Ranunculus Growing Guide

Feb 13

Hello Friends of the Garden,

In our last chat I mentioned providing a ranunculus growing guide.

Here at Sunnydell one of the brightest stars in our gardens at the peak of Spring is the Ranunuculus.

With a slight spicy, citrusy fragrance, tall sturdy stems and an assortment of ruffled blooms how could anyone resist this beauty.

So today we are going to dip deeper into soaking, pre-sprouting, planting and enjoying the gorgeous blooms of the ranunculus also known as the “Rose of Spring.”

With a little bit of care and determination every gardener is capable of growing ranunculus.

What To Expect Of The Ranunculus

Most ranunculus will begin flowering about 3 months after planting.

Blooming is usually 4-7 weeks long depending on planting time and your climate.

Ranunculus are usually treated as an annual. Purchasing and planting fresh corns yearly ensures a great and beautiful crop of blooms.

How To Grow Ranunculus

Determine your growing zone to determine if you should plant in the Spring or Fall.

As strange as these little octopus looking corns are- have faith, they really will turn into these beauties!
Soak corns in a clean bucket of water that is at room temperature for 3-4 hours.
I place my corns in organza bags and label them so I remember what color I am planting.
After soaking I plant the corns directly into my Bootstrap Farmer propagation trays or a flat bottom seed tray.
This is called presprouting and gives us a jump start on the growing season.
Fill a seed tray about half full with potting soil.
Place soaked corns claws down and cover with soil.
Keep lightly moist.
Place in a cool dark spot about 50 degrees. (basement )
Check frequently for rot.
After about two weeks corn will develop roots and begin to sprout.
This is an ideal time to plant them in a heated greenhouse if you are zone 6b or colder zones.

Ranunuculs bouquets have a very long vase life.

Ranunuculus Corns-look like little octopus.
Notice how they are shriveled looking, but after soaking for 3- 4 hours in organza bags they plump right up.

Warmer Climate Planting Guides

Growing ranunculus in warmer climates means you will most likely plant directly into the soil in the Fall and let the corns over winter.

If you plant in the Spring do so early enough that your blooms beat the heat of Summer.

Colder Climate Planting Guides

Growing ranunculus in colder climates means you most likely will pre-sprout corns in order to get a jump start on the growing season. You will need a method of frost protection and minimial heat.

All of these recommendations are based on your growing setup.

General information-ranuculus will freeze if temperatures drop below 25 degrees.