Saffron

Plant family

Schwertliliengewächse (Iridaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Plant distance

10 cm

Row spacing

15 cm

Seeding depth

10 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 a stable, warm climate and the temperature should not fall below 15°C during flowering. The soil should not be too moist, otherwise the tubers will rot quickly, but the humidity should not be too low. Only needs some watering in extreme heat, otherwise very sparingly and not at all between May and August. Saffron also needs plenty of light. The saffron plant flowers for about 3 weeks in mid-October. The intensive flowering phase occurs during 2-6 days in these 3 weeks. 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 blossom, 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 bulbs. Plant in a new location every 4 years, 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 slightly poisonous, as are excessive quantities of the saffron threads. Other autumn crocuses are good neighboring plants.