Description
The vibrant and fragrant flowers of saffron will make your garden beautiful and refreshing.
Saffron flower is a beautiful flower grown mostly in Kashmir in India. Saffron, which has for decades been the world most expensive spice by weight, is native to Southwest Asia.
After a period of hibernation in summer, five to eleven narrow and nearly vertical green leaves, growing up to 40 cm in length, emerge from the ground.
The stigma of crocus flowers are hand harvested, dried and used as the famed saffron. Saffron was traditionally used in coloring the rice in biryani.
| Common Name | Kesar, Zaafraan, Saffron |
| Height | Up to 15 inch |
| Flower Colour | Purple |
| Bloom Time | Spring, Winter |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to grow |
Planting Procedure
- Choose a location in full sun and be sure the soil is well-drained.
- The crocus bulbs do not tolerate is soggy soil.This bulbs requires loose and porous potting soil
- Sowing season of crocus bulb is in the rainy season
- It should be planted at 10 to 12 cm deep; maintaining 10 to 12 cm spacing between two bulbs
- Use the potting mix for bulb plantation as: Garden soil + Compost + Perlite + Sand (2:2:1:1)Soil + Cocopeat + vermicompost (2:1:2).
Care
- You should fertilize a plant mostly in the spring season, flower bud stage.
- Water a plant when the soil feels dry to touch.
- If there is a dry spell and it does not rain, you must water the bulbs weekly until the ground freezes.
- Apply compost annually to provide nutrients needed for future blooms.
- You should fertilize a plant mostly in the spring season, flower bud stage.
- After the foliage turns yellow and dies back, it can be pruned off.
| Sunlight | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering | Medium |
| Soil | Well-drained soil |
| Temperature | 20 to 30 degrees Celsius |
| Fertilizer | Apply any organic fertilizer |
Crocus sativus special feature
Saffron stigma has a pleasant aroma and an essential oil crocin.
Crocus sativus uses
Ornamental Use:
- The crocus plant is used for an ornamental purpose
- Plant in groups for a spectacular show in the garden
Culinary Use:
- It is used in soups, sauces especially rice dishes to give them bright yellow color and distinctive flavor
- It is used in sweets, like Rasmalai, Thandai, Kesar milk, ice cream, halwa, and Srikand