Trying My Hand at Growing Ranunculus!
Early last spring when I wanted to gr ow ranunculus, I found it difficult to find any in garden centers or at reasonable prices. So, this year I decided to try to grow some at home! I searched the web and watched numerous YouTube videos to learn the method that I will describe below. I bought a package of corms from www.easytogrowbulbs.com. Normally, you should begin this process in March in our area, but I started early and will have to grow them under lights until they can be planted in the garden.
Method:
When you unpack your corms, they look like dried up root balls of varying sizes.
Before planting, soak the corms for 4 hours in room temperature water. Change the water hourly. Don’t soak for longer them as they rot easily. As the corms soak, they will plump up, often doubling in size.
Pre-sprout your corms by filling a seed tray (with no drainage holes), or any recycled container, half full of moist potting soil. Arrange the soaked corms in the soil, with the “octopus-like” roots pointing down, and completely cover them with more soil. They can be closely planted.
Leave this tray in a dark, cool a place (40°F-50°F) for 10 to 14 days. Check on the corms every few days, making sure the soil is moist but not soggy. Remove any corms that show signs of mold or rot.
After 10 days or so, the corms will develop little white rootlets that resemble hair. Once rootlets appear, it’s time to plant them into individual containers. You can keep them under lights in a cool place (60°F) until the first true leaves appear. Or, plant them immediately in the ground or in large planters as soon as nights are around 25°F - 30°F and days are in the 40’s and 50’s. They should be planted in full sun in amended, well-drained soil. Plant corms 2” deep and about 9” apart. Add a teaspoonful of an organic granular fertilizer to the soil.
If there’s a chance you could still get some freezing temperatures, cover the planting area with hoops and frost cloth.
Ranunculus are cool-weather plants and grow and flower best when temperatures are between 50°F - 75°F. Once summer arrives and temperatures rise, the plants stop flowering and begin to die back.
Ranunculus usually begin flowering about three months after planting. You can expect to pick flowers for 4-7 weeks. They have an outstanding vase life, often exceeding 10 days. Cut the stems when the buds are colored and squishy like a marshmallow, but not yet fully open. Be sure to deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom.
Resources:
https://blog.longfield-gardens.com/how-to-grow-ranunculus-in-zones-4-6/own
https://www.blossomingbough.com/blog/2020/9/30/how-to-grow-and-store-ranunculus
Method:
When you unpack your corms, they look like dried up root balls of varying sizes.
Before planting, soak the corms for 4 hours in room temperature water. Change the water hourly. Don’t soak for longer them as they rot easily. As the corms soak, they will plump up, often doubling in size.
Pre-sprout your corms by filling a seed tray (with no drainage holes), or any recycled container, half full of moist potting soil. Arrange the soaked corms in the soil, with the “octopus-like” roots pointing down, and completely cover them with more soil. They can be closely planted.
Leave this tray in a dark, cool a place (40°F-50°F) for 10 to 14 days. Check on the corms every few days, making sure the soil is moist but not soggy. Remove any corms that show signs of mold or rot.
After 10 days or so, the corms will develop little white rootlets that resemble hair. Once rootlets appear, it’s time to plant them into individual containers. You can keep them under lights in a cool place (60°F) until the first true leaves appear. Or, plant them immediately in the ground or in large planters as soon as nights are around 25°F - 30°F and days are in the 40’s and 50’s. They should be planted in full sun in amended, well-drained soil. Plant corms 2” deep and about 9” apart. Add a teaspoonful of an organic granular fertilizer to the soil.
If there’s a chance you could still get some freezing temperatures, cover the planting area with hoops and frost cloth.
Ranunculus are cool-weather plants and grow and flower best when temperatures are between 50°F - 75°F. Once summer arrives and temperatures rise, the plants stop flowering and begin to die back.
Ranunculus usually begin flowering about three months after planting. You can expect to pick flowers for 4-7 weeks. They have an outstanding vase life, often exceeding 10 days. Cut the stems when the buds are colored and squishy like a marshmallow, but not yet fully open. Be sure to deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom.
Resources:
https://blog.longfield-gardens.com/how-to-grow-ranunculus-in-zones-4-6/own
https://www.blossomingbough.com/blog/2020/9/30/how-to-grow-and-store-ranunculus