Growing Saffron in Cold Climates Each order contains 25 top size saffron crocus bulbs. Plant bulbs in groups or clusters rather than spacing them in a single line along a walkway or border. Your email address will not be published. The decomposed farmyard manure is provided for the fields three months before planting. Each plant bears about two to three flowers. Your email address will not be published. With 6,250 square ft. of 3 levels vertical hydroponic system, growing 675,000 saffron bulbs is a doable goal to achieve. However, the heavy clayey soil is not suitable for saffron cultivation while moisture-retaining soils are also not a necessity as medium moisture during the growing stage and extreme dryness during summer are highly favorable conditions leading to better production. With the current price of saffron being Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh per kilogram, this could mean a huge profit to the farmers. So please make sure that everything is well monitored constantly. Required fields are marked *. Give your plants an easy start by setting your corms in the soil with the pointy side up. Saffron: This is far and away the most popular fall-flowering crocus, and here's why. But there are no special machines available for collecting these. No one had ever considered the process offarmingsaffron in South Africa, and there was no advice on offer. Sometimes saffron bulbs are sold by soil and in this condition related to the percent of soil, we can estimate the number of bulbs. Saffron crocus have rich, violet-purple blossoms with brilliant orange/red stigmas that are the source of the aromatic, exotic and pricey (!) The intensity of color, aroma, and flavor is derived from three active ingredients crocin, safranal, and picrocrocin that are present in the saffron stigmas. Climatic conditions such as tropical or polar types are not suitable for saffron cultivation. The best criterion for classifying saffron Crocus bulbs is their size. The cured bulbs should be placed in clean cardboard boxes or burlap bags and stored at 32-35F and 65-75 percent relative humidity. Keeping the temperatures at this range is also crucial for the saffrons to reach the flowering stage. Cost $160.00 - 28.35 gr = (ounce) = $ 5.64 per gram. Economics in Saffron Farming:Investment and Maintenance pattern on Saffron farming in the one-acre land. 20 Bulbs Fall-Planted | Ships in Fall. Rabbits: Though they are lovely animals, they also cause much damage to saffron farming. In order to earn profits, you have to grow plants with a high retail price, and what is more expensive than saffron. The top threads will be dark red in color while the bottom is dark orange in color. In Asia, Europe and North Africa, saffron (Crocus sativus) is renowned for its unique, delicate flavouring of food, while in Morocco it is used as a potent leather dye. Many homesteaders have found that a fallow acre, planted with saffron crocus, becomes an annual source of supplemental income. Kesar, Pack Size: 1 Kg Pack, Rs 120000 /kilogram M/S ARYA VARTA ENTERPRISES | ID: 18475114691. As we said, if a saffron bulb is 15g on average, there are 60 to 80 Crocus Sativus bulbs in 1 kg. The above numbers are for the harvest stage only, I didnt mention the amount of labor needed just to take care of the entire saffron crop during the 3-month growing period. 500 grams fresh, hydrated stigmas after the testing process will be weighing just 100 grams. Rich lands are limited, and human resource isnt ideal. But University of Rhode Island agriculture researchers have found that Ocean State farms have the potential to get a share of [] Although we are living in modern times, the tradition of harvesting Saffron flowers tells us that in most cases the harvesting is still being carried out by hand. Saffron, the most expensive spice, is usually sold by the gram just a small cluster of slender red threads in a tiny glass bottle. Being so expensive, it is also called red gold. Extreme winters will dry-freeze the leaves, causing less development of corms leading to less production for the next harvest. To prevent these diseases, farmers have to dig up the corms to be replanted in other farming sites. I have built a small NFT system for basil to start with and I am trying to figure out what a good NFT system would be for Saffron. There are a few farmers who started cultivating saffron in a greenhouse and making profits in small farmlands. Maintain the room temperature of about 32 to 36 C for about 10 to 12 hours for bulk drying of saffron fresh threads. It made me wonder, can we grow saffron hydroponically? A crocus sativus flower bears three stigmas, each the distal end of a carpel. The harvested flowers are then brought for stripping. My goal is to make HydroponicsSpace.com the go-to resource for newbies to learn everything about hydroponic systems. Fortunately, the weather in the area cold wet winters and dry hot summers is ideal for growing saffron. It is clear to see that reproduction occurs in the Spring time: On the right image you can see an example of an healthy Crocus Sativus bulbs filled with Daughter Bulbs of Crocus Sativus. Garlic Sampler SHIPS IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. Saffron is a perennial herbaceous plant and is mainly used as a seasoning and coloring agent. The striped red parts of the stigma are exceedingly humid. Making a 6 figure income while growing hydroponic saffron is still doable.