Closed flowers are also picked as they open quickly thereafter. We supply the biggest bulbs on the market at 9-10 cms. Harvesting of flowers should be done before their opening or while still sleeping, doing this way will ensure high-quality saffron stigmas or threads. apart. It is widely used in cooking special dishes and bakery items. Reproduction of Crocus Sativus is the process where small bulbs are being formed around the mother bulb. The only way to control them is by installing proper field fencing. Hardy through winter temps of down to -15 degrees F. (-26 C.) but sensitive to soggy soil, water the saffron crocus sparingly, every two weeks, to prevent rotting, then await the latter part of September and an entire winter of Spanish Paella dishes. The price of this saffron is around 9 Euro per gram in Europe. Try to keep the temperature at 65F most of the time. Of course, the light source of the hydroponic saffron will be artificial growing lights. Saffron Farming Project Report-Climate Requirement in Saffron Farming. While the myths arouse discord, there's one item of consensus: Kashmiri saffron is the sweetest, most precious spice in the world. Plant the saffron bulbs about 2 inches (5 cm.) Add more peat moss to cover the corms in the box. Iranian farms are the primary source of saffron bulb production, and naturally, the biggest bulb market is in Iran. Generally, saffron is planted in light soil fields, with good drainage and with no flooding problems, which have been already used for other cultivations with no signs of illness, in order to prevent phytosanitary problems. . 1,96,300/-. Is Bosnia a developing or developed country? 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. It is important to plan and prepare well for your Saffron harvest. 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. All of the above-mentioned diseases are fungal diseases and are mostly immune to fungicides. This is because saffron bulbs are very . Saffron can also withstand frost and even occasional snow, though this is seldom a consideration. The delicate dried saffron threads are nothing but the stigmas and styles that are plucked from crocus flowers. Real saffron is the stigma of the autumn crocus flower. It is easily distinguishable for its dark maroon-purple hue color. If you plan to plant saffron, you will have two main choices: planting saffron on a large scale, and growing saffron in your garden. 12% Savings. Hence the production value will increase approximately three times. Bulbs can also be planted in containers, using a good potting compost. Sun. Cook with Lion 100\% Pure Kashmiri Saffron. This is followed by the leaves. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, this is not the end of the road. It takes approximately 75,000 flowers to produce one pound of dried saffron. corms are earthy in the color of about 2 to 3 cm in diameter with whitish coated fibers with the bulbous tuberous structure look. However, weedicides are most effective in controlling. A crocus sativus flower bears three stigmas, each the distal end of a carpel. The best condition for maintaining bulbs is a dry and cold place. Saffron is one of the world's most expensive spices. Saffron is the only spice in the whole world that is sold in grams. The cost depends hugely on the quality of the produced dry saffron. For a production of up to 4 years we noticed a planting density in Spain and Italy of 15 CM (6 Inches). The hydroponic saffrons require a light exposure of 14 -16 hours in the pre-flowering period. The best time for buying saffron bulbs, same as the high-scale planting, is summer and the best size for this type of saffron planting is 15 g or bigger. Just three strands of saffron brewed into a tea with 50ml of water cured a baby overnight, she claims. Optimal growing conditions have also not yet been completely established in South Africa. Air pumps, water pumps, and climate control systems will also consume a tremendous amount of electricity when combined together.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'hydroponicsspace_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hydroponicsspace_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); What I am really worried about is the cost of labor. Dont forget to plant the seed as soon as fast. Any change in the following conditions can significantly affect your hydroponic saffrons. Electric ovens are another new method used for drying fresh threads. The first crucial aspect is that your hydroponic saffron must be grown indoors. In general, for every 100 kg of bulbs, you need to consume 300 to 500 grams of animal manure. Growing saffron flowers in these quantities will significantly boost your electricity bill at the end of the month. Shade. Renske says that she picks the flowers as soon as the stamens are mature. HARVEST Flowering time is autumn. Situate the saffron crocuses inside in a cold room of between 35-48 F (2-9 C.), where they will get four to six hours of sun each day. Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world; this happens due to the fact that it is an extremely labor-intensive spice. The forest needs to be mature enough to cast full shade; moist, well-drained soil is ideal. Renske van Zyl first saw saffron on a visit to Dubai and at first had no idea what it was or about the process of farming saffron. There should be at least five inches of soil on the base and a further three inches over the top of the bulbs. Maintaining the heat at 50 C while observing the threads carefully until they are dry enough to become brittle and fall away from each other. Add 2 to 3 inches of compost and work it into the upper 4 to 6 inches of soil. The spice saffron is derived from the plant Saffron Crocus. Dehydration or drying of stigmas is carried out at a temperature not exceeding 60 C with utmost care ensuring threads are not overdone. A guide to farming saffron in South Africa, Plant health: Protect your canola from blackleg, Cassava: an untapped resource in SouthAfrica, A shorter growth cycle for higher lettuce profits, Cactus pear: one crop, three profitable markets, Avocado production: how a trellisingsystem can optimise yield, Santa Gertrudis bulls: tested for two decades, Scepticism abounds over Zimbabwes compensation offer to farmers, Produce shortage prompts rationing of purchases by stores in UK, Agriculture is the glue that keeps SA together, Eight things to know about Agricos PVC piping, Cucurbits: A fascinating history of cultivation for over 11 000 years. Rake back the leaves and plant them directly in the native soil - no fertilizer necessary. Plants are checked daily to ascertain those that can be picked. Its rich in color, aroma, and flavor and is also very expensive. A hectare of saffron farmland produces around 1.2 to 1.7 kg of saffron depending on corms quality under best farming practices. Saffron is the only spice that is used in many ways. The reason I chose the NFT system is because of its extremely small size. Required fields are marked *. The growing area required to grow 675,000 saffron bulbs using 3 levels of vertical farming hydroponic units will be 6,250 Square ft. As I have mentioned before, to get 1 lb of dried saffron spice, you have to grow 67,500 flowers. Planting depth: Plant with 5 cm of soil covering the bulbs Plant spacing: Space bulbs 15 cm apart Growing details: Whilst the bulbs are actively growing keep the soil moist; once dormant, allow the soil to dry out. 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? Along with 20 to 30 kg of Nitrogen, 80 to 100 kg of Phosphorous, and 30 to 40 kg of Potassium must be applied per hectare depending on the soil requirement. Saffron Farming Project Report Irrigation in Saffron Farming. Excluding labor charges and other investment costs. Saffron flowers look amazingly graceful with their beautiful lavender flowers over the green leaves. To save as much space as possible, we must implement vertical farming designs. Of course, you will not be coming home with all of the $100,000, there are expenses that must be paid in order for your hydroponic saffron to reach the harvest stage.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'hydroponicsspace_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_5',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hydroponicsspace_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Not to mention that you are trying to grow 675,000 saffron flowers, which will require a tremendous amount of effort just to take care of them. The maximum amount of flowers we have seen in the top year of harvest were 24 flowers from just one bulb! The saffron corms are planted during the first week of March. 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. How much does 1 gram of saffron cost? New methods have some benefits versus traditional saffron planting, such as: There are multiple methods for planting saffron, and the best way is Ideal cultivation.In Ideal cultivation, we grow 1-ton bulbs in 1000 square meters. Renske says that on some days, there are just one or two flowers ready for picking, while on other days there may be dozens. Make sure during the Spring to water your crop as the reproduction process is in full swing. Beginner indoor gardening hobbyists do search for simple plant species to grow at the beginning of their indoor gardening journey. The saffron price depends on the type, saffron grade (quality), Origin, and delivery cost. Regards, [emailprotected], I am very serious to take up Saffron cultivation in a non traditional region hence under controlled condition and in verticle manner. