Whether in a clear creamy white, a bright sunny yellow, a rich carmine red or another color - ranunculus captivates with its wonderful flower colors and its unique face. Do you have something from them in the long term or are they just annuals?

In our country, the ranunculus usually grows as an annual

A tuber as an outlasting organ

After sowing, a tuber forms over the course of several months. It is the outlasting organ of the ranunculus. With the help of their work, the plant can exist for many years (perennial). The ranunculus withdraws into the tuber in autumn and until spring. Towards April it drives out of it again.

Service life - dependent on temperatures

However, in many cases and depending on the variety, the tuber is sensitive to cold. If the temperatures drop below -10 °C and the tuber lies unprotected in the open air about 5 cm below the surface of the earth, it freezes to death.

So if you plan to cultivate your ranunculus for several years, you should ideally dig up the tuber in autumn and move it to a frost-free place. Well suited for overwintering are wooden boxes or simple pots filled with soil. Important: Do not water or fertilize. The tuber should have a resting phase.

Location and maintenance are also important

But not only the temperatures play a role in the question of whether a ranunculus is annual or perennial. Location and maintenance are also important. Provide your ranunculus with a suitable location! Ideally, this is partially shaded. The soil should be permeable to water.

In care, this is important for the perennial:

  • keep soil moistured
  • fertilize regularly
  • Stop fertilizing and watering for hibernation
  • remove old plant parts
  • Prevent seed formation (energy-saving)
  • protect against diseases
  • Avoid being eaten by pests

tips

Since ranunculus can be obtained inexpensively both as plants and as tubers, you do not necessarily have to bother with overwintering. You can also buy and cultivate new ranunculus every year.

Category:

Vegetable garden