Saffron seeds, Kesar, Crocus Sativus, Bulbs, Corms, Cultivation, propgation, Cashmiriana, Plantation, India, Kashmir,Guide, Cultivation methods

Scientific Cultivation of Saffron 

By: Ed. Sheikh GULZAAR

Head, The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre-JKMPIC, Srinagar

Saffron, is the most expensive spice in the world. The scientific name for saffron is "Crocus Sativus L." It belongs to the family of Iridaceas and the line of liliaceas.

Saffron is a bulbous perennial plant, ranging from 10 to 30 centimetres in height. The bulb is meaty and round, although somewhat flat at the base. It is white coloured on the inside, covered with a fibrous and rough membrane, and brown in colour.

Flowers surge from the bulb in a stem of about 3 millimetres in diameter, which develop in two purple to violet coloured membranes.

The flower is called the "Rose of the Saffron" and made up of six eliptical pieces. The stem is also a violet colour when it initially emerges, becoming more opaque, and finally turning white.

The flower contains three large stamen with orange coloured anthers. Inside the flower tube is the style, a long white filament whose apex is orange coloured. This divides into three red threads, the threads or cloves of the saffron, which correspond to the stigmas.

Saffron is a perennnial , low growing herb with a globular   corm   ranging   from  0.5  to  5cm  in diameter. The corms (Monje/Seed) produce 6-15 narrow, needle like leaves about 10 cm long; surrounded in the lower region by four to five scales. The flowers are borne singly or in two to three. The three stigmas of the flowers along with the style when dried constitute the saffron of commerce. The plant is a native of Iran and Asia Minor. In the former princely state of  Kashmir Vale is a legendry crop of well drained plateau of  Pampore (South Kashmir) where it is being  grown since ancient times. The recorded time of saffron cultivation in Kashmir dates back 550 AD  nearly four centuries earlier than that recorded in Spain. It is rightly called the golden condiment of Kashmir. World's best Saffron also cultavated in Iran, Spain, Baluchistan, Gilgat and now in Afghanistan

COMPOSITION: Saffron is an essencial oil (0.4 to 1.3 percent), rich in Saffranol, Cineol, and Pineno.  It contains Glucocids (alfa, gamma, and beta) and Protocrocines. Picrocrocines (4 percent) have been found, in addition to bitter Heterosides like the Pirocrocides.

A Heteroside of the Carotine Group, the Agliconan of the Picrococrocine is an aromatic Aldehide, the Saffranol (Dehidro-Beta-Ciclocitral). The pigment which gives it the peculiar color is Crocosid, also known as Policroita. Other pigments such as Crocinal, Licopine, Zeaxantine, and other Carotinoide pigments, like Carotine and Licopine, were also found.

USES/ DOSAGES : Via Infusions
2 to 4 grams per quart of water.
 
Powder Form : 300 mg to help digestion.
0.5 to 1.5 grams daily to help bowel activity.

For Use in Food : Crush the Saffron threads with your fingers or in a morter, add a small amount of hot water, then add to your dish. In most recepies the Saffron is added in the latter part of dish preparation, moments before removing the dish from the oven or stove top, to conserve its pungent aromatic flavor and color. It is common to use 2 to 4 strands of Saffron per person. Saffron is as precious as gold not because of its high demand and  low production  but because it  is used  in various religious rituals. Hindus use saffron for marking their foreheads, Muslims divine extract in water and write charms with ink thus formed. In Indian market mostly 50-60 per cent of saffron is used in chewing tobacco and for preparing wine. Saffron is used to prepare saffron rice, saffron cakes, wazwaan, tea, kehwa. cakes, in the preparation of scent and perfumes. It is used for colouring butter, Saffron Steamed Rice ,Saffron Rice Chicken, Special Scalloped Potatoes, Parsnip Lemon Puree,Orange Saffron Butter Cookies, Saffron fried rice, Saffron mutton rice, Saffron chicken rice cheese, puddings and confectionary. Like most oriental aromatic herbs saffron is also used in medicinal and culinary reputations. It stops vomiting, expels worms, heels headache and wounds. It is good for hemorrhoids, for removing the discoloration of face and pimples. It is good for epilepsy. Some times it is used in exenthematous diseases to promote eruption. It is popularly supposed to be a stimulant warm and dry in action helping in the alleviation of urinary, digestive and uterine troubles. Paste of saffron is used in dressing bruises, superficial sores, rheumatic and neurological pains and congestion of chest. Passaries of saffron are used in painful complaints of uterus. Dry boiled corms are administered in Ayurvedic and Unani ststem for treatment of gousciatica  and rheumatic pains.

