Into The Bloom: How To Grow Saffron At Home At Half The Market Price

Derived from the flowers of Crocus sativus, saffron is a spice known for its medicinal properties. Tracing the roots of the spice, it is believed that it was first cultivated in Greece and brought to India by Persian rulers.

With a bitter-sweet taste, saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Therefore, it is also referred to as red gold. In 2021, India became the 16th largest exporter of spice across the globe. Around 90% of the saffron is cultivated in the Pulwama and Budgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir. There are a few places in Himachal Pradesh too where the spice is grown. 

Here is a guide to growing saffron at home.

What Do You Need To Grow Saffron At Home?

• Not many people know, but saffron needs well-drained soil with a pH ranging from six to eight. Sandy, gravelly, and loamy soil is perfect to grow the spice at home. It can vary from acidic to neutral. In all cases, you must avoid planting the spice in clay soil.
• You need to grow saffron in an area of the house which receives plenty of sunlight. In the initial stages, the plant will require 10 to 12 hours of photoperiod or direct sunlight. 
• You will need saffron corms that can be sown into the soil between June and July or August and September. 
• It requires less water compared to other crops, but the soil must always remain a little damp in order for the plants to grow to their full potential. 

The best aspect of cultivating saffron is it requires less time to harvest. It is believed that winters around Karnataka (Places To Explore In Karnataka), Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh are the best time to grow the spice. 

However, you can also try growing it at your home if you create the right environment, get the right mixture of soil, and offer the plants optimum care.

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How To Grow Saffron At Home?

• In India, three types of saffron are cultivated, namely Creme Saffron, Aquila Saffron, and Lacha Saffron. Depending on the variety you like, you can buy saffron corms from the market.
• To make the soil fertile, add cow dung. You will also need to add phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in the ratio of 2:3:2 to ensure that the plant gets all the required minerals until it gets harvested. 
• Dug holes as deep as 8 cm to 13 cm and at least 10 cm apart in your pot. It will ensure that each corm has enough space to grow and spread its roots.
• Once you sow corms into the soil, add extra soil on the surface in a loose pattern. If you keep it compact, there won’t be any air circulation, and corms might die. 
• If the pot does not receive rain in the next two to three days after sowing corms, you will have to water the soil just enough so that it remains damp, but water does not deposit on the surface. When the soil seems to be drying out, you will need to irrigate it. 
• You need to ensure that the post has a proper drainage system. It will ensure that extra water drains out in case you have added plenty by chance. 
• Within three to four months, saffron flowers will be ready for the harvest. It is advised to harvest the flowers between sunrise and 10 am. 
• You will have to pluck the red-brown stigma in the flowers and dry them under the sun for at least five to six days. 

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Use the first harvest to prepare a delicious delicacy like biryani, tea, etc. and garnish it with home-grown saffron (Drink A Glass Of Saffron Every Day). You should make sure to add saffron at the end because if you add it at the start, it might burn due to heat.

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