Saffron
Sow in July, harvest around October
This season's sowing time (July) is over.
No figures for your district: its government crop records list no area or yield for this crop.
No price yet to estimate income
- Suits: Rain is enough
- Doesn't suit: Too hot here in this season
- Suits: Soil 9/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough, even in a dry year.
Needs about 190 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 440 mm it can use in a normal year, and 300 mm in a dry year.
Heavy rain here can waterlog it. Grow it on raised beds or land that drains well.
Temperature
Grows best at 7–23 °C on average, and survives 4–28 °C.
Here, in its growing months (day / night):
- Jul 31 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Aug 30 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Sep 31 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
- Oct 34 °C / 20 °C (outside its best range)
Days in October get hotter than it likes. Time sowing so it flowers before then.
Soil
Soil for Saffron: 9 out of 10 (good).
- The pH here suits it.
- Many fields here are short of sulphur, which it needs a lot.
- Most fields here are short of zinc.
Likes pH 6.0–7.0.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 0.4 kg an acre, the typical figure across India (no figures for your state).
No mandi or support price for this crop yet.
How to make it work
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Short of zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.
Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.