Ranunculus are quickly becoming one of my favourite flowers to grow in my flower garden. Their double florette is so beautiful and delicate and mixes beautifully with my other favourite flower: peonies. Ranunculus flowers are a great option to consider if you’re planning on starting a cut flower garden because they come in a wide range of colours and their crepe paper-like texture adds a soft feel to a bouquet.
Because a ranunculus can withstand temperatures down to -5 C they are a great option for us cool, weather gardeners because we can plant them when the ground starts to thaw without having to store them in our garages until the days and nights are consistently above freezing.
The only downside is they require a few extra steps about 6 or 7 weeks before you can plant them outside.
Four Easy Steps for Starting Ranunculus Corms:
Soak the corms.
Soak for a minimum of 4 hours to a maximum of 24 hours before planting. Less soaking time is ideal otherwise you run the risk of your corms turning to mush and you won’t be able to plant them. Soak your corms until they appear plump but aren’t mushy.
Pre-Sprout in a Cool, Dark Place
You don’t necessarily have to pre-sprout your ranunculus corms, but I have always had better luck when I do. You can choose to skip this step all together, opting to plant directly into potting soil for starting indoors. If you choose to pre-sprout, store the ranunculus corms in a cool, dark space for about two weeks. Make sure to check on them every 3 days or so to see if they need more water or not. You don’t want them drying out again, but give them too much water and they will turn to mush and start to rot. This step is a balancing game.
Start Indoors
Days to maturity is about 90 days for ranunculus. That means that technically you could delay this whole process and plant your corms directly into the garden late April or early May, when temperatures are consistently above -5 C. However, ranunculus blooms are thriftier in the cool weather so if blooms are delayed until August it is likely the weather will be too hot and your blooms will wither. That is why I start mine as early as I do so I get blooms late May or early June.
Harden Off
Again, this step is optional. I will harden my sprouts off the same way I do my vegetables by simply setting them outside during the days and bringing them back in at night. But, if you have a hoop house or cold cover, you can plant them directly in the ground and use your structure for shelter.
When it is time for me to plant the sprouts, there is often still the risk of frost. I’m typically planting out at the beginning of May, yet our last frost date is about 3 weeks later than this. During this time, I monitor the weather closely, and if there is a risk of frost that night, I will simply drape a sheet over my plants, using some garden stakes so the sheet doesn’t crush them. This is an easy and inexpensive option for someone who is just starting out and doesn’t have cold frames or hoops yet.
FAQ:
When should you start your ranunculus?
This all depends on what zone you’re in, but I would say that the best timeline to follow is about 90 days before the weather gets above 25C / 77 F. For me in zone 3b, that is the beginning of March, or late Feb at the earliest. I aim for March 10 as my absolute deadline to start my corms.
Can you grow ranunculus in containers?
Absolutely! If it’s your first year or you don’t have an established cut flower garden it might actually be considered better since there will be less competition from weeds and you have better control over the soil mix.
Can you overwinter ranunculus corms?
Yes, again! There is some work involved but it can be very rewarding and can save you money in the long run instead of having to repurchase every year! Check out my other post for how to do it!
I hope you found this article helpful when starting your ranunculus this year! Make sure you subscribe for more gardening tips!
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