Saffron

**vigilant20** · 08-03-2011, 08:56 AM

I turned my front yard into a decorative mulched bed this year. I'm planning edibles that are prettier out there like okra with its big trumpet flowers and love lies bleeding amaranth.

So when I started looking at bulbs to put in for fall this year, I had the same dual purpose hopes in mind. And I found that with saffron crocus. I just ordered enough for a row across the front of the bed from these guys.

I've never actually cooked with saffron, but it would be fun to try and this would be something that would make good gifts for the foodies in your life too.

It might be fun to considering adding a spice to your bulb collection too

Photo by outdoorPDK on Flickr

**shp1055** · 08-03-2011, 09:05 AM

I have cooked with it and like it. Buying it is a different story. That stuff is really expensive. Let us know how it does, we may all need to do it. Wigh you much luck with it.

**Ceashels** · 08-03-2011, 09:07 AM

What a great idea! Well worth the cost of the initial bulbs with years of spice in the future!

**Spirit Deer** · 08-03-2011, 09:14 AM

Saffron is considered the most expensive spice in the world.

Good tip, thanks. I may have to give that a try.

I wonder how they would winter over in a pot in my garage.

**Spirit Deer** · 08-03-2011, 11:46 PM

I shopped around online and did some research about these plants. Then I called our local nursery and chatted with them about growing crocus. I'm going to give these a try! We're in zone 3 so it could get tricky, but I'm getting 25 bulbs. I'm going to use some in the house and try to force them, some I'll put into a pot and winter them inside an unheated room in a building, and some I'm going to plant outside and mulch the heck out of them before winter. The research I read said they're good for twenty below zero, so they might do okay if they're in the right location.

I don't actually like gardening all that much, so why do I get involved in all these experiments?

**craftypam** · 08-04-2011, 08:45 AM

To save money on the saffron LOL

**Spirit Deer** · 08-04-2011, 08:54 AM

Exactly. Why not save the money? Although I guess actually it's not a total savings, because I don't buy saffron much due to the cost, so it's not like I spend a lot on it. But if I can make an initial investment and get expensive saffron for free, why not?

I don't do everything just to save money. I'm past the stage in life where I have to. I do a lot of things because I don't ever want to stop learning and exploring new things and having new experiences. How boring is a life where nothing new is ever attempted?

I had a ton of fun growing mushrooms last winter. So this year I can try forcing crocus bulbs and growing scarlet runner beans over the living room windows. Fun times!

**craftypam** · 08-04-2011, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

Exactly. Why not save the money? Although I guess actually it's not a total savings, because I don't buy saffron much due to the cost, so it's not like I spend a lot on it. But if I can make an initial investment and get expensive saffron for free, why not?

I don't do everything just to save money. I'm past the stage in life where I have to. I do a lot of things because I don't ever want to stop learning and exploring new things and having new experiences. How boring is a life where nothing new is ever attempted?

I had a ton of fun growing mushrooms last winter. So this year I can try forcing crocus bulbs and growing scarlet runner beans over the living room windows. Fun times!

I never came to this site because I was in debt; I came to it because budgeting is my passion and just like you I love to learn new ways of saving money.

Does saffron grow just like crocus'? What were you specifically told about growing it in your cold environment? I live in MI. And have you ever used saffron; if so in what? I knew it was expensive so just passed by recipes through the years with that ingredient in it.

Thx Pam

**Spirit Deer** · 08-04-2011, 07:35 PM

We've never really been in debt either, except for a mortgage and sometimes a car payment. But I do love a bargain just the same!

I just love doing new stuff, whether it'll save me money or not.

Saffron comes from a type of crocus. The flowers are pretty and I'm hoping they'll grow here, because spring is always late and it would be so great to have something growing and blooming early in the year. The saffron comes from the three stamens on each flower. You just pick them and dry them and then they can be used. I don't know if they can be used without being dried or not. I guess you just have to lay them on a paper towel for a few days to dry them, so it sounds easy enough.

The dish that comes to mind the most that uses saffron is paella. I've used it before but it's been so many years I forget what I used it for. I sometimes skip over recipes that call for it, too, so I'll be on the lookout for them now, just in case I actually get these plants to produce. If you just need it for the color, you can use turmeric or paprika instead.

If you're in zone 4, you may be able to grow these crocuses using the usual techniques. We're in zone 3, so the advice the local garden store gave me was to mulch heavily in the fall, try forcing some in the winter, and also try putting them in a pot that can be set inside somewhere. I had to order 25 bulbs because they can't sell them in the store since they're not for our zone, but they gave me a great price. I think it was wholesale pricing, or not much above it. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out where I have southern exposure near a building, because I think that would also be a few degrees warmer than usual. Since the bulbs are supposed to survive down to twenty below, I really think my best bet will be putting them in pots inside an unheated building. I can also take them out of the dirt and keep them in the fridge, and I might try that as well.

At any rate, it all sounds interesting and I'm looking forward to trying this new experiment to see what happens.

**craftypam** · 08-04-2011, 09:39 PM

Where did you purchase them?
TIA
Pam

**Durgan** · 08-05-2011, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by craftypam

Where did you purchase them?
TIA
Pam

Richters Herbs
357 Highway 47
Goodwood, ON L0C 1A0
CANADA
Tel. 1.905.640.6677
Fax 1.905.640.6641

100 bulb R5162 Saffron Bulbs 0.75/bulb 75.00

Shipping and Handling 13.50
Sales Tax 11.51
Grand Total in Canadian Dollars 100.00

**shp1055** · 08-05-2011, 09:05 AM

I used it in Chicken & Rice. Chicken broth, chopped chicken thigh, butter, bouillon cubes, parboiled rice and saffron. It was very good.

**Spirit Deer** · 08-05-2011, 09:29 AM

I bought them locally. I don't think they would mail order. It's a small town thing. They knew who I was, so did me a favor.

Gotta love that!

I wonder if, since you live in the same state as Holland, they might have some for sale in that area or other parts of Michigan so you could pick the exact bulbs you wanted. Might be worth some calls. Otherwise, you can Google for 'saffron crocus' and you'll get loads of businesses that carry them and lots of info, too. I know Gurney's carries them, so that suggests to me the other big name catalogs do, too, such as Jung's, Burpee, etc. It seems like prices vary quite a bit so it's worth checking more than one place.

**chowder** · 08-05-2011, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Durgan

Richters Herbs
357 Highway 47
Goodwood, ON L0C 1A0
CANADA
Tel. 1.905.640.6677
Fax 1.905.640.6641

100 bulb R5162 Saffron Bulbs 0.75/bulb 75.00

Shipping and Handling 13.50
Sales Tax 11.51
Grand Total in Canadian Dollars 100.00

I went to this site and it says that these have to be wintered indoors in a cool place in zones above Zone 6.Myself being in zone5 may have a problem,as I don't really have a cool pace in winter.

**vigilant20** · 08-05-2011, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by chowder

I went to this site and it says that these have to be wintered indoors in a cool place in zones above Zone 6.Myself being in zone5 may have a problem,as I don't really have a cool pace in winter.

I'm in zone 5 in Wisconsin as well. The nursery I linked to is in Wisconsin and says hardy to zone 5. I'm sure you could talk to them if you have questions as it sounds like they are closer to your own growing conditions.