How to Grow Ranunculus
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T F FLORE ARM’S HOW TO GROW RANUNCULUS WWW.FLORETFLOWERS.COM © FLORET LLC ften referred to as the rose of spring, ranunculus Oare one of the most popular cut flowers that we grow here at Floret. These tender flowers need extra protection from cold temperatures, but if carefully tended, they will produce an abundance of lush, sweetly scented blooms during the early months of spring. Depending on where you live and what kind of set-up you’re working with, you can plant your ranunculus in either the fall or late winter/early spring. While spring-planted corms won’t be quite as prolific as fall-planted ones, you can still get a nice harvest. In areas with mild winter temperatures (zone 7 and above), ranunculus can be planted in the fall and successfully overwintered outdoors with minimal protection such as a low tunnel or frost cloth. In colder areas, where temperatures dip well below freezing for extended periods of time, ranunculus must be grown in a minimally heated hoophouse or presprouted indoors and planted out at the end of winter/early spring. If corms are exposed to temperatures below 25° F (-4° C), they will freeze and ultimately rot once thawed. So be sure to protect them from extreme cold temperatures. WWW.FLORETFLOWERS.COM © FLORET LLC METHOD 1. When you unpack your 2. Before planting, soak corms 3. To presprout, fill a flat-bottom ranunculus corms, you’ll notice they for three to four hours in room- seed tray half full of moist potting resemble little brown octopuses temperature water. It’s important soil. Sprinkle the soaked corms into and are probably not what you that you don’t oversoak them, the soil, and cover them with more were expecting. Don’t worry, these otherwise they will rot. As the soil so that they are completely strange-looking creatures will corms soak, they will plump covered. Leave this tray in a cool actually produce an abundance up, often doubling in size. After place (40-50° F or 4-10° C) for 10 of beautiful, ruffly blooms come soaking, corms can either be to 14 days in an area where rodents spring. planted directly into the ground can’t find it. Check on the corms or presprouted. Presprouting the every few days making sure the soil corms before planting will mean is moist but not soggy, and remove flowers bloom a few weeks earlier. any corms that show signs of mold or rot. 4. During this time, corms will 5. Before planting, it’s important to 6. Ranunculus normally start swell to twice their original size prepare the growing beds. We add to flower about 90 days after and develop little white rootlets a generous dose of compost (2-3 planting. Fall-planted corms that resemble hair. Once these inches or 5-7.5 cm) and a balanced bloom in early spring, and late rootlets are about 1/8- to ½-inch organic fertilizer (Nature’s Intent winter/early spring-planted corms (0.3-1 cm) long, it’s time to plant 7-2-4) and mix it thoroughly into will flower by mid-spring. The vase them in the ground. the soil. Corms are planted 9 inches life on ranunculus is outstanding, (15 cm) apart at a depth of 2-3 often exceeding 10 days! For the inches (5-7.5 cm), with four rows longest vase life, harvest when per bed. Plant the corms with the buds are colored and squishy like a “octopus tentacles” pointing down. marshmallow but not fully open. WWW.FLORETFLOWERS.COM © FLORET LLC FAVORITE RANUNCULUS VARIETIES RANUNCULUS 'BARBY' RANUNCULUS 'BLACK' RANUNCULUS 'BONBON' Tall strong stems carry ringed and wavy While these plants are on the shorter This giant, abundantly flowering variety bubblegum-pink flowers that have a crepe side, they are worth growing for the color has fully double camellia-like blooms in paper-like appearance. Vigorous plants alone. Flowers are a rich, velvety maroon, a rich glowing magenta tone. If you’re produce light green foliage with branching almost black, that combines beautifully looking for something to stand out in the stems. A must-grow if you love pink. with many other colors. Lightly serrated spring garden, you’ll love this variety. petals look as if they’ve been snipped with pinking shears. RANUNCULUS 'CHAMALLOW' RANUNCULUS 'CHAMPAGNE' RANUNCULUS 'CHOCOLATE' The vigor and soft coloring of this variety Hands down the most beautiful ranunculus This striking variety has petals that are unmatched, with healthy, green, we grow at the farm. This giant, abundantly curl and wave, giving flowers a ruffled towering stems—some growing to 2.5 flowering variety includes a mix of coral, appearance. As blooms age, they take on a feet tall—carrying giant, fluffy blooms. apricot, salmon, and a few raspberry rich, rusty-red hue and remind us of paper Flowers are a range of blush, cream, and blooms. Outer petals reflex, giving flowers a flowers. While the color doesn’t shout ballet-slipper pink. A must-grow for garden rose-like appearance. spring, it’s absolutely exquisite. wedding work! WWW.FLORETFLOWERS.COM © FLORET LLC FAVORITE RANUNCULUS VARIETIES RANUNCULUS 'CREAM' RANUNCULUS 'JULIETTE' RANUNCULUS 'MARSHMALLOW' While this name is misleading, if you love This is one of the biggest ranunculus Full, extremely large flower heads in yellow, you’ll love this variety. Extremely varieties we’ve ever grown, both in height blush-pink tones sit atop long, strong tall plants carry lemon-ice and pale lemon and bloom size. Flowers are a glowing stems, making this an excellent cut flower flowers on stocky stems that twist and range of pink tones, including cotton perfect for arranging and wedding work. turn. This abundantly flowering variety is candy and bubblegum, and blooms are so Blooming one to two weeks after most super-cheerful and has lots of personality. large they look just like peonies. varieties, these tall, vigorous plants are more heat-tolerant than other ranunculus, extending the bloom window. RANUNCULUS 'PASTEL LEMON' RANUNCULUS PASTEL MIX RANUNCULUS 'PINK PICOTEE' Long-stemmed, towering plants are topped This collection is one of our favorites and This beautiful variety includes flowers in with a mix of palm-sized blooms in lemon features an exquisite mix of peach, salmon, many different shades and brush-marked and soft tangerine hues with the occasional blush, pale yellow, strawberry, and cream variations of pink, cream, and white. peach-colored blossom. Flowers are edged varieties, all specifically bred for cut flower This mix is very romantic and great for with soft rose veining and remind us of a production. arranging. peony or double tulip. WWW.FLORETFLOWERS.COM © FLORET LLC FAVORITE RANUNCULUS VARIETIES RANUNCULUS 'ROSE' RANUNCULUS 'SALMON' RANUNCULUS 'TIGER' Large flower heads in soft shades of rose- This beautiful mix of tall, healthy flowers Flower arrangers will go crazy over this pink sit atop long, strong stems, making includes shades of salmon and peach variety, which looks like a flower in a this an excellent cut flower. This variety with a small percentage of warm, glowing Dutch still-life painting. The unusual is a bit more heat-tolerant than other bubblegum-pink blooms. Slightly ruffled color range of ivory, pale lemon, and ranunculus. petals make this customer favorite all the buttercream edged with cranberry and more pretty. This variety is a bit more heat- burgundy makes this a great bridge for tolerant than other ranunculus. design work. RANUNCULUS 'WHITE' RANUNCULUS 'WHITE PICOTEE' This lovely, abundantly flowering variety This variety has a stunning range of ivory has the most perfect snow-white blooms. and white flowers with varying degrees Extremely versatile and a must-grow for of cranberry, magenta, and pink edging, wedding and event work. giving the blooms a lacy quality. No two blooms are the same, and these romantic treasures are ideal for wedding work. WWW.FLORETFLOWERS.COM © FLORET LLC.