Saffron Crocus Care : Growing saffron crocus can prove beneficial in two ways. It can be an inexpensive way to get saffron and apart from that saffron crocus plants are the first plants to bloom in fall and produce flowers throughout the season. The lavender-colored flowers can be a beautiful addition to your flower garden. If you are interested in knowing more about how to grow saffron crocus, read on.

* Saffron crocus can be grown from bulbs,seeds or corms. As most of the current varieties are SG1, you may not get saffron crocus seeds. But, purchase saffron crocus corms from reputed sellers only. Make sure that you are buying a saffron crocus variety (like Crocus sativus cashmirianus) only and not autumn meadow crocuses.

* The right time for planting these saffron crocus bulbs is late spring or early summer. You may also plant the corms or bulbs during the onset of fall, but, it will sprout the following spring only.

* Prepare the soil with organic material like adding compost, leaves or grass clippings to the soil. Saffron crocus plants need full sun and well drained soil for a healthy growth. The soil must not get soggy and the plant must be protected from wind. Read more on composting.

* Once you are ready with the location of planting, plant the corms in holes, which are at least four inches in depth. Always remember to plant these corms with their roots facing downwards. Keep a distance of six inches between the holes.

* If the location is likely to be frequented by rodents, it will be better to cover the area with a mesh enclosure, so that your corms are not eaten by the animals.

* During summer, the soil must be dry, as the plants become dormant in this season. The leaves and flowers develop during fall and during this season, you have to keep the soil moist (not soggy) through occasional watering.

* The flowering period may last for one month and during this time, a single application of liquid fertilizer is recommended. Continue with occasional watering till the onset of spring, as the leaves start withering during this time.

* During cold climates, dig out the corms and store them in a cold, dark place. Plant these corms again during late spring or early summer. Read more on saffron - fit for kings.

Now, you know more about saffron crocus cultivation. Start planting a saffron plant and enjoy the benefits.

Soil & Climate : Saffron grows well in drained loamy soil. Medium grade, light soil with neutral to slightly alkaline reaction is suited for its cultivation. It prefers very well drained, clay loam soils of karewas of Kashmir. The soils should be deep and free from stones. Saffron thrives well in sub-temperate regions ranging from 1500 meter to 2400 meter.

It requires cool and sunny situation for promising growth. An optimum of 12 hours light duration is essential for growth and flowering. The day temperature should be 20-22  0C  with a difference of 10-12  0C between day and night temperatures. A good shower during August-September facilities flowering and increased yield. Dry weather condition during flowering period is essential for realizing higher yields. In general locations which receive  30-40 cms rainfall and are covered with snow during winter are good for its cultivation. Spring rains are favourable for promoting corm multiplication wherease, a second spell of rains at the beginning of autumn encourages profuse flowering.

Prpoagation : Propgation of the plant is through corms. The plant remains dormant from May-August. The mother corm reproduces annually and gives rise to four to six daughter cormlets. The corms formed during a year produce flowers in the following year. The mother corms provide food to the new developing corms and in doing so wither, shrink and finally die. Now corms develope each year to replace the older once. Saffron bulbs multiply readily, and can (and probably should) be divided every few years.

Land Preparation and planting : Land preparation starts in March -April. The field is ploughed four to five times to a depth of 30-35 cms.Another  polghing is done in May and fields leveled. Well developed seed corms @1600 to 2000 kg per per hectare should be used after dipping in five percent solution of copper sulphate. The corms should be of 1.5 cms and above in diameter with outermost loose covering cleaned before planting. The corms should be planted in second fortnight of August at a depth of 15-20 cms with a row to row spacing of 15 cms and corm to corm spacing of five to eight cms. After planting divide the field into 2 meters x 4 meters strips by opening 15 deep and 30 cms wide furrows for proper drainage. Saffron can also be planted as an inter crop in newly planted orchards. The superior and less expensive method recommended by Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre is strip system.

