How to Plant Saffron
- 1). Pick out a good planting site for the saffron bulbs. Saffron does not need all-day sun, but you should
choose a location that will provide about four to six hours of sunlight a day. - 2). Remove all vegetation from the planting site using a garden hoe. Then use a shovel or garden fork to turn over the soil to a depth of about 10 inches.
- 3). Test the soil in the planting site for drainage. Growing saffron successfully requires excellent drainage. Otherwise the bulbs can rot. Dig a hole approximately 6 inches deep and about the same width. Pour enough water into the hole to fill it. If the water does not drain from the hole in three hours, you will require a raised bed to improve drainage.
- 4). Lay out over the topsoil in the planting site a 3-inch layer of decomposed steer manure, compost, ground bark or other like matter. Use the fork or shovel to mix the amendment down into the soil about 6 to 8 inches. If you need to create a raised bed to improve drainage, lay out a 3-inch layer of coarse sand after you have incorporated the organic matter. Mound the coarse sand and other organic matter together to form a 6-inch-high raised bed.
- 5). Dig one 4-inch hole for each saffron bulb. Each hole should be approximately 3 inches apart.
- 6). Place a saffron bulb in each hole with the pointy side up. Then cover the bulb with about 3 inches of topsoil.
- 7). Water the planting bed thoroughly using either a sprinkler head attached to the end of the garden hose or a watering can.
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