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In pictures. Plant fall flavors and colors with saffron!

In pictures. Plant fall flavors and colors with saffron!

  • The different saffron crocusesThe true saffron crocus (
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  • Planting and flowering: from summer to autumn Bulbs are planted in the ground between August and September. This period ensures they have solid roots before winter. The flowers then appear in October or November, sometimes at the first signs of freshness. The first year, each bulb produces only one or two flowers, then production increases. The white or purple corollas, ephemeral but regular, announce autumn and prepare the harvest of stigmas, the promise of fragrant cuisine. Photo Meneerke Bloem (CC)
  • How to plant them in the garden? Choose a bright location, as crocuses love the sun. Light, well-drained soil is ideal. Work the soil to a depth of 15 cm, then place the bulbs about 10 cm below the surface, spaced about ten centimeters apart. In heavy soil, lighten the soil with a little sand or pozzolan. Cover with soil and water lightly to encourage rooting. Young shoots will appear with the first autumn rains. Photo Depositphotos
  • How much saffron should you plant to harvest? A crocus only produces three stigmas, and to obtain one gram of dried saffron, you need nearly 150 flowers. With about fifty bulbs, you'll have enough to flavor a few dishes. For a more regular harvest, plan on about a hundred bulbs. There's no need to buy large quantities of bulbs the first year: you just have to be patient, since the bulbs multiply naturally and produce more flowers each year. A small flowerbed can thus be transformed into a delicious and flowery square. Photo Depositphotos
  • How to harvest your saffron? Pick the stigmas in the morning, when the flowers open. Gently grasp the three red filaments located at the heart of each corolla. Dry them immediately in a warm, dry, and ventilated room, away from light. After two to three days, store them in a small, airtight jar. Then wait a few weeks before using them. The saffron then fully develops its aromas, ready to enhance your dishes in just a few filaments. Photo Depositphotos
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  • Maintaining and propagating saffron crocuses? After flowering, let the foliage turn yellow naturally. This phase allows the bulb to replenish its reserves. In well-drained soil, crocuses survive the winter without difficulty. Every three or four years, remove the bulbs in summer, separate the bulblets, and replant them immediately. You will then obtain new clumps, denser and more generous in flowers. With this regular cycle, your saffron crocus patch will establish itself permanently and offer you a double reward each fall: beauty and flavor. Photo Depositphotos

From the end of August, saffron crocus bulbs can be planted in the garden. These small, sturdy flowers, whether purple or white, brave the cold and offer a delicate spectacle in autumn. They have one precious asset: their red stigmas, the basis of saffron, which will enhance your dishes.

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