Today this is not a very common plant in Russian gardens, but judging by interest, soon all the sympathies of flower growers will be on the side of ranunculus. On sale there are already tubers of peony buttercups - Ranunculus asiaticus, with large white, pink and red flowers.
Ranunculus is an Asian
buttercup, a family of buttercups. It does not look like an ordinary buttercup, apparently, one of its paradise species came to us. On the field where the ranunculus grows, of course, paradise: here the French buttercups are semi-double, here are small Persian, but the turbaned ones with spherical flowers, huge and densely terry. And what a ranunculus smells like! Photo - and that seems to convey this fabulous fragrance. By all external signs, this is the flower that not only every gardener dreams of. Not one, even the most strict, woman will refuse such a bouquet. I can’t even believe that in the past they were buttercups - these ranunculi.
Ranunculus Reproduction
Reproduction of buttercups occurs with the help of tubers, similar to a goose foot. When buying, you need to choose a larger one, at least four “claws” on the foot. Overdried and too soft for planting are often not suitable. A rather laborious, but quite feasible process is the reproduction of ranunculus by seeds. Their germination, however, is rather low. Seeds are best taken from the very first and strongest flowers. To prevent seeds from ripening and not losing during ripening, the flowering heads must be tied with gauze.
Sowing seeds
Ranunculus is to be sown in boxes, in spring, in loose and moist soil. Cover on top with the same earth for one and a half to two centimeters and cover with a film. The place where the boxes stand must be warm and bright, constantly ventilated. There should not be excess moisture. After germination, remove and grow the film at a temperature not exceeding eighteen degrees. Lighting should always be very good, otherwise seedlings stretch up, weaken. When the threat of frost passes, ranunculi are planted in the ground. At first, you should still shelter seedlings: they can get sick from temperature changes, these are pretty delicate flowers.
Ranunculus - landing
In April, nodules should already be planted. This plant is perennial, but it is impossible to leave them for the winter in any case - they freeze out. Therefore, landing is performed every year anew. Before this, the tubers are placed for several hours in moist sawdust or moss. You can even just soak it in water and treat it with a growth stimulator, then flowers appear faster. Ranunculus dies if its tubers rot in wet weather due to excessive moisture. For prevention, it’s good to use one of the antiseptic preparations, for example, Maxim. It is better to plant buttercups on sunny and protected from the wind places in loose and fertile soil. Drainage should be the best. You need to lower the tubers with “claws” down and not deep - by five to eight centimeters. The junction of the "claws" must be directed upward, otherwise the buttercup will die.
Care
Ranunculus is quite unpretentious: moderate watering, rare loosening, the introduction of organic fertilizers before flowering - that’s practically all. The flowering time increases if the flowering heads are removed in time. And, in general, cutting flowers to their advantage. Decorate your home with paradise buttercups until the end of July, and if conditions allow, then until mid-August.
Winter storage
In the open field, the buttercup does not winter. Even with the most reliable shelter dies. It is important to dig up the tubers on time as soon as the leaves turn yellow. The dried up part of the plant quickly dies, and then, it happens, they find nothing in the earth. After extraction, the tubers are cleaned with a soft brush, the stems are cut, the “children” are separated, dipped for fifteen minutes in a pink potassium permanganate solution and dried well. Store in sawdust, moss or peat in a cool room. Can be stored in the cellar if it is dry, in the basement and even in the refrigerator, instead of vegetables. If nothing bad happens in winter, in summer these wonderful flowers - ranunculus will again take their souls to paradise.