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saffron
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- 1Saffron crocuses bloom in November surprise●I was very surprised to see the saffron crocuses I planted just a few weeks ago come up this morning. The poppies still
A gardener has reported that saffron crocuses planted only a few weeks ago have already come up, surprising them with how quickly the bulbs established themselves. They also noted poppies still seeding themselves well into November, which they described as wild. The observation has resonated with other gardeners tracking unusual late-season growth in their own plots this autumn.
- 2Climate change hits Kashmir's saffron farmers hard●Kashmir’s saffron industry is facing growing challenges, with farmers reporting declining yields due to climate change,
Farmers in Kashmir report declining saffron yields as climate change brings erratic rainfall, reduced snowfall and inadequate irrigation to the region's famous spice fields. A photo feature in the Guardian documents the pressures on one of the world's most prized crops, grown for generations on Kashmir's plateaus, as growers struggle with increasingly unpredictable weather.
- 3Saffron harvest in Kashmir captured in photo essay●Red gold from purple flowers: saffron harvest in Kashmir – in pictures https://www. theguardian.com/world/gallery/ 2026/
A new photo essay documents the annual saffron harvest in Kashmir, where farmers hand-pick the crimson stigmas from purple crocus flowers, a spice so valuable it is known as red gold. The images highlight the region's famed saffron fields of Pampore and the labour-intensive work behind one of the world's most expensive spices, drawing attention to Kashmir's agricultural heritage.