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'hydroponicsspace_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hydroponicsspace_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'hydroponicsspace_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',108,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hydroponicsspace_com-banner-1-0_1');.banner-1-multi-108{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. The figures in this saffron farming project report are not accurate, but to give an understanding to young entrepreneurs on investment and the returns of the saffron business project. Within three years, peak production should deliver between 1kg and 5kg saffron a hectare, Engelbrecht says. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. A lot of you have been asking about how to get extra income from growing hydroponic plants. Growing saffron flowers in these quantities will significantly boost your electricity bill at the end of the month. Also, work 5-10-5 ratio fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil at a rate of 1-pound per every 100 square . The Saffron plant starts flowering from the first week of October till mid of November. The corms are hand-planted 10cm deep and about 25cm apart, and 40cm spaces are left between rows. Step 3: To plant, dig a hole 2-4" deep for each bulb. How much saffron can you harvest per hectare? Saffron Farming Project Report Marketing of Saffron. Iran Spain India Greece Azerbaijan Morocco Italy. Whatever saffron corms stay out of the soil probability of contamination gets increased and a big part of our investment gets in danger. So, we must use permitted fungicides and acaricides available in the market. Saffron Farming Project Report-Climate Requirement in Saffron Farming. . Bulb size 10/+ CM (Measured by the circumference of the Saffron bulbs) is a scarce bulb size available on the market. Moreover, using hydroponics can speed up the growth rate so that you can produce a higher yield when compared to using soil. The drip irrigation rate is 4l/h, with drippers spaced 0,6m apart and the plants are watered when necessary. This is important that we buy saffron bulbs where, when, and from who. Gather the saffron corms by hand-picking from the loosened soil. Each year, they are replanted. Saffron can be stored for a long duration. Jay Ferreira reports. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. While the sterile flowers are delicate, they only need 250mm to 300m in irrigation, are frost resistant and can withstand temperatures of minus 15 degrees Celsius. Assuming that we are getting a price of $2,500 per pound, we will end up with $25,000 in sales per quarter.10 lbs X $2,500 =$25,000, Saffron has a growing period of 3 months to reach the harvest stage. Can you give me an email address to come in touch with you? For large saffron farming; sprinklers or drip irrigation is recommended. For saffron farming in Kashmir valley, provide three irrigations on a weekly basis at the time of sprouting and provide three irrigations on a weekly basis at the post-flowering stage. In order to reach the 6 figure mark growing saffron, you have to take several things into consideration. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Plants are checked daily to ascertain those that can be picked. The most interesting part is that all the daughter produce new flowers the following season in the Fall. Increase quantity for Saffron - Crocus Bulbs (Sativus) +. No longer found in the wild, likely native to the northeastern Mediterranean, saffron crocus is grown in gardens and in commercial fields to yield flowers for harvest. Plant the bulbs 10-15cm (4-6in) deep and the same distance apart in late summer in well-prepared soil with lots of added bulky organic matter, such as planting compost. Renske says that on some days, there are just one or two flowers ready for picking, while on other days there may be dozens. This planting density comes down to approximately 60 bulbs per m2 by using a 10/+ CM size of Saffron bulb. Nowadays Dehydrators are used for drying saffron threads. Sold Out. Fresh saffron stigma threads must be dried well to get a high-quality final product. For Renske, growing saffron is likely to remain a hobby, albeit an expensive one. Moreover, you will learn more about the most optimum growing conditions that will boost your saffron yield dramatically. The stigma threads in the middle of a saffron flower are the most important part of the entire plant. Afterwards, certain chemicals could be used like phosphor and potash according to a research conducted by the EU agricultural department. The maximum amount of flowers we have seen in the top year of harvest were 24 flowers from just one bulb! You can retain saffron bulbs in the darkroom and at least 30cm up the floor. Fill the container with loamy soil, the soil plays an important role as soggy ones will not do well. Saffron Farming Project Report Spacing in Saffron Farming. Leahsgarden@gmail.com. The timing and duration of each stage depends on the climatic conditions. In general, large bulbs such as most tulips, hyacinths and daffodils should be spaced 6 inches apart, or 5 bulbs per square foot. The spacing between each bed can be 25 cm. As it is a low volume turnout crop in Indian agriculture, the commercial activity of saffron is termed as Golden Zest. There are still some aspects you will need to get informed about. 