The Gardeners Almanac

The place to find out what to do in the garden this week
My Back Garden

Ranunculus


Related Links

Week Numbers

Compost

Containers

Fertiliser

Frost pockets

Heating

Planting out

Pricking out

Seed sowing

Ventilation

Watering

Overview:

A collection of mixed coloured flowers

Mixed Coloured Variety

Ranunculus asiaticus are more suited to Greenhouse or Container cultivation due to the UK's variable climate.

Containers can be placed outdoors in warm sheltered areas during the summer months, then placed in a frost free area for the winter.


They make ideal cut flowers growing to about 250mm (10”) to 600mm (24”) high dependant on variety.

The colours range through White, Yellow, Orange, Pink and Red and the flowers may be single or double subject to variety.


Cultivation

They should be kept cool 15-18°C (60-65°F) during the day and frost-free by night.

If temperatures are too high, plants become leggy and require staking.


Autumn sown plants should flower the following April indoors, and June-August if grown outdoors.

They must not be allowed to dry out, keep the greenhouse well damped down and ventilated on very hot days.


Week 15>

Regularly feed with a high potash fertilizer from now on.


Week 20:

If growing outdoors, plant them about 75mm (3") deep and 75mm (3") apart in a rich soil.

Incorporate well rotted manure to ensure strong plants with large flowers.

They should be planted claws downwards.


Circa Week 30:

Lift outdoor grown tubers (claws) after plants have died down and place in dry sand and store in frost free coldframe or greenhouse until required the following spring.


Week 32:

Sow seed anytime from now until October on moist seed compost and cover with vermiculite, this will keep the seeds moist but allow light and air to reach them.

Place in sealed plastic bag into refrigerator and keep at a temperature of 4°C (40°F) for a week, then place them in a propagator at a temperature of 15°C (60°F).

Seeds should take about three weeks to germinate.


Week 36:

If large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into pots / boxes of potting compost and grow on in a frost free area until the following spring.


Week 40:

Soak saved tubers for 24 hours, and plant them up into 125-150mm (5”-6”) pots filled with potting compost, keep them cool and moist.