Today this is not a very common plant in Russian gardens, but, judging by the interest, soon all the sympathies of flower growers will be on the side of the ranunculus. On sale there are already tubers of peony buttercups - Ranunculus asiaticus, which have large white, pink and red flowers.
Ranunculus - Asian buttercup, buttercup family. It does not look like an ordinary buttercup, apparently, one of its paradise species came to us. On the field where ranunculus grows, of course, paradise: here are French buttercups - semi-double, here are small Persian ones, but turban-shaped ones - with spherical flowers, huge and densely double. What does ranunculus smell like? Photo - and that seems to convey this fabulous flavor. By all external signs, this is the flower that not only every gardener dreams of. Not a single, even the most strict, woman will refuse such a bouquet. I can’t even believe that in the past they were buttercups - these ranunculus.
Ranunculus reproduction
Reproduction of buttercups occurs with the help of tubers that look like a goose foot. When buying, you need to choose larger, no lessfour "claws" on the paw. Overdried and too soft for planting are most often not suitable. A rather time-consuming, but quite feasible process is the propagation of ranunculus by seeds. Their germination, however, is quite low. Seeds are best taken from the very first and strongest flowers. So that the seeds do not spill out and are not lost when ripe, the flowering heads must be tied with gauze.
Sowing seeds
Ranunculus will be sown in boxes, in spring, in loose and moist soil. Cover from above with the same earth for one and a half to two centimeters and cover with a film. The place where the boxes are located should be warm and bright, constantly ventilated. Excess moisture should not be. After germination, remove the film and grow at a temperature not exceeding eighteen degrees. Lighting should always be very good, otherwise the seedlings stretch up, weaken. When the threat of frost has passed, ranunculus are planted in the ground. At first, you should still cover the seedlings: they can get sick from temperature changes, these are rather delicate flowers.
Ranunculus - planting
In April, nodules should already be planted. The plant is a perennial, but in no case should they be left for the winter - they freeze out. Therefore, landing is made every year anew. Before this, the tubers are placed for several hours in wet sawdust or moss. You can even just soak in water and treat with a growth stimulator, then flowers appear faster. Ranunculus dies if its tubers rot due to waterlogging in rainy weather. Good for preventionone of the antiseptic drugs, for example, "Maxim". It is better to plant buttercups in sunny and wind-protected places in loose and fertile soil. Drainage should be the best. You need to lower the tubers with "claws" down and shallowly - five to eight centimeters. The junction of the "claws" must be directed upwards, otherwise the buttercup will die.
Care
Ranunculus is quite unpretentious: moderate watering, rare loosening, application of organic fertilizers before flowering - that's practically all. The duration of flowering increases if faded heads are removed in time. And, in general, cutting flowers is good for them. Decorate your house with heavenly buttercups until the end of July, and if conditions allow, until mid-August.
Winter storage
Ranunculus does not hibernate in open ground. Even with the most reliable shelter, it dies. It is important to dig up the tubers in time, as soon as the leaves turn yellow. The dried above-ground part of the plant quickly dies, and then, it happens, nothing is found in the ground. After extraction, the tubers are cleaned with a soft brush, the stems are cut, the "children" are separated, dipped in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for fifteen minutes and dried well. Store in sawdust, moss or peat in a cool room. It can be stored in the cellar if it is dry there, 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 the soul to paradise.
