SAFFRON (CROCUS SATIVUS) CAN BE HARVESTED IN HOUSTON

By Marilyn O’Connor “The Herb Lady”

I happened to see an ad in a magazine from White Flower Farm for the corms to grow saffron. I’ve always wanted to grow saffron and gave them a call in late July. I told them I live in Zone 9 and they said yes, I can grow them here. They suggested I order them and they would send them when time and temperature for our area were right for the corms.

They shipped them in late September and I planted them October 9. By the middle of November, they were growing and blooming. I harvested the red/orange stigmas and dried them. A tweezer is helpful as they really shrink once dried.

I found that I have to harvest the flowers as soon as they bloom, otherwise the flowers disintegrated rather quickly. That’s the fun of gardening — always a surprise gift from Mother Nature!

Grow organically — especially i f you are going to eat from your garden — and make sure your lawn service is using organic products in their landscape treatments. I really encourage everyone to play in the dirt and use all your senses – it’s the best therapy I know of for a happy life.

NOTE: Email Marilyn at: theherblady11@att.net