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by Amanda

Saffron CrocusAs someone who loves to cook, I found myself gazing longingly at the wonderful Saffron recipes that I would love to make but couldn’t because Saffron was just too expensive! I never knew, until my time at American Meadows, that growing Saffron is an easy and affordable solution to this problem. Besides harvesting the threads and drying to add flavor to your favorite dishes, Saffron Crocus are a beautiful fall-blooming flower that bring an unexpected splash of color to your garden.

Growing Saffron Crocus is simple and almost instantly rewarding. They are to be planted now, just 2” deep, and will come up and bloom within 4-6 weeks. The great thing about these bulbs is that they can be grown by virtually every type of gardener: from expert gardeners with plenty of space, to novices or those who may only have a balcony or windowsill. Saffron Crocus will thrive if planted in the ground or containers—indoors or out. All they ask for is plenty of sun! Once they come up and impress you with their brilliant purple blooms, you can pluck the bright red stamens from the middle of the flower. The best way to dry the stamens is to set them on a paper towel in a sunny area for about 6-8 hours. You can then store them in an air-tight container until you are ready to add them to your favorite recipe!

Saffron Crocus KitYou will be pleasantly surprised at how far Saffron will go. One bag of 15 Saffron Crocus bulbs will produce about 30-40 stamens, which will go a long way in flavoring your dishes. We offer the Saffron Crocus in bags of 15, or in a charming kit with a copper pot and 5 bulbs. For those who want an affordable way to cook with Saffron, or to brighten up their fall months with beautiful blooms, these bulbs are delightful solution. I have included one of my favorite recipes below to try once you have dried the stamens out and are ready to reap the benefits of your labor, however easy it was! What is your favorite Saffron recipe? Share your recipe or link with other gardeners below.

Recipe courtesy of Melissa Roberts, found at epicurious.com:

Happy Gardening, from your friends at American Meadows.