1. Some saffron growing conditions are as follows: Temperature: -15C to +40C (Saffron tolerates up to -30 degrees well) Climate: Preferably hot and dry PH: 7-7.5 Soil pattern: sandy-loamy soil and well-drained Water and soil should not be salty The best yield of saffron at an altitude of 1300 to 2300 meters The forest needs to be mature enough to cast full shade; moist, well-drained soil is ideal. Saffron plants are heat tolerant they can survive in temperatures up to 40 C. March to May is the actual activity season of the plant while May month is the flowering time. The traditional saffron planting method is based on human sources and doesnt use the sources as efficiently. when we harvest saffron bulbs from the soil, they are stacked together, and we should separate them while planting. But the strategy of Iran isnt exporting saffron seeds, and their priority is preserving the bulbs source. Your email address will not be published. To get 1 lb of dried saffron threads, you have to harvest the stigmas of around 67,500 Crocus Sativus flowers. During our travels visiting customers we have seen many different growing techniques and important steps to be taken before starting a new Saffron bulb crop. Each blossom yields only three stigmas, which must be picked by hand. Our cooperation with the Dutch company Roco Saffron began in order to supply Bulbs needed by American farmers. Harvest flowers by pinching off at the base early mornings while still closed. Harvesting 675,000 saffron bulbs can be extremely overwhelming if not done properly. With thanks to the study carried out by europeansaffron.eu/archivos. If you grow them in nursery pots or milk crates lined with fabric, put down a 4-inch layer of topsoil, set 11 bulbs pointy-side up, then cover with another 2 inches of topsoil. culinary spice saffron. The quality of the saffron spice mainly lies in the experience of the toaster who will undertake the toasting process. Saffron bulbs thrive well under extreme weather conditions. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I wish to start growing saffron and see how well it does before I commit to full time production I know that 675,000 flower bulbs can be overwhelming, and it is actually a huge number of flowers, but the reward, in the end, will be extremely lucrative.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'hydroponicsspace_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hydroponicsspace_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); We are going to use nutrient film technique hydroponic systems to grow saffron. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The flowers have to be protected from the sheep and small antelope on the farm, but moles are the only actual pest encountered so far. I am interested in saffron farming please videos of safron farming. Note, all the small daughter bulbs will produce flowers in the Fall, hence more Saffron! But farming Saffron is also a work in progress for me.All the saffron Renske grows is bought by a Namibian restaurant owner for its high quality, though she does keep some for her own use. So, can we grow saffron hydroponically? The plant appears with foliage in early spring, but with no flowers. Planting is usually done in the month of June / July . About 40 days after planting, purple flowers appear at ground level. Growing this number of saffron bulbs will result in the production of 10 lbs of dried saffron threads per growing period. Before getting started check your source of the Saffron bulbs. Much experimentation is going to cultivate saffron commercially in a greenhouse and in soilless farming conditions. In semi-dry soils, proper land irrigation is provided during drought autumn, and spring. Plants are grown by corm multiplication as saffron is sterile. Each crocus bulb produces only one flower and each flower only produces 3 stigmas. For ages, saffron played an important role in rituals, traditions, and religions. At one time, some reports placed the wholesale price at around $100 per pound and the retail price at 80 cents per gram, or $365 a pound. Harvesting of flowers should be done before their opening or while still sleeping, doing this way will ensure high-quality saffron stigmas or threads. . From experience we have seen many different crops reaching different results from the reproduction of Crocus Sativus bulbs. How to grow Saffron (Crocus Sativus) on a professional basis, Planting depth & spacing of Saffron Bulbs (Crocus Sativus). Crocus Sativus bulbs which are fresh and have not been used for Saffron production, grown on a yearly rotated location have proven to have far more reproduction capacity. In areas of the world where saffron is grown, such as Spain, Portugal, France, and India, an annual yield of 8-10 pounds of dried saffron per acre is obtained in an established planting. How many Saffron Bulbs in 1 kg? You can maintain saffron bulbs in the darkroom and at