HOW TO GROW: Ranunculus + Anemones
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023Tucking tiny corms into the ground each fall is an act of faith - but year after year it means a spring full of jaw-dropping blooms. Here’s the crash course in planting them.
After a long, cold winter, there’s nothing more exciting than seeing pops of pink and peach in your front yard. In Houston, and anywhere that the ground doesn’t freeze, these corms - kinda like a tiny bulb - can be planted in fall and overwintered. Blooming just 12-15 weeks after planting, you’ll start to see these friendly faces in late winter and very early spring.
When to Plant:
Corms are planted based on USDA Zone.
Don't know your USDA zone?
Google: [your zip code] with the phrase USDA zone to find out!
USDA Zone 6 and lower:
Plant corms late winter to early spring. Corms cannot tollerate temperatures below 25 degrees
USDA Zone 7 and higher:
Plant corms in autumn and overwinter. Corms can tolerate cool temperatures but not a freeze.
All zones:
Have frost cloth on hand for temperatures 32 degrees and below.
My Favorite Blog Post about Corm Planting!
Planting Basics:
TLDR: soak for 4 hours, plant in a sunny location with well draining soil, space 6-9" and plant 2-3" deep. Don't let soil get completely dry OR overly soggy.
The detailed version :)
Start by soaking corms for 4 hours in tap water. If you're planting multiple varieties, I prefer to keep each variety in a separate bowl and use a label to remember what I have.
After soaking, find a location with 6-8 hours (or more!) of sun and well-draining soil. This can be a pot or raised bed. Or even directly into the ground, if you live in an area with well draining soil!
Plant corms pointy side down. Each corm should have 6-9" of space between its neighbor. Each corm should be planted 2-3" deep.
Note: some growers like to pre-sprout. I don't do this, but you certainly can. Floret has great blog posts about pre-sprouting.
Corms do NOT like to be soggy! If your soil is already moist, wait a few days to water. If your soil is dry, water to a depth of 1" (you can tell by sticking your finger into the soil).
Keeping them Happy (how to tend + harvest)
Watering:
Corms should receive 1" of water per week. Usually, there's enough rain in fall or spring, depending upon when you plant. If your garden goes through a dry spell, water for 10 minutes with irrigation or your hose. Overly wet soil will cause the corm to rot, and then you get no flowers at all!
Freezing Temperatures:
Both anemone and ranunculus tolerate cooler weather just fine but neither can handle a hard freeze. In the event of temperatures 32 degrees or lower, cover with frost cloth. Use bamboo stakes or chopsticks to ensure the cloth doesn't touch the leaves or buds. Secure the edge of the frost cloth using landscape staples or rocks so that it doesn't blow away!
Tending:
Once plants are producing blooms, make sure you harvest them! Anemones are ready to harvest when there's 1/4" between the collar and the base of the bloom. Ranunculus are ready to harvest when they're squishy like a marshmallow. If you're not using them for cut flowers, remove the flower and its stem from the plant when the flower starts to fade. Allowing blooms to remain and die back on the plant will ultimately result in fewer blooms.
Following this overview will give you the foundation of a successful spring! Want more details, monthly lessons, and even a private text chat all about growing these? Join our Autumn Grow Along, below!
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