When saffron bulbs have grown very long, thin leaves by about February after flowering, when should I cut them off? Or not at all? They show no signs of dying down and are very green. Thank you for your help.
Do not cut the foliage. The plant needs this to porduce energy for next year's blooms. Allow the leaves to die back naturally. As much of the country has had a mild winter, espeecially the South, the plants will probably just take a bit longer than normal to begin dying back.
I purchased saffron crocus (I thought) but it is blooming now in the spring. Can I still harvest it?
Saffron crocus will leaf in the spring but bloom in the fall. It sounds as though you have the dutch crocus/snow crocus, which blooms in the spring.
How to grow saffron and amount of saffron grown in 1,000 square feet area?
You will want to plant corms at a density of 10 per square foot.
For more information on saffron, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/growing-saffron-crocus.htm
I live in east/central Ohio (43022) and just received saffron crocus bulbs. I planted a couple in a pot to see what might happen - ave. first frost still a couple of weeks away. My question is what to do with the rest between now and next April when they can go out? How to store, or should they be planted indoors for winter harvesting of the stamens? I have a history of pushing zone limits. When in Iowa, I successfully had a productive Spanish Quince tree that provided beautiful pink quince jelly for years. Granted, I had to winter protect the base of the tree, and pick the 6-inch diameter fruit just before the first frost and let them finish ripening indoors, normally less than a week or two. Thank you for any help you can give. Larry
Storing the corms (bulbs) of saffron crocus indoors during the winter is recommended. Store them in a cool but not freezing, dry spot such as a basement, buried in dry sand in a wooden or plastic box.
It is also possible to grow saffron crocus indoors, even during winter, as described here:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/growing-saffron-indoors.htm
Can I use the yellow crocus for its saffron?
You need to harvest the Saffron from the Saffron Crocus bulbs. Crocus sativus.
Here is an article with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/growing-saffron-crocus.htm
I planted the bulbs this fall. I noticed that they have started to grow. Will this affect how they survive winter? Is this normal? should I cut them down? More warm weather is predicted for my area. I am zone 3, I plan to mulch them heavily before winter. And If I decide to move in the spring, any tips on transplanting. I.e. best time thanks
Unfortunately, your saffron crocus may not be hardy in zone 3, only zones 6-8 according to one source I just. But another says it is hardy to -15F. Native to Spain and India, among others, it grows in warm and dry conditions. It takes 50-60 to yield 2 T of saffron. Your options are to hope for a mild winter or dig them up now and keep them in the refrig in dry peat moss or perlite and set out in very early spring. Read more here and check out the different pages. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/growing-saffron-crocus.htm
Two years ago I got twelve blooms from the twelve saffron crocus bulbs I have planted in a half wine barrel on a mobile cart. I have been moving the cart under my fig tree out of sprinkler range after the foliage dies back and bringing it back out in the sun and sprinkler watering in early September. Last year and this year I got only one bloom. I am planning to separate the bulbs/corms this year after the foliage has died. Should I wait until I am ready to replant them to dig them up and when should this be? I have read early August for planting but I live in the California central valley (Sacramento to be exact) and it is still really hot then. Also, if I fertilize the base of the corms, what is the number rating ( #-#-#) of the fertilizer I should use and how much? Thanks for any information you can give me.
I would separate these in the spring time before planting. After you transplant them, you might notice it will take a whole year to get another bloom. You can use an all purpose fertilizer, but it is not completely necessary, as they store nutrients in the bulb. Here is an article for more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/growing-saffron-crocus.htm