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Commonly known as Persian buttercup or Crowfoot this member of the Ranunculaceae family is from south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia. Ranunculi are among the most popular flowering garden plants. Colours range from purple to red, orange, gold, yellow, cream, white, pink and delicate rose. These Ranunculus asiaticus hybrids are bushy plants and flower for a long period. The bright green foliage sets off the multicoloured blooms to stunning effect. They are winter growing bulbs and flowers from late winter to early spring. They make excellent cut flowers and will last long in a vase. Ranunculi prefer full sun, and will not grow in full shade. Ranunculi look great anywhere in the garden. With their multicoloured brightness they light up a mixed border when planted in groups of 25 or 50 among low- growing shrubs, annuals and perennials. Ranunculi are related to the equally stunning Anemone and have similar requirements.
Space the corms about 12 cm apart and plant them with the claws pointing downwards, with 3 cm of soil covering the tops. Using a bulb planting tool will help you to plant them at the correct depth. Ranunculi should be planted in autumn, when the soil temperature has started to cool down. Ranunculi prefer full sun, and will not grow in full shade. Paradoxically, there are two opposing conditions that can cause Ranunculi not to flower successfully. The one is overwatering and the other is under watering. It is important to water every 4 to 5 days, deeply. The soil must be well- drained. If you doubt your ability to judge the moisture level of the soil, invest in a moisture probe, which takes the guesswork out of watering. To ensure years of striking flowers from your Ranunculi bulbs it is recommended that you feed them with bulb food when planting and at two week intervals during the growing season. If you are going to lift them from the soil when they go dormant it is a good idea to plant them in a Bulb Planter Tray to avoid damage and loss of bulbs. |