how fun, good luck! I am sure they will do great!! 👍

[@MrHelidude]

Thank you very very much for this wonderful video on Saffron. I am looking forward to my third year of saffron this coming autumn. This last season which has gone past, my corms have multiplied ten fold and I have divided them all up. They are very very small in size still. I really do not know what to do with them all. Lol. Many many happy greetings from Tasmania ........🌏 Nara ☺

[@GreenLove1]

@@MrHelidudehi Nara, wow, Tasmania! It's fascinating how social media connects people from all over the 🌍!🌱💚! Ha ha, ya I understand all those teeny tiny corms all too well. I have bagged several and gifted them with the caveat that people won't see blooms at least for 3 years! But it's such a low maintenance plant, that they usually don't mind! Good luck and I hope you get a lovely harvest of saffron this coming autumn!

[@twilliam6820]

Wonderful! Got my bulbs from Renee's as well. My first year growing them and I started w/ 40 bulbs. Was a little late in the season, so in only a matter of days I had blooms. Came to your video for help w how to manage the bulbs post bloom and was happy to see the number of divisions. Although waiting 2-3 years for size is a small bummer. Thank you for the video, Tara.

[@GreenLove1]

@@twilliam6820 the years fly by! Your patience will be rewarded!!

[@novampires223]

Very interesting, I planted some years ago, they didn't do much. I will go look and see if any are there and start over. Thank you. Subbed!

[@GreenLove1]

@@novampires223 if you live in a warm climate and not too much rain,they should have done well ....if the squirrels or other rodents did not get them 😁. Thanks for the sub!!!💚

[@skival]

Thank you for this info. My saffron didn't bloom at all last year and now I'm thinking it was because they were so small. Hopefully this year will be better.

[@GreenLove1]

@@skival ya, they definitely need to be a certain size before they can bloom. Hopefully this year🤞

[@doreenmangru3490]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing

[@GreenLove1]

@@doreenmangru3490 you are very welcome!! 🤗

[@vickisavage8929]

How important is it to dig up and separate the mother and daughter bulbs?

[@GreenLove1]

@@vickisavage8929 you really need to do that only once every 4-5 years.

[@creekbird_homestead]

@@GreenLove1oh!! Ok I asked the same thing. Dont worry about answering it again, I see it now :)

[@OGGardenista]

This video was very informative ❤

[@GreenLove1]

@@OGGardenista I am so glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching!

[@CrossWayMusics]

Very informative video, I hope i will do in coming year

[@GreenLove1]

@@CrossWayMusics you are welcome! I wish you the best!!

[@zombi3907]

Hello, I am writing to ask if you have explored all the ways that the fungal development in the soil affects the bulbs growth. Essentially, plants are connected by mychorrhizal networks. Some forms of agriculture such as the no till method are based on preserving and enhancing soil development by not tilling the ground, which disrupts that network, and instead building healthy soil by using cover crops, compost layers, and mulching. Perhaps leaving the bulbs alone in the soil and planting cover crops over winter could help speed up the blooming process and help the bulbs grow larger instead of focusing on division? I am not writing as an expert but asking if you have tried not disturbing the soil between planting years. The cover crop can act as a natural nitrogen fixer, taking nitrogen from the atmosphere and fixing it in the soil via bacteria in the nodes in their root systems (Certain legumes, hairy vetch, crimson clover, or daikon radish.). Knock the cover crop down and mulch over that with some compost and let it settle util spring again. I know that with some plants bulbs can over crowd and then the flowers can get smaller, but perhaps leaving the soil for a couple of years between flowerings following those methods might help increase flowering.

[@GreenLove1]

I actually have two parts of my garden where I'm going to be leaving the soil undisturbed for the next few years to see whether that helps with the growth of saffron. Yep I do know all about cover crops, And I grow them in all my vegetable patches. The problem with saffron is that it does not like being watered, especially during the dormancy period. So cover crops are not an option there. But thank you so much, your recommendations are really good for growing no-till.

[@wr3add]

Thank you. Very informative 🤘🏻

[@GreenLove1]

@@wr3add so glad you found it useful!

[@dawnbrookman]

such a lovely informative video

[@GreenLove1]

@@dawnbrookman 🥰, you are so welcome!!

