Safflower Corrales Azafran

The Ancient Saffron Substitute: Safflower Corrales Azafran Seeds

Discover the versatile and easy-to-grow Safflower Corrales Azafran, a wonderful substitute for true saffron in your culinary creations! One of humanity’s oldest crops, safflower boasts a rich history, predating true saffron cultivation in ancient Egypt and spreading through ancient Greece, China, and eventually to southern Spain via the Arabs.

The spineless Corrales Azafran strain has a fascinating lineage, believed to have originated from seeds brought to New Mexico by Spanish colonists, possibly from a renowned strain in the Canary Islands.

This adaptable plant offers a multitude of uses: its flowers provide a coloring spice, can be dried for tea, and yield a deep orange, almost red dye.

Key Features of Safflower Corrales Azafran:

• Saffron Substitute: Flowers provide a natural coloring spice for cooking.
• Historical Significance: One of humanity’s oldest cultivated crops with a rich history.
• Versatile Uses: Flowers for spice, tea, and dye; young leaves are edible; seeds for oil.
• Unique Heritage: Believed to be a spineless strain originating from the Canary Islands and preserved in New Mexico.
• Deep Taproots: Act as natural soil breakers.
• Adaptable Growth: Widely adaptable to various growing conditions.

Growing Tips for Your Safflower Corrales Azafran Seeds:

Sow seeds directly outdoors in a sunny location after the last expected frost. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and space them 10 inches apart. Safflower thrives in 8-12 hours of sun daily. Maintain a soil temperature of 60-70°F (15-21°C) for germination, which typically takes 7-14 days.

Once established, it prefers somewhat dry conditions and needs excellent drainage, especially in climates with high summer rainfall.