What to do when they arrive…

When beginning your journey with Anemones, Ranunculus, and Butterfly Ranunculus, proper preparation of corms and pots is key to healthy, flourishing plants. For Anemones and standard Ranunculus, it is best to start them off in either 15-cell trays or 9 cm pots. However, Butterfly Ranunculus, being larger in size, will require a 1-litre pot to accommodate their growth.

By using these pot sizes, you can avoid the need for potting on between the initial planting and when it comes time to plant them out, which typically occurs in January. During the months leading up to planting out, it is advisable to start feeding the plants every 10 days or so, beginning two to three months from starting.

Do not start corms in winter the light levels are too low and the greenhouse too cold to support newly sprouted corms, they need time to acclimatise slowly.

Pre-Sprouting and Soaking Corms

When your corms arrive, you will notice they are in a dried and dehydrated state. This process shrinks the corms and keeps them dormant during their journey to you. To awaken the corms from dormancy, it is essential to soak them for the appropriate amount of time:

• Ranunculus: Soak for 2–3 hours.
• Butterfly Ranunculus: Soak for 2–3 hours.
• Anemones: Soak for 12 hours—overnight is preferred for best results.

Protection

At this time of year, lids are not required due to the warm conditions. However, it is important to protect your corms from rodents, as they may be tempted to steal them.

Further Support

For further guidance, there are comprehensive videos covering every stage from starting, planting, and harvesting your flowers, available both on the website and in your Grow-A-Long Handbooks.

If you have not yet secured your professional cut flower grade corms—which are a superior quality to those typically found in garden centres—we will add a small collection to the January seed shop in the new year for starting in late Winter. Fresh corms will be delivered to you just ahead of starting so you don’t have to worry about storing them.

How to Grow Ranunculus (Part 1)

This is Part 1 of the videos on Starting your Ranunculus, Anemone and new Butterfly Ranunculus Corms. Lots more to come!

Called the ‘Rose of Spring’, Ranunculus will provide gorgeous blooms throughout the start of the season, giving you an abundance of flowers long before the Roses wake up.

Autumn sown plants will need a protected growing space, either undercover in a greenhouse or polytunnel or in pots in a greenhouse.

They will start blooming well before the last frosts. Frosts will damage the leaves and the flowering stems. The protected growing environment will also give you very tall stems.

By early May, Autumn started corms will begin to shut down due to the very warm polytunnel temperatures.

Plants have also been growing a very long time so in late Winter/early Spring I sow another round of corms. This 2nd sowing will give me flowers in May and June, and depending on your local conditions, you might still be picking flowers in early July.

REMINDER: DO NOT START CORMS DECEMBER OR JANUARY – LIGHT LEVELS ARE TOO LOW AND CORMS COULD ROT IN THE COLD.

How to Grow Anemones (Part 2)

This is Part 2 of 3 videos on Starting your Ranunculus, Anemone and new Butterfly Ranunculus Corms.

Floral designers will be very familiar with these statuesque cut flower types which flood the flower markets throughout the cooler months.

Blooming long before the roses and sweet peas, Ranunculus and Anemones will transform arrangements and bring early colour to the garden.

The Ranunculaceae family are quite shallow rooting so I have trialled growing both Anemones and Ranunculus in pots over the last few years and have found them to do really well.

Some protection from the weather will be needed, and this is made easier by growing in pots.
You can simply move them out of harms way into a sheltered location during adverse weather conditions. Especially helpful if you don’t have a greenhouse or polytunnel.

By early May, Autumn started corms will begin to shut down due to the very warm polytunnel temperatures. Plants have also been growing a very long time so in late Winter/early Spring I sow another round of corms.

This 2nd sowing will give me flowers in May and June, and depending on your local conditions, you might still be picking flowers in early July.

REMINDER: DO NOT START CORMS DECEMBER OR JANUARY – LIGHT LEVELS ARE TOO LOW AND CORMS COULD ROT IN THE COLD.

How to Grow Butterfly Ranunculus (Part 3)

Butterfly Ranunculus are grown in much the same was as the Rose shaped cut flower Ranunculus, however they will need a bigger pot for starting off (1L see video for exact measurements with a tape measure!) and more space at planting out time. I will provide detailed planting advice for both containers and planting in the ground near the time.

IF you are worried about ‘over watering’ start in a 9cm pot and move on to the 1L size once the plant has grown and filled the container. Don’t let them get root bound. The will stop growing and plants will be smaller.

This video also includes information on high domed propagators (unheated) for protecting corms from mice and other rodents as they sprout and a quick catch up on the Anemones.

Happy growing!

Anemones, Ranunculus and Butterfly Ranunculus, what to expect weeks 1-5 from starting.

Grow-A-Long update This video shows you the stages of growth from week 1-5. At the end of the video is a ‘real time’ update from my greenhouse today as well as tips on giving corms a jump start.

Much more information included in your Handbook!

Watering Pre-Spouting Ranunculus and Anemones

Spot watering Individual cells can dry out at different rates depending on their position in the greenhouse. Check and spot water as required.

Not needing to water is a sign that your greenhouse or trays are not in the right location.

Small mini greenhouses can be easily moved.

The dipping light levels can plunge a previously sunny location into shade.

Make sure you secure mini greenhouses (I call them Zippy’s) to prevent them from being blown over in strong winds and ruining your hard work.

More information can be found on my website under Shopping List where I walk you through all the kit I use. Printable list available in your handbook.

Anemones, Ranunculus and Butterfly Ranunculus, what to expect weeks 1-5 from starting.

Starting Anemones, Ranunculus & Butterfly Ranunculus in Vermiculite

If you have ever had problems rotting your corms when starting them off I have a different method for you to try.

Ranunculus come up relatively quickly however Anemones take longer and it temping to ‘give them another water’ if you don’t see a shoot, or treat them all the same and water as a task to do.

The next thing you know is the corms have gone swishy like ‘chewing gum’.

Below I have added links to the individual dedicated videos on starting these beautiful plants.

Hope this helps you have spectacular success!

Love Zoe

Ranunculus and Anemone Update early November

‘The Corms are Shooting Time to Pot them Up’

Don’t forget to check your vermiculite started corms, mine where started on the 19th October and are off to the races!