SAFFRON

The word SAFFRON is basically name of a flower, which comes out from a corm known as saffron corn. The whole saffron corm consists of three layers; the first layer (or covering) is the outer part of the corm, which protects it form the unfavorable, conditions the weather under soil. The second layer is the white part, which consists of some eyes (hole like structures); this layer is mainly responsible for the production of the saffron flower. The third layer is the middle part (or the inner part of the corm) from which a tube like structure comes out consisting the flower covered by this tube.

WHAT IS SAFFRON CORM

Saffron corm is basically it self a type of root. The productions of saffron corms depend upon the temperature, moisture, and the type of soil on which saffron is to be grown. The saffron corm reproduces from the mother corm and gets divided into several other corms. As in other words it could be explained like this, the corm having small holes (or eye like structures) produces many other corms, which after one to two years get developed into matured corm and starts producing flowers.

SAFFRON FLOWER

Saffron flower consists of four parts. The first part is the tail like structure, which is present at the bottom of the flower and contains stamen (Zarda). The second part is the petals, which is bluish in color, as the whole saffron flower is bluish in color. The petals are used in making different medicines. The third part is the red thread like structure which is present in three in number, sometimes these are four in number, this thread like structure is know as LACHA, the LACHA stands second in respect of cost, as it also contains stamens (ZARDA) along with it. The fourth part is the yellow thread like structures, known as yellow saffron.

HOW SAFFRON IS GROWN

Saffron is grown in the beds of having height 1-1/2ft and 11/4. The soil is first ploughed by means of different tools. Then the corms of saffron are being placed into the soil and then the soil again is slightly ploughed to cover the corms under it, after that the beds are being made of 11/4 the season of saffron harvest reaches these flowers start to produce flowers but only one to two, because the corms of saffron under soil are not fully matured to grow flowers. But after two to three years these saffron corms provide three to four flowers.