Depending on when you planted the onion, the ranunculus will bloom. But how do you plant the onion correctly, what does it actually look like and why does it need gentle treatment in winter?
How to plant ranunculus bulbs correctly?
To plant ranunculus bulbs successfully, they should be planted 2 inches deep in well-drained soil in fall or March after soaking them in water for a few hours. It is important to place the “tentacles” downwards and only use he althy onions.
The bulbs of the ranunculus – strange shapes
The ranunculus bulbs do not look like conventional vegetable onions. This is why they are more commonly referred to as tubers. But this term also quickly leads to misunderstandings. The survival organs of the ranunculus look more like small squid.
They are composed of several elongated, tentacle-like root structures. The 'tentacles' hang together like a tuft and are connected to each other at the top. The shoot sprouts from the top in spring. The color of the tubers is usually light brown to ocher.
Planting onions – when and how?
The time when the bulbs are planted is crucial for good growth. It is best to plant them in the ground in autumn. Then they still have enough time to gain a foothold. Alternatively, you can plant the bulbs in March.
It's not just the timing that's important when planting. You should also pay attention to this:
- only plant he althy onions
- Soak the onions in water for a few hours beforehand
- Set 5 cm deep below the surface of the earth
- with the 'tentacles' down
- permeable soil is necessary (normal potting soil is sufficient)
Propagation – separating breeding tubers
The ranunculus bulbs are the basis of propagation. So-called breeding nodules form on them in summer. They are smaller than the mother tuber. In order to propagate the plant, the breeding tubers must be separated when digging up the mother tuber and planted separately.
Overwintering the bulbs correctly
In order to survive the winter without damage, it is advisable to dig up the bulbs in autumn and overwinter them safely:
- Protect onions outdoors with brushwood, fleece or compost
- Better method: Dig up the onions and put them in them
- Overwintering quarters: frost-free, cool, dark, dry, airy
- z. B. place in sand or a wooden box
Tip
When handling the onions, you should always keep in mind that they, like the other parts of the ranunculus, are poisonous!
