This is the second article in this series. Today i will share with the tips for growing flowering bulbs in warm climates – Ranunculus. Ranunculus asiaticus with common name Persian buttercup Bloomingdale series. Here they reach around 10 inches in height and around 15 inches wide. They come in various color including yellow, red, white, blue and some bi-colors. Flowers are long lasting even in vases.
Here in lahore, Pakistan the price of each corm Rs 20 this year. Plants grown from seed germinate late but come to flowering early and have larger flowers. Price of each seedling is Rs 25 in single plastic cell.
1- Buy biggest corm. Soaking will help but not mandatory. I did not soak and result was fine. This was the corm
2- Plant it 2 inches deep in a well drained soil which could retain moisture. The corm moisture to sprout roots. Remember plant claws down or in other words plant as shown in the above picture.
This is the situation after one month. I planted 3 corms this pot and so far they are doing fine.
We plant corms in November and it flowers in January/February and flowers go till March. Remember to save this plant from heavy rains as last year one of my big plant having lots of buds (grown from seed) was ruined by heavy showers in March.
3- After flowers have finished blooming, let the leaves gather the energy and store in corm. when leaves also start to fade, cut the foliage and dry them in shade. Save for next year. Although this was not successful when i tried it. I think it is better to keep it in ground and hope it will multiply itself. I was told that fresh corms better results.
Plants from seeds take around three years to form usable corms. They also end their first bud after third or fourth leaf stage. Remember to remove first bud of the plant so that plant could establish strong root system and forthcoming flowers will be larger. Give this plant semi shade. In our mild winters, we try to avoid it from mid day sun specially if planted in a pot.
They are suitable to our zone 10b just like narcissus paperwhite and anemone so do plant them and you will have fun when you will see really large and beautiful blooms.
Update after 2.5 months: Here are the flowers.
 |
Next Bulb: Forcing Hyacinth bulbs in water
My attempt at growing ranunculus was a total failure. My gardening guru, Miss Billie, had beautiful ranunculas, newly planted each year. Passersby would stop to ask her what they were.
I think voles may have eaten my bulbs.
Now, on to hyacinths, one of my favs!
I just read Nell Jeans comment and I think voles really are out to destroy my garden as well!
I didn’t know that ranunculus bulbs were so tiny! I haven’t tried growing these. But I have grown hyacinths and they smell divine!
Thanks
Rosey
So informative and the photos really help as well. Thank you for taking the time to explain how to grow Ranunculus.
Hey,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I like your blog, very good resource.
I love ranunculus. I love the sheer number of petals – it’s amazing. I’ve alwasy been hesitant to buy it since they are only annuals here, but maybe I’ll try planting corms as you’ve shown! It will seem less painful if I don’t get to save it from the cold.
It’s amazing to me that something as unpromising as a little corm (it looked a bit like a baby octopus, no?) can grow into a beautiful Ranunculus. They are not much grown here in Alaska but I find them to be very lovely. Keep up the great how-to posting.
Cheers from the Last Frontier,
Christine B.
Oh, i am going to the flower fields in So. Cal soon where they have rainbow fields of ranunculas. It is so stunning. Thanks for the information. I will try to grow a few too.
beautiful blog. I saw the interesting bee on some of the flowers in your photos…it has a striped head. Do you know what it is called?
your photos are lovely. I’ll be back. thanks for having a look at my bee blog.
Hi, im living in Colombia in a very warm region! do. think that I can grow ranunculus by temperatures between 28 and 35 c* ? I just plans some bulbs but I’m still don’t know if they will. come out at the end.
Bruno you have very interesting climate and i can only guess about success. I would say, start the bulbs in your coldest month and if they grow well then give them only morning sun in the hot temperatures.
Hi, Muhammad I wrote to you a month ago, because I plant some ranunculus bulbs here in colombia. so a hole month has past and no plants come out of the bulbs. Now is the coldest month here and I wanna start a new test. can u please give me some tips for the planting. is it nesesarie to plant the bulbs in sand first. so they can develop som roots? should I do that first? can u please help me with that u are the only person I find I de web that are doing ranunculus in a warm region…
Hi, I bought some ranunculus bulbs now. Do you think I could plant them now (in Bangalore – temperature about 35C)?
Hi
I m planted ranunculus from seeds, how much time they can take?
Hi folks,
Could anyone tell me the temperature requirements for Ranunculus. I have just procured about 10 Ranunculus bulbs from Kalimpong and I not sure if I should plant them. The temperature now in Calcutta is around 35 deg Cent. Temperatures in the next couple of months can soar to 45 deg Cent. It is advisable to wait till November when temperatures drop to 25 deg Cent. If so, should I store the bulbs in a fridge?
Thanks,
Kalyan
Wait till november. Storing in fridge is the only option but not chances of success are less. Actually you purchased bulbs late.