I think you did very well considering you were working with last year's ranunculus corms. I soaked, pre-sprouted and planted 70 new ranunculus this early spring; only about 20 grew into plants and when they started producing blooms they were decimated by thrips. I had to pull them all out and discard them before the rest of my garden was infected...such waste of time and money...I don't think I'm planting them again to be honest...
It seems like the ones that do so well are all fall-sown. I’m still learning too. Mine that overwintered did really well well but I don’t think they would survive the winter in my zone. The ones I mulched heavily also did better that the unmulched ones. I mulch with hay from my chicken coop so they were probably pretty well fertilized too😂. Thanks for taking the time notes. It’s inspiring
I learned my first year that everything for spring and early summer has to be fall sown. Mulching seems to be the way forward and is much easier than digging up and storing. Maybe I need to get me some chickens…
To feed your plants you can start with a kelp liquid concentrate, or maybe even make it if you’re in a beach town! I use it when transplanting and it’s the best support for transplant shock. Because it’s higher in nitrogen I only use it 1 or 2 times, so it doesn’t attract aphids. Give it a try!
My ranunculus was nothing short of pathetic!! 3 flowers from about 40 corms, but I thinks there are few things going on! They are from last year, they were not great then either 🤦🏻♀️ I presprouted in Jan I think, planted out about 6 weeks ago in a low tunnel but was worried they would get too hot (sudden heat wave) so took tunnel off🤷♀️ I am now going to pull them out, they are taking up valuable space!! I think it’s also to do with the size of the corms, they were tiny so I need to dig deep in my pockets and buy bigger ones, I will have a big tunnel by next winter so will put them in there, I am based on the west coat of Scotland where it is VERY wet, hence the low tunnel!!
Yay to the west coast, I was born on the Isle of Lewis. The corns like to be a bit cold I think (but not frozen) we are mild here so I put mine out in October as they take a long time to grown big and strong. If you are going to put them under a low tunnel you could try putting them in much earlier and maybe put a straw mulch down if it is going to be really cold? Good luck.
Thank you for the update. I may have to give ranunculus another try. I'd be happy to send you some pastel-colored corms, if there aren't any restrictions shipping to Japan. I've just completed planting my cut flower garden, using every bit of space in my small yard in Portland, Oregon, zone 8b.
Thank you so much for the lovely offer unfortunately Japanese customs control wouldn’t be as excited as me. No seeds, corms, bulbs or tubers allowed in.
I think you did very well considering you were working with last year's ranunculus corms. I soaked, pre-sprouted and planted 70 new ranunculus this early spring; only about 20 grew into plants and when they started producing blooms they were decimated by thrips. I had to pull them all out and discard them before the rest of my garden was infected...such waste of time and money...I don't think I'm planting them again to be honest...
Oh that is so sad, I’m sorry. Stupid Thrips.
It seems like the ones that do so well are all fall-sown. I’m still learning too. Mine that overwintered did really well well but I don’t think they would survive the winter in my zone. The ones I mulched heavily also did better that the unmulched ones. I mulch with hay from my chicken coop so they were probably pretty well fertilized too😂. Thanks for taking the time notes. It’s inspiring
I also had moldy corms trying to to pre sprout. Very frustrating
I learned my first year that everything for spring and early summer has to be fall sown. Mulching seems to be the way forward and is much easier than digging up and storing. Maybe I need to get me some chickens…
To feed your plants you can start with a kelp liquid concentrate, or maybe even make it if you’re in a beach town! I use it when transplanting and it’s the best support for transplant shock. Because it’s higher in nitrogen I only use it 1 or 2 times, so it doesn’t attract aphids. Give it a try!
I actually made my own last year as we are near the beach, I think I just have to do it more regularly than I was.
My ranunculus was nothing short of pathetic!! 3 flowers from about 40 corms, but I thinks there are few things going on! They are from last year, they were not great then either 🤦🏻♀️ I presprouted in Jan I think, planted out about 6 weeks ago in a low tunnel but was worried they would get too hot (sudden heat wave) so took tunnel off🤷♀️ I am now going to pull them out, they are taking up valuable space!! I think it’s also to do with the size of the corms, they were tiny so I need to dig deep in my pockets and buy bigger ones, I will have a big tunnel by next winter so will put them in there, I am based on the west coat of Scotland where it is VERY wet, hence the low tunnel!!
Yay to the west coast, I was born on the Isle of Lewis. The corns like to be a bit cold I think (but not frozen) we are mild here so I put mine out in October as they take a long time to grown big and strong. If you are going to put them under a low tunnel you could try putting them in much earlier and maybe put a straw mulch down if it is going to be really cold? Good luck.
@@fromthewitchsgarden I was brought up on Eriskay so we are practically neighbours 😂
Yes different approach for next season and bigger corms🤞
Thank you for the update. I may have to give ranunculus another try. I'd be happy to send you some pastel-colored corms, if there aren't any restrictions shipping to Japan. I've just completed planting my cut flower garden, using every bit of space in my small yard in Portland, Oregon, zone 8b.
Thank you so much for the lovely offer unfortunately Japanese customs control wouldn’t be as excited as me. No seeds, corms, bulbs or tubers allowed in.