saffron crocus

[annageckos]

I want to getting some saffron crocuses. I and thinking about putting them in the little strawberry patch I have, it gets full sun. The soil around here is clay, but I have added a lot of my own compost to it. So it is a lot lighter and drains better now. Looking around I found a company called white flower farm that sells them, has anyone ever heard of them? Use them before? Any tips on growing saffron? I want to cook with it.

 

[vfem]

I put in an order from White Farm in CT, but then found a much better deal when I bought mine.

http://www.esbenshades.com/onlineshopping/proddetail.asp?prod=653155002353&id=Crocus Sativus Bulb

Keep in mind, they aren't available, and no one ships until August/September when the bulbs should be planted so you'll probably want to wait to order then.



They do well with good drainage, so mix some rock into the soil if you have a lot of clay. That's what I did.

 

[annageckos]

Thanks, have you grown them before, or it your first time too? I chuckled when you said add rocks. We picked out so many rocks getting the veggie garden ready. Gallons and gallons of rocks. Probably more. We filled dozens of plastic shopping bags and still find more rocks when it rains. The area is filled with blue quartz. We have found pieces ranging from soft ball size down to little pebbles.

 

[vfem]

Hahaha.... these crocus like rocky soil, so excellent for a rock garden and can rot easily if in a bad drainage area.

Here's a picture of one of mine from last fall. They bloom in September/October here.
http://fromseed.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-september-brings.html