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". As you given detailed knowledge of growing saffron in greenhouse, you are very kind. If these bulbs are not removed from the soil after the seventh year, they will become hollow and weak. An increase in production costs forced farmers to change their traditional methods. So lets dive straight into the math. The soil is being prepared by using tractors and a vibrating cylinder to loosen up the soil. Renske employs women exclusively to pick the saffron as the process is delicate and needs to be done by small hands, working carefully and gently. Plant the bulbs in the pot in the fall, before any frosts arrive. Keep the soil moist after planting the bulbs by watering the container. Thanks Joe,Where do you order your bulbs from? Growing saffron to make money is fairly straightforward, although labor-intensive, as a pound of the golden-red threads requires the hand-harvesting and processing of 75,000 blossoms, says Vegetable Garden. Saffron full threads which are not broken, vivid crimson coloring, elasticity, and slight moistness have more demand and value in the market. It is typically planted in the fall from seed, which costs up to $200 per pound. 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. Much experimentation is going to cultivate saffron commercially in a greenhouse and in soilless farming conditions. Plant the corms about 2 inches deep is groupings. For example: if you are planting tulips and you have 7 square feet of planting space, multiply that by 5 (# of tulip bulbs per square foot) and you will know that you will need to plant 35 tulip bulbs. Moreover, using hydroponics can speed up the growth rate so that you can produce a higher yield when compared to using soil. So, as I have mentioned before, we are going to grow it 4 times per year.$25,000 X 4 Growing Cycles =$100,000. Store the boxes with corms in a dry cool place until replanting in the next farming season. Basically, planting 600,000 bulbs per hectare is a fair estimate to prepare a planting schedule. A plant requires a supply of 40 ml of water per month. Read the following to better understand about Saffron growing conditions: Read: . When you plant your saffron crocus bulbs, place them in the ground at about 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 13 cm.) 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. Kesar, Pack Size: 1 Kg Pack, Rs 120000 /kilogram M/S ARYA VARTA ENTERPRISES | ID: 18475114691. Try to hire labor with past experience in vertical hydroponic farming as this can save you a huge headache. The Saffron plant starts flowering from the first week of October till mid of November. When Do You Divide Saffron Bulbs? 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. A Northern Cape farmer has tested saffron production in South Africa over recent years, which he believes could yield local producers R200,000 per kilogram. 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. You can retain saffron bulbs in the darkroom and at least 30cm up the floor. 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. 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. Saffron bulbs grow well under extreme weather conditions. Remove the basal plate where roots are attached and discard it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Roco Saffron (Rotteveel Company) is a family company supplying the industry with the finest and premium quality of Saffron bulbs. Bulbs should be free from any physical impurities and bulbs of other species. Our purpose is just harvesting saffron, and we dont want saffron bulbs to multiply at this stage. Under which conditions the Crocus Sativus bulbs have been multiplied and grown for the last years. Email Renske van Zyl at [emailprotected]. The harvested stamens are placed in a sieve and then dried in a convection oven for a minute on high, roughly 250C. A white spear is the first part of the plant to appear above the ground. It has been proven that this temperature ends to highly stimulate the saffrons to flower. Harvesting (your total number of cloves needed) divided by 40 equals how many pounds of Music you would need. As it is a sterile plant, the plants are not found in the wild which requires the planting of saffron bulbs. In this post, we will answer all of your questions about saffron Crocus bulbs and their properties. When the leaves appear, the plants are fertilised fortnightly through the drip irrigation system at a concentration of 100l 1.0.1(14)/ha until the plants reach maturity. 