[Sca-cooks] saffron growing info

[Stefan li Rous]

Margaret asked:
> Ok, I bought three packs of what I'm pretty sure are saffron crocus (they
> say "sativus" on the label, they're purple, and in the picture have long
> red stamens). Does anyone on the list grow them that would have useful
> tips for successful crocus-raising?
>
> I'm pretty sure I have a sunny spot to plant them in, sheltered from the
> cruel western winds. Or could I grow them in a pot (or three) as long as I
> move them into the garage for the winter?

I have attached some messages below on saffron growing which have yet
to make it into the Florilegium.
My appologies to the list if this is too long for here.
--
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris            Austin, Texas          stefan at texas.net
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****

> Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 21:30:25 -0400
> From: johnna holloway <johnna at sitka.engin.umich.edu>
> To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Growing saffron (was Isinglass)
>
> There's a chapter on growing saffron in the
> new hardcover Secrets of Saffron by Pat Willard.
> Willard writes about growing it in Brooklyn.
> You apparently harvest each flower two or three
> times. Very time consuming and back breaking work.
> Which is why it's a speciality expensive product.
> Johnna Holloway Johnnae llyn Lewis
>
> I should also mention that this book has a chapter
> on the SCA in it, entitled "The Red Bodice of the
> Middle Ages" pages 86-95.
>
>
> Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 21:40:08 -0400
> From: johnna holloway <johnna at sitka.engin.umich.edu>
> To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
> Subject: [Sca-cooks] Re: [Sca-cooks]Saffron was Isinglass
>
> Another website on saffron is
> http://www.saffroninfo.com/
>
> "This web site is for everyone who has an interest in
> saffron. My vision is to increase the number of
> people who enjoy saffron's many benefits through
> providing honest, informative, useful information
> about this spice. I do not sell saffron, nor do I have
> a desire to. Your feedback is vital to my continuing
> research. May this web site spark many interesting
> conversations."
> The website is run by Ellen Szita.
>
> Johnna Holloway   Johnnae llyn Lewis
>
>
> Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 16:53:49 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Dana Huffman <letrada at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Growing saffron (was Isinglass).
> To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
>
> I did saffron one year in a window box.  I planted it in
> the early fall, got one flower per bulb, then it got too
> wet over the winter and the bulbs just sort of dissolved.
> But had I kept them from getting so constantly wet, I think
> it would have worked.  So you could experiment with a few
> in a pot, and take them with you if/when you have to move.
> You may not get enough to do much with, but at least you'll
> have some pretty flowers.
>
> Yes, it's a particular type of crocus.  It's not the common
> spring-blooming stuff, but rather one of the fall crocuses.
>  It'll often be advertised as "saffron crocus," and it's
> probably not too late to look for it, at least at specialty
> places (often the only places that carry it anyway).  Come
> to think of it, I should be looking for some more now that
> I'm not moving annually...
>
> Dana/Ximena
>
>
> From: "Olwen the Odd" <olwentheodd at hotmail.com>
> To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
> Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Planting in my garden
> Date: Thu, 09 May 2002 17:51:39 +0000
>
> Saffron is a fall bloomer.  You shouldn't really even have any shoots at all
> right now.  Now till after Pennsic and then some.  It is common not to have
> any blossoms the first year, the second excpect a few, by the third and
> fourth year you should do well.  They come up so late in the garden that I
> used to paint stones next to where I had the bulbs planted so I wouldn't put
> something on them.  You do know to pick the flowers when they bloom out on
> the first day?  And the aroma is so wonderful!  Wish they could bottle that!
> Olwen
>
>>But I have a question about Saffron.  I planted the bulbs last fall -
>>they all shot up and had lovely green spikes of leaves - no flowers.
>>And this spring the leaves were starting to spike up again.   Last
>>night I noticed that the leaves are all kinda hanging over.   Having
>>never grown Saffron before - does it go dormant during the summer?
>>And the leaves grow back when the weather again starts to cool down?
>>Or should the leaves remain spiky and upright all summer long?
>>
>>Kateryn de Devleyn
>>in the northern parts of Calontir (ie: Iowa).