Crocus sativus

[Curly green finger's]

Evening does anyone grow these in the uk they flower in the autumn and you can harvest the stigma which is saffron.
Also are they useful for the bees and other polinators?
Thanks
C. G. F.

 

[E&MBees]

Yes, they do grow in the Uk. My mum has them growing freely in her garden. Bees and pollinators like them. Not sure about harvesting the pollen though.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Apparently there's been a few growing in a place called Saffron Walden for some strange reason.

 

[pargyle]

Apparently there's been a few growing in a place called Saffron Walden for some strange reason.

That's a strange coincidence ! Fancy it being called Saffron ... I wonder why ?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Evening does anyone grow these in the uk they flower in the autumn and you can harvest the stigma which is saffron.
Also are they useful for the bees and other polinators?
Thanks
C. G. F.

I thought you might have this in your Professional Gardener's encyclopædia but if you don't, here you are How To Grow Saffron

 

[Mint Bee]

There were a number of commercial saffron farmers in the UK when I looked a few years ago. I had access to a patch of land that I thought might be suitable for saffron production, but this fell through. High value crop, but is labour intense especially at harvest time. Bulk supplies of bulbs were available from the Netherlands if you were thinking of adding saffron to your product list Mark

 

[Curly green finger's]

Thanks dani I've read up on how to grow saffron and I'm looking for some suppliers @Mint Bee .

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks dani I've read up on how to grow saffron and I'm looking for some suppliers @Mint Bee .

Commercially?

 

[Mint Bee]

I think this was the supplier I looked at some time ago Wholesale Saffron Bulbs (Crocus Sativus) - Roco Saffron
at the time UK supply of bulbs was limited and relatively expensive. This may have changed, and import from EU is likely more complicated with Brexit changes

 

[Erichalfbee]

Commercially?

Or are you getting your boss to plant a field?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Commercially?

Looking into it yes, among other things, trying to look at options for diversifying

 

[Erichalfbee]

Looking into it yes, among other things, trying to look at options for diversifying

Have a look at this article. You’ve probably researched this extensively or you wouldn’t be asking here but in case you haven’t it might point you in the right direction How to Grow Saffron for Profit

 

[pargyle]

Looking into it yes, among other things, trying to look at options for diversifying

Save your back ... plant a few crocus ... buy your Saffron in bulk from Spain or Iran and repack/rebrand it as Clee Hill Saffron ... we won't tell anyone !

 

[Curly green finger's]

Save your back ... plant a few crocus ... buy your Saffron in bulk from Spain or Iran and repack/rebrand it as Clee Hill Saffron ... we won't tell anyone !

No thanks, don't you know I like hard work .

 

[Erichalfbee]

I can just see you and the family dotted about your crocus field picking scarlet stamens as each flower opens through September and October. Better than hay making eh?

 

[Newbeeneil]

I can just see you and the family dotted about your crocus field picking scarlet stamens as each flower opens through September and October. Better than hay making eh?

Yeah every morning..... each flower...... I've seen films of people doing it!!!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

That’s why most of it comes from places where labour is cheap.

 

[Murox]

Shame we cant we get bees to harvest it for us !

 

[Curly green finger's]

Now there's a thought @ Murox if it was just pollen....

 

[Swn58]

SAFFRON WALDON!