They say that anything worth doing is rarely easy, and today’s weather certainly wanted to test that theory.
Today was the big day: Corm Planting Day. While I was hoping for beautiful North Canterbury summer sun, Mother Nature had other plans. It was drizzly, wet, and notably cool for January. But in the world of saffron farming, the clock doesn't stop for a bit of rain. If anything, the damp air felt like a quiet blessing for the 1,000 treasures we were about to tuck into the earth.
The Grid Of My Dreams
From the photo, you’ll see my "secret weapon": the string lines. To the casual observer, it might look like a giant game of noughts and crosses, but this is precision engineering at its finest… if I do say so myself!
Each string is set to ensure a perfect 10cm spacing. This isn't just because I like straight lines (though it does help the soul!); it’s to give each corm enough "elbow room" to multiply over the coming years without getting crowded.
A Bodyguard in Every Hole
You might have also noticed my dibber and a little red bucket in the photo.
I used the dibber to create corm holes exactly 10cm deep—it’s quick, precise, and makes the work much easier on the back.
Inside that bucket is another "secret weapon" for plant health: TrichoPel. Before placing each corm, I added a small pinch of this natural bio-inoculant. I’ve been concerned about "wet feet" during the Loburn winters, TrichoPel is our natural insurance policy. It contains a beneficial fungus called Trichoderma, which acts like a tiny bodyguard for the corm.
Why we’re using it:
Disease Defense: It hunts down and colonizes the area around the roots, blocking out nasty soil-borne diseases like root rot (Phytophthora) and Fusarium.
Root Booster: It doesn’t just protect; it actually stimulates the corm to grow a stronger, more vigorous root system.
Nature’s Way: It’s 100% natural and non-toxic, fitting perfectly with our goal of growing Saffron exactly as nature intended.
By adding that little pinch today, we're giving our 1,000 corms the best possible start to thrive in their new home.
Ohh... and the final count, there was 1058 Saffron Corms.
Now, we let the soil do the rest of the work.
Next time you see these beds, I'm hoping for a lot less brown and a lot more green and Red Gold!