[@TJTreasuresearth]

Thank you so much for this timely video!😊 I've subscribed for all of the reasons praised by others. ❤ I planted 100 crocus last year thinking I'd harvest saffron. There's a certain variety? I learn something new every day 😂

[@GreenLove1]

Thanks so much for subscribing. Hopefully you saw that I have a whole playlist dedicated to my Saffron journey, and I did it because when I got started, there really did not seem to be any videos on the internet documenting what happens beyond that first year, and I found that disappointing. Yes, isn't it interesting that even though saffron is in the crocus family, it's behavior is almost entirely different than your regular crocuses. But I am sure your 100 crocuses will produce beautiful blooms for you. And it's still not too late to plant saffron this year if you have about four to six weeks before your first frost. If not, you can still plant them but you may not get blooms this year. Happy gardening!

[@parvathitiruviluamala9870]

Thank you very much for sharing your hard earned knowledge with all of us. I live in Socal, also Zone 9 B. How many chill hours does Saffron need for growing ? Also, do you grow them outside ? I know that it is a Crocus and i have had a lot of Crocuses while living in NJ. Thats why i am wondering about chill hours Thank you.

[@GreenLove1]

Even though saffron is a crocus, you really need to forget all that you know about growing crocuses in order to grow saffron successfully. It is a Mediterranean plant and likes hot dry summers and cool mild wet winters, just like you have in Southern California. Just find a spot for it in the garden that you won't use for anything else and does not get irrigation during the year. Plant your saffron, And that's it, It will come back year over year. You'll probably need to divide once every 3to 5 years. And yeah, no chill hours!!!

[@AnimeShinigami13]

The claytonia trying to edge out your saffron is edible. Don't be afraid to eat them while you wait for the bulbs to grow! All bulbs you need to get size on them. It's not just saffron. You should see what an amarylis bulb looks like when its at max size. Divides like crazy. The corm, bulb, rhizome ect of a "bulb" plant is like a savings account for the plant. It sucks the nutrients in its leaves in when its done blooming. that squirrel picture is hilarious. So I'm captioning it. Squirrel: *belch* Soooo much saffron....

[@GreenLove1]

Ya, I do eat claytonia, but it's a weed in my garden, it grows EVERYWHERE in winter/spring, and I usually allow it to grow. But in this case it definitely impacted the growth of the saffron, So this year I am diligently removing it from around the saffron. I am learning with Saffron as I go, yeah it was interesting to see how big the corms got this year!

[@AnimeShinigami13]

@@GreenLove1 living in the north my experience is that corms in general (aka on other plants since I don't have experience with saffron) tend to be a bit weaker than true bulbs and rhizomes. The stunner for me this year was the sulpher cosmos I grew by the Community Garden fence. It was a "holy shit" type of experience. And with a little washing soda they yielded an intense pumpkin orange! I'd suggest washing any material you treat with them first before crafting. Sometimes dyes can change color in the wash depending on what's in the wash water (iron, copper, tin, alkali and acid are some of the things that can be in drinking water that have an effect on the final result.) Interestingly enough, saffron is also listed as a dye in my dye books, with the note that its too expensive to really utilize in any volume.

[@GreenLove1]

@@AnimeShinigami13 I will have to check out sulphur cosmos, sounds fascinating! And I did not know that saffron makes a dye, though of course it's kind of apparent now since it deeply colors food items! Thanks for sharing this knowledge!

[@judygude]

I'm hoping to grow them for the first time. Hopefully, they will be OK with NW Indiana weather.

[@GreenLove1]

@@judygude I am sure they'll do great!

[@marycompogno5665]

Thankyou for your videos they are interesting and helpful. I live in Eastern Washington and was wondering if I could try growing some saffron. It's already almost October and we do get snow and stuff here almost till about mid March starting at the end of October or middle of November.

[@GreenLove1]

Hi! I am only experienced in growing in the Bay Area, which has a great Mediterranean climate for Saffron, so I really can't comment with authority on other gardening zones. However, I have read and researched a lot, and from what I understand, they need to be planted about 6 weeks before your first frost date if you are to get a harvest in the current season. If not, they will just grow in size underground this season, and hopefully produce (even more!) blooms next season. If you do happen to try, and if you remember, I'd love to know how it went and whether you got blooms or not! Good luck!!

[@marycompogno5665]

Thankyou! 😊

[@sunayakong8537]

At what point can you use the saffron? I see you planted the large bulbs, did use some?

[@GreenLove1]

You don't consume the bulbs of the saffron, you eat the stigma of the flowers.

[@marilynBgood]

Great info! Thank you!!

