Back in November I posted about the saffron crocuses that I had planted in pots in our cold greenhouse. They had just produced their first flower and I asked for tips on how to harvest the stigma ribbons.
Well I needn't have bothered - that flower was the only one that the bulbs managed to produce. Leaves - yes, flowers - no!
October
November
January
I wondered whether I had planted them too late or maybe they should have been planted outside but the friend who gave them to me has had the same problem. She planted hers earlier and planted some in tubs in her greenhouse and others outside in the garden and she too has only had one flower!
What's even worse I didn't even manage to pick the stigma from my one flower!
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Oh no! I keep on meaning to try them when I see the bulbs but I'm glad I didn't bother. Will you try them again?
ReplyDeleteI'll just leave then in the pots, Jo and see what happen.
DeleteWell, Sue, you won't be eating home-grown Paella just yet then... Knowing you, you will persevere though.
ReplyDeleteI won;t ne eating paella ever Mark if it has seafood in it!
DeleteThat's a shame, they've really put their energy in to those leaves though, haven't they? There's loads of them.
ReplyDeleteThey have, Jo I wonder if they wil do something next year?
DeleteOh well at least you tried - better luck next year
ReplyDeleteI hope so Elaine
DeleteWill the bulbs do better next year if you feed the pots this Spring and let them quietly grow on in a shady corner?
ReplyDelete(PS: you don't ~have~ to have seafood in paella, chicken and rabbit go well .....)
It will have to be chicken then Bilbo.
DeleteI will try again next year. It's hard to say whether feeding will help or not - some plants just grow more leaves if they are fed.
I've had exactly the same experience and a blogging friend tells me that's what usually happens in the first year. They should flower well next year apparently.
ReplyDeleteYou have given me hope VP
DeleteI had the same experience but managed to destroy the bulbs before the second year so I can't say whether VP is right. Hope she is though - I might give it another go as based on my first effort I simply thought the climate wasn't right for it.
ReplyDeleteI hope she is too Liz.
DeleteI was feeling quite dispondent, both for you and for me because I had hoped to try this too - until I read VP's comments. So here's hoping for a crop next year. And thank you for trying it out so that I can watch for your results before I commit!!
ReplyDeleteSo 'til next year Janet. I'll let you know what happens in Year 2.
DeleteMaybe the plants is focusing on multiplying bulbs. Perhaps you can keep the bulbs and see how it goes next season.
ReplyDeleteThe seafood Paella I ate last week was terrible.
I certainly will keep them going Diana
DeleteI'm sure you will get many flowers this year Sue. Saffron is something I am going to get and plant this year so you have to show me how many flowers you get so I can get excited about it!!
ReplyDeleteIf I get flowers next year I'll be so excited, Tanya that you won't be able to stop me posting a picture.
DeleteExactly the same thing has happened to us. Adam was so excited to plant up his saffron bulbs and we haven't even had one flower!!! They tricked us by coming up really early and filling us with hope. They look exactly the same as yours. I hope it's true that they will flower next year. I need to remember not to chuck them out!!!
ReplyDeleteThere'll be quite o few of us with crossed fingers next year.
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