Manures and fertilizers : Mix 15-20 tonnes per hectare of well decomposed FYM during last ploughing. Recent studies have revealed that application of vermicompost @350 kg/hectare has given a yield of 4.88 Kg/hectare.

Interculture : Keep the planted field undisturbed till the following June. Perform the first hoeing in June using a short handled  tangru locally called (in Kashmie) "ZOUN". This operation provides aeration to the soil which is very important for proper development of Saffron Corms.

Subsequently the second hoeing is done in the month of September along with cleaning and repairing of the drainage channels. Care should be taken not to disturb the growing buds of corms. This hoeing is accompanied by light dressing  of FYM at the rate of two tonnes per hectare. Third and final hoeing is given after the flowering is over and mannure is mixed in the soil with the help of iron  rakes. This schedule of operations is followed every year until the crop remains in the field.

Diseases and pests : Fungal diseases often infect the corms. Fungi like Rhizocotnia crocorum,, Sclerotina bulborum and Phoma Crocophila are reported to infect the corms changing the colour of flesh from white to yellow and finally to black resulting in death of the corms. poor aeration in the soil, injury to corms and hail storms provide ideal conditions for the development of diseases. Discarding can prevent this. Treat healthy corms with five percent copper sulphate solution during planting. Incidence of Gangrane disease (in this, the normal plant which prevents flower formation) is also reported from some fields. Rate and moles causing damage tones of corms every year often damage saffron cro. Zinc phoshide baiting and rat control campaign on watershed basis may be of great help.

Harvesting and processing : The flowering season is confined to three weeks from middle of October to first week of November. The flowers are picked daily in the morning and stigmas and styles are trimmed immediately. About 1,60,000 flowers are hand picked to produce one kg of good quality dried saffron.

Saffron Bulbs/Seeds/Corms : Saffron is the only spice that comes from a flower. The flowers themselves are magnificent with a striking purple colour. Add a splash of colour to your flowerbeds or balconies with this splendid flower which blooms in October, thanks to its exceptional flower reversed vegetation cycle. What is more, you can grow and produce your own saffron easily.

Crocus Sativus (Saffron corms) for planting from June to September
Harvest in October-November of the same year!

The corms (size 2/5cm) are available from June to 10 September, however you can reserve them from now on. Corms are delivered with information of culture

Advance Booking of Saffron Corms from January to December

Buying Saffron Bulbs/Seeds/Corms
Available packets: 50, 100, 200 (Seeds/Corms/Bulbs)

For more details :
Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
Ist Street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR Jammu and Kashmir 192121
Or
Mailing address: PO Box 667 GPO Srinagar SGR Jammu and Kashmir 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com, jkmpic@yahoo.in
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com

Planting material available : Olive,Kiwi, Picanut,Hazelnut, and herbal seeds. 
more : http://jkmpic.blogspot.com

93373 Chinar plants available at Chenab Industries Kashmir-CIK

The director, Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre-JKMPIC, Sheikh Gulzaar planted chinar saplings in JKMPIC, Pulwama here yesterday on Monday. While taking to media persons on the occasion, he said Chinar is a heritage tree of the country and as such is a protected plant. Until 2007, Chinar plantation day was observed on March 21 “World Arboretum Day”. However, keeping in view the magnificent and majestic look and attachment and concern of the people of the country of Kashmir with this tree, state government decided to observe March 15 of every year as Chinar Plantation Day, since 2008.

The director said another advantage of pre-poning the date from March 21 to March 15 is that longer period for plantation. During last two years 12373 saplings of Chinar have been provided free of cost to the people for plantation in different areas of the country Jammu Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre has established nurseries for propagation of Chinar saplings and during current plantation season and 93373 saplings are available for distribution.

Sheikh Gulzaar said that anybody who is interested in plantation of Chinar tree can contact the concerned Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre and obtain Chinar plants.

As per the un-authentic data of 1970, about 42000 Chinar trees of different age groups and sizes were existing in thecountry . But with the passage of time, turmoil, development programmes and population explosion, Chinar trees have faced the brunt of greed like the forest and other plants had to face.