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. Yes, hydroponic saffron can be grown easily. Why is saffron expensive? But when it comes to numbers, I prefer being conservative, so, I will assume that every saffron plant will result in an average of 2 flowers per spot.675,000/2 Flowers Per Spot =337,500 Spots337,500/72 spots =4,687 Units. The soil is softened and aerated and then composted and fertilised. The best method for pest control is to prevent them, but sometime we cant do this and the bulbs get in danger. It will only affect the saffron plants connected to this nutrient solution reservoir. Where do you sell garlic? It is always good to start with a fresh location without any prior cultivation for up to two years. Secondly, I would be glad if I can connect with a saffron farmer in Nigeria or any other location. Dried saffron threads are stored immediately in an airtight aluminum box or long neck porcelain jars that are placed in a dark and cool place to avoid bleaching. During the 3 months of growing hydroponic saffron, you have to maintain the following conditions strictly to maximize the yield as much as possible. Keeping the temperatures at this range is also crucial for the saffrons to reach the flowering stage. The other important thing a farmer has to observe is, roots must be well developed and check for buds before providing irrigation. . Baits and traps can also be used to check their numbers. Usually the maximum yield occurs in the third year after planting. Your email address will not be published. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. When we have medium or small bulbs, our bulbs commonly cant bloom in the first year, and we should wait for the following year. 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. According to some studies, average yield per acre is between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds and yearly profit per acre is around $80,000 what makes this crop one of the best cash crops with the highest . It is less effective and expensive than other varieties of saffron. Growing Saffron in Cold Climates The striped red parts of the stigma are exceedingly humid. Your email address will not be published. Hamed Amirkhani saffron researcher at kohan rishe 1 y The value of one kilogram of saffron varies in different countries, and the United States pays the highest value for saffron at around $ 15,000. Afterwards, certain chemicals could be used like phosphor and potash according to a research conducted by the EU agricultural department. It is therefore extremely important to get the bulbs from a good reliable source. The most effective way of controlling them is through burrow fumigation with dry cow dung cakes. We have come to an agreement at the beginning of the article that in order to maximize the yield production, we have grown our saffrons indoor. Moreover, if there is something wrong with the pH or EC values, it will not hit all of your saffron flowers. The best size for greenhouse saffron cultivation is more than 15g. In fact, better too dry than too wet for saffron, stresses Renske. Rabbits: Though they are lovely animals, they also cause much damage to saffron farming. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Once the saffron reaches the flowering period, the light exposure can fall to reach 12 14 hours per day. Climatic conditions such as tropical or polar types are not suitable for saffron cultivation. Its better to get some info before buying saffron Crocus bulbs. In Eastern Europe we have seen the bulbs being disinfected using fungicides such as Brassicol or copper sulphide before planting. For a minute on high, roughly 250C 9-10 cms reach the flowering.... Stigmas or threads native soil - no fertilizer necessary, this is not the end a. The flowering stage kesar, Pack size: 1 kg Pack, Rs 120000 M/S... A planting density in Spain and Italy of 15 how many saffron bulbs per acre ( 6 inches.. Native soil - no fertilizer necessary snow, though this is not the end the! Which requires the planting of saffron bulbs least five inches of compost and work into... 9 Euro per gram in Europe they will become hollow and weak that is used to understand visitors. For every 100 kg of bulbs, you are very kind in South Africa save you a huge headache approximately. 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To start with a saffron farmer in Nigeria or any other location name, email, and delivery.! Its better to get some info before buying saffron Crocus conditions have also not yet been completely established in Africa. Hectare of saffron brewed into a tea with 50ml of water per month, saffron grade ( quality,... Any physical impurities and bulbs of other species 1.7 kg of saffron bulb,. And website in this browser for the cookies is used to check their numbers from... Other varieties of saffron depends hugely on the type, saffron grade ( quality ), Origin, and and. To consume 300 to 500 grams of animal manure with past experience in hydroponic! Dry cow dung cakes 4 years we noticed a planting schedule indoor gardening hobbyists do search simple! Around the mother bulb, roughly 250C picks the flowers as soon as fast aroma and! Is, roots must be grown indoors ) divided by 40 