Anybody tried growing it? Is the crocus available? I use a fair
amount of saffron so was considering a row on the allotment.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Wasdale-Lake district-Thames path-London "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

In article , The Reids
writes
Anybody tried growing it? Is the crocus available?

Yes, it's available. You'll find it listed among the ornamental species,
but usually with reference to its use. Crocus sativus, Broadleigh bulbs
are doing 30 for about £9.

I use a fair
amount of saffron so was considering a row on the allotment.

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

The Reids wrote in
:

Anybody tried growing it? Is the crocus available? I use a fair
amount of saffron so was considering a row on the allotment.

I tried growing it when I was in Cheshire - found it difficult to get it to
flower again after the first year - first year OK, second year, only one
flower, third year, leaves....

It may be that it didn't get on with my heavy clay soil, or that it should
have been in a south facing rather than east-facing bed.

It is definitely not the easiest crocus - several other crocuses thrived
in similar conditions.

Victoria
--
gardening on a north-facing hill
in South-East Cornwall
--

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:15:31 +0100, Victoria Clare wrote:

The Reids wrote in
:

Anybody tried growing it? Is the crocus available? I use a fair
amount of saffron so was considering a row on the allotment.

I tried growing it when I was in Cheshire - found it difficult to get it to
flower again after the first year - first year OK, second year, only one
flower, third year, leaves....

It may be that it didn't get on with my heavy clay soil, or that it should
have been in a south facing rather than east-facing bed.

It is definitely not the easiest crocus - several other crocuses thrived
in similar conditions.

Victoria

I saw something on the telly a few weeks ago that said about the same
thing. They only grow for a couple of years (even in the best conditions)
and then you have to move them and not grow any more in the same spot for
something like 10 years (or whatever it is, but a pretty long time). At
least that was a commercial grower.
A crocus plantation in pots might be a better choice as you can change the
soil, but a bit impractical on an allotment.

--
Tim C.

The message . 10
from Victoria Clare contains these words:

The Reids wrote in
:

Anybody tried growing it? Is the crocus available? I use a fair
amount of saffron so was considering a row on the allotment.

I tried growing it when I was in Cheshire - found it difficult to get it to
flower again after the first year - first year OK, second year, only one
flower, third year, leaves....

It may be that it didn't get on with my heavy clay soil, or that it should
have been in a south facing rather than east-facing bed.

It is definitely not the easiest crocus - several other crocuses thrived
in similar conditions.

IIRC it used to be grown commercially in the drier sunnier SE counties
(Saffron Waldon got its name that way). I've had the same experience as
Victoria in cool damp Scotland.

Janet.

Following up to Kay

Yes, it's available. You'll find it listed among the ornamental species,
but usually with reference to its use. Crocus sativus, Broadleigh bulbs
are doing 30 for about £9.

thanks, I'll contact them.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Wasdale-Lake district-Thames path-London "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

Following up to Victoria Clare

It may be that it didn't get on with my heavy clay soil, or that it should
have been in a south facing rather than east-facing bed.

I'm on well drained soil on south sloping Kent "terroir" which
will suit bulbs better than clay, wont it.
It may not be Saffron Walden but I think it might be worth a try.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Wasdale-Lake district-Thames path-London "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

The Reids wrote:
Following up to Victoria Clare


It may be that it didn't get on with my heavy clay soil, or that it should
have been in a south facing rather than east-facing bed.


I'm on well drained soil on south sloping Kent "terroir" which
will suit bulbs better than clay, wont it.
It may not be Saffron Walden but I think it might be worth a try.

Saffron Walden is on chalk, so liming would probably help grow them
elsewhere.

Victoria Clare wrote in message .240.10...
The Reids wrote in
:

Anybody tried growing it? Is the crocus available? I use a fair
amount of saffron so was considering a row on the allotment.

I tried growing it when I was in Cheshire - found it difficult to get it to
flower again after the first year - first year OK, second year, only one
flower, third year, leaves....

It may be that it didn't get on with my heavy clay soil, or that it should
have been in a south facing rather than east-facing bed.

It is definitely not the easiest crocus - several other crocuses thrived
in similar conditions.

Victoria

Ive been told by a lady who grew it (almost) commercially that it
requires a cold winter to flower properly, plus I think the soil she
grew it on was also fairly well drained so your point about the clay
soil may also be pertinent.

Mark

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message in reply to..

The Reids :

Anybody tried growing it? Is the crocus available? I use a fair
amount of saffron so was considering a row on the allotment.

and after Victoria wrote..
I tried growing it when I was in Cheshire - found it difficult to get it
to
flower again after the first year - first year OK, second year, only one
flower, third year, leaves....

It may be that it didn't get on with my heavy clay soil, or that it
should
have been in a south facing rather than east-facing bed.

It is definitely not the easiest crocus - several other crocuses
thrived
in similar conditions.

IIRC it used to be grown commercially in the drier sunnier SE counties
(Saffron Waldon got its name that way). I've had the same experience as
Victoria in cool damp Scotland.


Same here, first year OK then it went downwards from there, and it was in
our S. facing, well drained, front garden.

--
Regards
Bob
in Runnymede, 17miles west of London, UK