Kara's Garden

UPDATE! THIS IS NOT A SAFFRON SPROUT!! SEE BELOW!

Here is my little saffron plant, trying to come up!

I am so excited about this herb. Saffron is a spice used often in Mediterranean cooking, and is the most expensive spice by weight in the world. Saffron spice is made by drying and using the stigma of the flower and only a tiny bit is needed in any dish. I was lucky enough to live in Valencia, Spain for a semester while I was in college, and this spice always reminds me of Valencian Paella, the signature dish of the region.

Saffron is grown from a bulb. It lies dormant in the summer and becomes more active in the fall. It requires little water as it is used to the drier Mediterranean climate, and grows best above zone 6. Saffron requires a rich, well drained soil and a protected spot.

UPDATE!! THIS IS NOT A SAFFRON SPROUTING!

Thanks to alert blog reader Maggie, I double checked myself to see if the leaves were connected to the bulb... and they aren't! I think these are stray marigolds that slipped into the pot.

From my research, I don't think this will sprout until the fall. As soon as it does, I'll post it! Thanks for sticking with me through my learning curve, and thanks for the advice and inquiries!