Under such circumstances, JKMPIC took the serious initiative for raising the Chinar saplings for sustained efforts for annual plantation of saplings.

In order to determine the actual number of existing Chinar trees in the Kashmir , a preliminary census was initiated by the Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre from 2002 which was completed in 2008.

Chinar Plants Sales office at:

Chenab Industries Kashmir-CIK

POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR Jammu and Kashmir 190001

Ph: 01933-223705

Mob: 09858986794

e-mail: iirc@rediffmail.com, cikashmir@gmail.com

home: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

Cultivation of Kiwi Fruit/Planting material

Kashmiri soil is all set to produce New Zealand’s national fruit – Kiwi, as Valley Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre JKMPIC would be planting 22,000 plants of Kiwi from the ensuing plantation season.

“Now, after four years we may have another fruit – Kiwi - available in the market. We will plant  22,000  plants of Kiwi this season, which will bear fruits after four years,” Director Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre JKMPIC,.Sheikh Gulzaar said.

Excited over the increase in the annual production of indigenous varieties of fruit and expansion in total horticultural area, Sheikh Gulzaar’s fresh vision is to introduce new exported varieties of fruit in Kashmir, so that “Kashmir’s Fruit production offers a wide variety of fresh fruit in market.”

“We are blessed with temperate climate and fertile soil, so we do not face any challenge while introducing new imported varieties on our soil. Kiwi is a temperate fruit, and Kashmir’s climate and soil is apt for its growth,” Sheikh GULZAAR said.

He added that Kashmir witnesses 10 percent increase in its annual fresh fruit production. “We are happy with the production of our fresh fruit. Now our focus is to enhance the quality of our produce and to introduce new varieties of international standard. Kiwi fruit is one of the new varieties,” Sheikh GULZAAR added.

For introducing new fruit in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre JKMPIC exported the ‘Kiwi plant material’ from New Zealand two years back and propagated it into a mother plant in a high-tech green house at in Kashmir . The mother plant later propagated into thousands of Kiwi plant saplings, before being introduced into fields. 

“Now, we will introduce it everywhere in valley where irrigation facility is smooth. We hope that it will become one more cash crop of Kashmir in future,” said director Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre JKMPIC, adding, Kiwi plants would be introduced in both government sector farming and among private growers. 

The kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is a large, woody, deciduous perennial vine native to the Yangtze Valley of China. Seeds from China were taken to New Zealand and planted in 1906. Kiwi, besides being the national fruit of New Zealand is also one the country’s major exports vine.     

“It (Kiwifruit) is brown, egg sized and covered with fuzz. When sliced, the fruit yields an attractive emerald green flesh with rows of small, dark, edible seeds, and a light cream colored center. Its flavor is similar to a blend between strawberry and pineapple. The kiwifruit is high in vitamin C and can be used as a tenderizer when rubbed on meat,” Sheikh GULZAAR  said while giving the description of the Kiwifruit.

Kiwis are fun, rewarding & easy to grow !

Beautiful vines with nutritious and delicious fruit. They need a strong arbor, or trellis and annual pruning. Fertilizer and water are the remainingingredients needed to begin enjoying this exciting fruit.

VARIETIES: The Fuzzy Kiwi ( Actinidia deliciousa), is a very vigorous vine hardy to about 0 degrees F. The Hardy Kiwi ( Actinidia arguta) is hardy to about -25 degrees F. While the fruit is smaller than that of the Fuzzy Kiwi, it is sweeter and with its smooth skin it can be

eaten like a grape.