least 30cm up the floor. Single flowers get lost in the landscape. The nutrient solution of hydroponic saffron must be kept at a pH of 5.5. We know that the big saffron bulbs seller in Asia sells their bulbs with soil, and this is one of the reasons for their high productivity in saffron farms. Bulbs should be spaced at least 15cm (6in) apart in all directions. As a result, the spice is difficult to harvest and expensive to purchase. Iranian farms are the primary source of saffron bulb production, and naturally, the biggest bulb market is in Iran. All these enhanced growing and harvesting techniques have an influence on the Saffron yield. Hi Joe.Great article you wrote, much appreciated!I have a few questions around growing Saffron Indoors. In fact, better too dry than too wet for saffron, stresses Renske. Achieve about 10% moisture using dehydration machines or any other drying method. In recent years, the spice, saffron, has become increasingly expensive, (often as high as $70 oz.) New bulbs about two to three or even more are formed each season and this is how the plants are increased and multiplied. Beds are created at 5 X 10meters of 6X10 meters. Take a look at the 8 Best Saffron Brands in India 2022. Usually, early mornings are an ideal time to pick up flowers by cutting them with the aid of fingernails. In this post, we will answer all of your questions about saffron Crocus bulbs and their properties. Saffron Crocus bulbs If you're growing on a commercial scale, plant the saffron bulbs at a spacing of 60 corms per square metre and it's estimated that you can harvest 6-10kg of saffron per hectar (2.5 acres) with a retail value of up to 2,600. Moreover, the EC should be 1.4. Our purpose is just harvesting saffron, and we dont want saffron bulbs to multiply at this stage. The next important factor about saffron bulbs is the health of the bulb. 1). We see in La Mancha, Spain the flowering starting mid October. Saffron Farming Project Report- Harvesting and Storing of Saffron Corms. Dont forget to plant the seed as soon as fast. apart. Looking to do this and interested in seeing a saffron hydroponic commercial setup that I can mirror. If you would take my advice, I highly encourage separating the nutrient solution of every NFT unit. Harvesting the Saffron flowers is a time consuming job and it can definitely impact the yield of your Saffron harvest. Space 12 bulbs per square foot. An average saffron plant can grow to reach around 8 to 12.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'hydroponicsspace_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hydroponicsspace_com-leader-1-0');4,687 Units X 4 Square ft. =18,748 Square ft.18,748 Square ft./ 3 Levels =6,250 Square ft. agrifarming November 18, 2018 At 5:26 am. Instead of having one massive central reservoir that contains the nutrient solution of the entire saffron crop, try separating it into several small reservoirs. To harvest in April May, planting of corms should be initiated in late January or early February. Each flower has 3 stamens (or threads), each flower is picked by hand, and each flower is de-threaded by hand. Basically, planting 600,000 bulbs per hectare is a fair estimate to prepare a planting schedule. Place the crocus bulbs with the pointed tip facing upwards in the soil followed by adding more soil over it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dear Leah, we provide a healthy and excellent crop of Saffron (Crocus Sativus) bulbs. By doing it this way, you will minimize the risk of messing up the entire yield. After planting, water well. Saffron bulbs are still a product of nature and very much alive even though the bulbs seem dormant. Required fields are marked *. Heavy clay soils may need the addition of sharp grit or gritty sand to improve drainage. From the start, it proved a challenge for Renske and her husband, Jan, who have a wine farm near Vredendal in Namaqualand. . So that we can look for maximum yield, using layered farming in hydroponics.. Anyone done saffron indoor commercially? If there is some of your systems got infected by a disease, it can be transmitted to the entire saffron plant immediately. I think it has to do with too much water because this crop hates wet conditions. I have saffron in Greece and i have some questions. It is used in many dishes as a color and flavor agent. Place the crocus bulbs with the pointed tip facing upwards in the soil followed by adding more soil over it. Thousands of corns yield just a few grams of saffron. But to grow that many crocus flowers takes just a quarter acre of land, . Plant the saffron bulbs about 2 inches (5 cm.) Five gallon bucket of hemp oil costs around $150 and potential returns for hemp fiber range from $170 (low yield) to $759 (high yield) per acre. Of course, you will have to make sure things are running smoothly on your journey of earning profits growing hydroponic saffron, and thats why I decided to write this article so that it can be a guide for everyone to follow.