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Wild About Saffron
by brian @ 13:32:08 - [perma-link]A few years ago, a friend introduced me to Saffron Buns, a Swedish Christmas tradition (something like that). As you may expect, saffron was the dominant flavor. They were so sweet!
But saffron costs a freaking lot (though a little goes a long way!).
Several years ago I decided I wanted to try growing my own. I’ve read several versions of how to grow them, but they are a fall harvest, and I’ve always thought about it in the fall, when it is raining in portland, and not ideal for the dormant corms (the “bulbs”). Each year, i was disappointed that i forgot, and I’d vow to plant them next summer. Repeat for 4 years, and that brings us to last week.
This year, the weather is different. It is mid October and no rain. Highs are still in the 70s and 80s. How can the dormant corms I planted possibly know it isn’t still late summer!
Hopefully they will wake up when the rain starts next week. I planted 40 corms in two spots in my yard, and another 18 in these pots (9,5,2,1,1), that I will keep indoors under grow lights for “the warm dry summer”. Once the flowers start to show, i will move them into the garage where it is cooler.
The black bucket is a variation on a Dutch bucket, with dual root layers. Above the grommet is soil, with perlite for drainage underneath, and cheesecloth separating the layers. The small pots are self watering from bottom trays.
Oh yeah. I shoved the last two corms down into one of the Dutch buckets with a lone tomato. Diversify!
Blooms in about 40 days.
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