SITE SELECTION: The Fuzzy Kiwi prefer a location with full sun. Hardy Kiwi can grow in sun or shade. Kiwis grow well in both light and heavy soils, so long as they are well drained. On poorly drained soils, plant on sloping ground or make a raised bed so that excess water will drain away from the trunk. Avoid frost pockets. If space allows, Arctic Beauty should be given an 8 ft. spacing; Issai also can use an 8 ft spacing. All other kiwis can fill a 15 ft. spacing. Males should be within 50 ft or so of females for best pollination. Since male vines produce no fruit, they don’t have to be on a trellis. A nearby shade tolerant, low branching, evergreen tree of mature size (cedar, spruce, hemlock, redwood, etc.) can be used for a male vine to climb up. Planted near the outer branches, a kiwi can eventually climb 60 ft. Kiwis can also be used to cover a fence or grow along a deck. Fertile soil, high in organic matter is ideal for your Kiwis. Applying rotted manure or compost will help build up organic matter & fertility. When ready to plant, dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots without crowding. Slow acting materials like rock phosphate, kelp meal, and compost can be mixed with the soil in the planting hole. Potted plants should be planted carefully so as not to disturb the roots. Root bound potted plants however should have their roots pulled apart to some extent & spread to the sides of the hole. For all plants DO NOT LET THE ROOTS DRY OUT. Kiwis should be planted at about the same level as they were grown in the nursery. After planting, soak the planting area to remove air from around the roots.

CAUTION: Young shoots & leaves can be injured by light frosts. During the first spring, protection from late frost is important & is helpful in future years. Cover the plant when frost threatens or turn on a sprinkler. Sprinkling will protect leaves to about 27F.

FERTLIZER & IRRIGATION: Kiwis like to be fertilized every spring with a balanced fertilizer high in nitrogen, such as fish meal. Spread the fertilizer throughout the area of the vineyard to feed the Kiwis surface root system. Apply fertilizer before summer to avoid frost tender wood in the fall. Kiwis are shallow rooted plants. They need regular irrigation during the summer. A deep watering once or twice a week should be sufficient, if it doesn’t rain. Avoid over watering & hold back water in the fall to help harden plants for winter. Mulching a 2-3 ft circle around the plants with straw, compost or other organic materials helps conserve moisture & keep down weeds.

PRUNING & TRAINING: When planting we recommend that you cut the plant back to about 1 ft from the ground. Select a vigorous shoot to grow rapidly to the top of the support. Gently tie this shoot to a stout post as it grows, and later remove other less vigorous shoots. When the vine reaches the top of the support, tip it back, & allow two buds near the top to grow & train them along the support wires or beams. Tie them loosely with heavy string or plastic tape. These cordons form the basic structure of your plant. By the end of the second season, you should have a good framework established. Before spring, cut back the two cordons to 8-20 buds. These buds should produce your first fruiting spurs. Train the end bud to extend the cordon further along the trellis & prune it back the following spring to 8-10 buds to produce more fruiting spurs. Once the cordons have reached the limits of the support regular pruning can begin. Kiwis flower & bear fruit on wood that has grown fromthe previous seasons growth. Dormant pruning of female vines begins by heading back last years fruiting canes to 10- 12 buds past the last fruit. After several years, small weak wood should be heavily pruned to force new vigorous canes. Twisted, tangled, & broken canes should be removed as well as those crossing from one side of the plant to the other. Growth hanging to the ground should be pruned out or tied to the trellis. Excess fruiting spurs should be removed so that 8-12 inches separates each cane. As you prune your Kiwis, you will begin to get a feel for what should stay & what should be removed. Male plants are treated somewhat differently. Since they are grown only for flowers, they need only about one fourth of the trellis space in a small planting. Males can be pruned more severely to control growth & avoid crowding the female vines. Heavier summer pruning is widely practiced with male plants.

CAUTION:  Avoid pruning in early spring after the plant has begun growth, excess bleeding can occur & damage to the plant may result.

WINTER CARE OF THE FUZZY KIWI:  The biggest problemwe have seen in growing the Fuzzy Kiwi in western Oregon and Washington has been frost damage to the lower trunk. While the top of the plant is hardy to below 10 degrees when dormant. Sunny weather with very cold nights can cause freeze damage to the lower portion of the trunk. In many cases this damage is severe enough to girdle the plants causing the death of the top. While plants often send up new shoots, the top growth is lost. To prevent this damage, wrap the lower 2-3 feet of trunk with insulating material such as ¼ inch closed cell foam. Mulch heavily around the base of the plant as well if severe weather threatens.

Kewi Plants available at:

JKMPIC (Deptt. R&D)

POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001

Ph: 01933-223705

Mob: 09858986794

e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com