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'hydroponicsspace_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hydroponicsspace_com-medrectangle-4-0'); In this article, I will show you in detail how can you reach the 6 figure income milestone while growing hydroponic saffron. His company is now making saffron bulbs available for around R450,000 for 150,000 of these so-called corms, which . Saffron bulbs taken out of the ground for sale are usually 8 to 30g. The soil on the farm, too, was well-suited to the crop, which demands well-drained, sandy soils. Lucky for us, we have crops like saffron that have a relatively high price and can reward us with a profitable income at the end of the season. apart. 12% Savings. It is exclusively cultivated in the Navelli valley and Sardinia regions in Italy while Iran is the largest producer of this saffron in the world. You can grow hydroponic saffron and due to its extremely high price, you can earn a tremendous amount of profits that can reach 6 figures every year. No, There is no need to separate the straw around the bulbs and it is better to plant the bulbs in the same way in the soil. Clearly, for wholesale (minimum 100 grams), it is much lower. Pre-purchase saffron bulbs for 2023 before Roco Saffrons capacity runs out. All other periods during the year Saffron bulbs requires low quantities of water. (your total number of cloves needed) divided by 40 equals how many pounds of Music you would need. Drying Saffron is among the most expensive, if not the most expensive spice out there. Saffron can also withstand frost and even occasional snow, though this is seldom a consideration. Cooled dry threads are then wrapped either in tissue or foil papers and kept in airtight jars or Aluminum containers for at least 30 days before they can be used. Real saffron can cost you over $10,000 per kilogram. Together with the styles stalks that connect the stigmas to their host plant the dried stigmas are used in cooking as a seasoning and colouring agent. Picked-up flowers are collected in baskets that are made of reed, bamboo, willow, or rattan materials to avoid flower contamination. The pot should be relatively deep and spacious. As soon as summer starts the leaves dry up and the plant becomes dormant. The traditional old way is drying stigmas over hot coals. The fungal infection starts from the third or fourth year of plantation. Disclosure. Saffron is expensive for two reasons (1) labour intensiveness; (2) rarity. After receiving the bulbs, i plant them, then flower, then harvest.. How do I keep perform a perpetual harvest? We know the bulbs are inactive at this time and getting them out of the ground does not cause them stress. So, lets do the math and calculate how many NFT units are we going to use in order to grow 675,000 saffron bulbs. In winters and summer, wood mice and voles are fond of corms so they gather corms by digging tunnels under the ground causing greater damage to saffron farming. The feedback was surprising and gratifying: everyone said it was the best quality saffron they had ever tasted. Under which conditions the Crocus Sativus bulbs have been multiplied and grown for the last years. Saffron bulbs grow well under extreme weather conditions. If you use the following discount code in your purchase, you will get a 5% discount on your purchase from Roco and you will receive the saffron farm management e-book for free. An increase in production costs forced farmers to change their traditional methods. PLANTING DENSITY PER M2. Required fields are marked *. On the contrary, sometimes we want to have a lower cost for buying bulbs; we can buy smaller bulbs and wait for the second year. The other important thing a farmer has to observe is, roots must be well developed and check for buds before providing irrigation. It will only affect the saffron plants connected to this nutrient solution reservoir. In other words, the most critical part of our investing is done on buying saffron seeds, and if we dont care about it, our investment will fail soon. . Yes, hydroponic saffron can be grown easily. Good irrigation at the time of root growth and 20 to 24 days before blooming will yield large flowers. Plant the bulbs in the pot in the fall, before any frosts arrive. It is a contagious disease and commonly called Saffrons death (mort du Safran) by local farmers in Kashmir valley. When we have medium or small bulbs, our bulbs commonly cant bloom in the first year, and we should wait for the following year. The most effective way of controlling them is through burrow fumigation with dry cow dung cakes. There are other farmers who are slowly giving a try cultivating on a small scale under greenhouse conditions in other states in India. They are to be dried up with a process known as toasting. See Full Description . While the flower is purple, the stigma is red. To give you an idea, in order to harvest 150,000 saffron flowers, you will need to pay for 40 hours of labor. We should have a strategy for our saffron farm, and we should buy saffron bulbs based on that strategy. Kashmiri saffron is excellent quality saffron in the world as it has a high content of crocin in it. Quantity. To harvest their one acre, it takes four people snipping flowers and filling baskets in the field without losing count then eight more around the table, trimming the saffron filaments away. Saffron (/ s f r n,-r n /) is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the "saffron crocus".The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food.