[@GreenLove1]

You are so welcome!💚

[@mikelouis9389]

Chipmunks were my kryptonite, so cute, so greedy.

[@GreenLove1]

Ha ha, too funny! 🤣 💯

[@purvichoksey4828]

After plucking saffron strands what do u do with its flowers? Is it saleable in beauty products industry?

[@GreenLove1]

@@purvichoksey4828 frankly I don't know, I just enjoy the blooms and let them fade away

[@Ziemanm]

Hi, how long does saffron grow before going dormant during the growing season? I’m in northern Illinois so I brought mine indoors and put them under a grow light. I’m wondering how long I should keep them growing before I allow them to go dormant.

[@GreenLove1]

In my Mediterranean climate in California, they usually grow actively until they start to die off in the April timeframe

[@Ziemanm]

@ what month do they usually pop up for you? I believe mine came up mid October after I planted them in September.

[@GreenLove1]

@Ziemanm same

[@Ziemanm]

@@GreenLove1 ok so I’ll keep mine going until April, then I’ll crank up the lights for the additional heat that causes them to go dormant and let them dry out until fall 👍

[@creekbird_homestead]

Ah, she’s wearing the saffron colors :) 💜🧡

[@GreenLove1]

Yes , yes!!!🧡 💜 🧡

[@PeetyPeety-l1f]

What time of year should I plant it I’m in Mississippi

[@GreenLove1]

@@PeetyPeety-l1f it's a Fall blooming crocus. You might want to do an internet search to figure out the best time in Michigan. In California I start in September

[@mamabear52]

Is there a standard weight for size distribution, it’s probably tedious to weigh on a scale but so is the crop dedication.

[@GreenLove1]

I know that there are some standards by which corm size (not weight) is measured. I have read about it, but don't remember off the top of my head, but I am sure you can find it with a quick internet search.

[@gothic_oma]

I just discovered your channel, and you are adorable! You got yourself a new subscriber, and I thank you for the saffron information. I am a gardener, but I've never grown anything from bulbs before! 😊

[@GreenLove1]

@@gothic_oma aww, thanks🤗! And thank you for subscribing 💚! Saffron is such an interesting plant to grow, and I just cannot find sufficient information on it for the home gardener, so I'm learning as I go! Thank you for watching and commenting so kindly!!

[@emilyglasser1072]

Hi Tara, do you ave any large corms to sell, or larger mediums? If not, do you know what is a good price for this type on a tiny order around 6 or 10 corms?🌷🌷🌷🍁🍁🍁 What island is your family from, Trinidad?🌴🌴👋👋

[@GreenLove1]

I do not sell, but there are many sellers online...I even have product pages linked in the bottom left of my video above...you can check prices. My family is from India!!

[@creekbird_homestead]

Can I just leave my area alone and let them multiply year after year on their own? I see a lot of digging up and I was kinda hoping to just end up with a huge area of it over the years. Will that happen? Of course I’ll weed the area, water and feed them but I mean do I have to dig up corms and move em?

[@GreenLove1]

I just responded to your other comment, but will respond here as well so other people can see it. You certainly do not need to dig up your saffron every year. In fact it is recommended that you leave it in ground for 3 to 5 years. I intend to do that in a secluded part of my garden this year. But I will need to protect it from the squirrels.

[@mrgolestani748]

Where can I get the bulbs?

[@GreenLove1]

@@mrgolestani748 there should be a product link on the bottom left of the video when it plays.

[@alysoffoxdale]

I'm surprised you risked flimsy plastic "chicken wire" to protect your bulbs instead of the real thing! The varmints in my area just chew right through that stuff; it doesn't even slow them down.

[@GreenLove1]

Lol, I was actually thinking the same thing when I put that down. I guess I like living dangerously, lol!! So far so good!

[@debrabaer5037]

@@alysoffoxdale I agree, but on Amazon bc we dont have great hardware stores here to buy..Amazon only had the plastic guards..I did not buy any...avalibility is scarce and expensive...I still agree w you

[@GreenLove1]

You can really put anything to cover it - anything breathable, a light weight fabric, some old transparent plastic sheet with breathing holes etc. The idea is to keep it covered until they start sprouting. After which it seems like the flavor profile of the corm changes and they not as attractive anymore to critters.

[@gannas42]

Can these be grown in zone 5?

[@GreenLove1]

@@gannas42 saffron is hardy in zone 5, however you will need to give it some winter protection like a thick layer of mulch, or plant in containers and bring it in during the coldest months of the year.