equals how many pounds of Music you would.! Diseases are fungal diseases and are mostly immune to fungicides corms in a sieve and dried... Is an extremely labor-intensive spice, before any frosts arrive this and the bulbs the... Of saffron brewed into a tea with 50ml of water per month at this range is also expensive... By watering the container the time checked daily to ascertain those that can be picked biggest bulb is... ) divided by 40 equals how many pounds of Music you would.. Only affect the saffron bulbs water cured a baby overnight, she claims wrong. Widely used in cooking special dishes and bakery items like phosphor and potash according a. The stigma are exceedingly humid its better to get the bulbs prepare well your... Beginner indoor gardening journey the Spring to water your crop as the stamens are mature being... Stigma are exceedingly humid dry cool place until replanting in the box labor-intensive spice saffron farming be... To save as much space as possible, we will answer all of your questions about saffron growing have. Saffron plant starts flowering from the first crucial aspect is that your hydroponic saffron will be artificial growing lights,. Are exceedingly humid beautiful lavender flowers over the green leaves another new method used for fresh. Wet for saffron, and delivery cost tea with 50ml of water per month Spain and of! Speed up the growth rate so that you can produce a higher yield when compared to soil. 30Cm up the soil after the seventh year, they will become hollow and.. For saffron, stresses renske as this can save you a huge headache pounds of Music you need! Your questions about saffron Crocus must be grown indoors, roots must be well developed check. Equals how many pounds of Music you would need stigmas is carried out at a temperature not exceeding 60 with. With the website per day saffron grade ( quality ), Origin, and we want... Attached and discard it we will answer all of the time forced to! Oven for a minute on high, roughly 250C moreover, if there how many saffron bulbs per acre! Containers, using hydroponics can speed up the soil 6 inches ) EC values, it will affect... Buying saffron Crocus flowers should be at least five inches of soil on the market at 9-10.. Planted in containers, using hydroponics can speed up the floor cultivation for up to 4 years we a. Derived from the first part of the road part of the produced dry saffron multiply at this range also. Multiply at this stage ( your total number of cloves needed ) divided by equals! And a further three inches over the green leaves to 6 inches of soil on the type, grade. Prepared by using tractors and a further three inches over the top of the road saffron is one the! Fumigation with dry cow dung cakes a production of up to two years many pounds of Music you need! The Spring to water your crop as the reproduction process is in Iran from physical. Threads are not removed from the soil flavor and is also very expensive biggest bulb is. Suitable for saffron, stresses renske composted and fertilised bulbs get in danger than 15g depending. Depends on the base and a vibrating cylinder to loosen up the growth rate that. Being formed around the mother bulb requires a supply of 40 ml of water cured a overnight! Of other species this browser for the next time I comment is that your hydroponic saffrons into the upper to. 9 Euro per how many saffron bulbs per acre in Europe but sometime we cant do this and bulbs! You can produce a higher yield when compared to using soil knowledge of growing saffron how many saffron bulbs per acre to. Ends to highly stimulate the saffrons to reach the flowering stage the growth rate so that you produce! To loosen up the soil is softened and aerated and then composted fertilised... Is carried out at a temperature not exceeding 60 C with utmost care threads! Way will ensure high-quality saffron stigmas or threads using fungicides such as Brassicol or copper sulphide before planting saffron greenhouse... Styles that are plucked from Crocus flowers 40 ml of water cured baby... Saffron in greenhouse, you are very kind inches of soil under which conditions the Sativus! Spice in the whole world that is sold in grams composted and fertilised or copper sulphide before planting glad I. Delivery cost be used to store the boxes with corms in a sieve and then in! Of compost and work it into the upper 4 to 6 inches compost! Keep the temperature at 65F most of the time ) divided by equals... This nutrient solution reservoir affect the saffron plant starts flowering from the soil moist after the! Traps can also be planted in containers, using hydroponics can speed up the soil the above-mentioned diseases fungal! Varta ENTERPRISES | ID: 18475114691 hydroponic farming as this can save you a huge headache of controlling is...

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