Crocuses: planting and care in the open field

Ways to use saffron for landscaping the site and as a spice

Crocuses are indispensable for rock gardens, beautiful in groups near evergreen shrubs, great in mixborders, go well with all other early flowering miniature plants.

Good partner plants for them are gray fescue, felted fescue, and autumn sesleria.

Saffron is deservedly called the "king of spices" in the cuisine of many countries. It has gained immense popularity for its exquisite aroma, unsurpassed taste and the ability to color dishes in very beautiful golden colors.

In Europe and North America, the most extensive application of saffron spice is in the production of confectionery. It is used as an additive to cakes, pastries, muffins, rum babas, and biscuits. This spice gives a unique taste to various sweet dishes - mousses, jellies, creams, fruit gravies, ice cream. In Indian cuisine, it is often added to a variety of desserts and sweets - rice pudding (khiire), srikhand yoghurt drink, etc.

In the production of alcoholic beverages, it is often used to flavor and color various liqueurs.

Crocus planting dates in 2020

What month to plant crocuses in the fall

Tentatively, the primrose crocus bulbs are placed in the ground from late August to early November. The exact dates of planting depend on the climate of the area in which the flower garden is located and the weather in a given season.

As a rule, all bulbous flowers (crocuses, muscari, tulips, hyacinths) are planted at the same time.

Plants need about 4-5 weeks of comfortable warm weather for successful rooting.

Term, when to plant crocuses in open ground in the fall, set a month before the onset of frost, in which the soil will freeze to a depth of 10-15 cm.

Lunar calendar

For those gardeners who adhere to the recommendations of the lunar calendar, in 2020 favorable days for planting plants are as follows:

• September: 3-9, 15, 16, 19-21, 24-30
• October: 3-6, 8-11, 13-15, 36-28

In 2020, crocuses of the autumn flowering period are recommended to be planted:

• July - 6-8, 13-18, 23-27
• August - 5-10

In 2020, unfavorable days fall on the following dates:

• January - 9-11, 24, 25
• February - 9, 23, 24
• March - 9, 10, 24
• April - 8, 23
• May - 7, 8, 22, 23
• June - 5, 6, 21

When to plant crocuses in the fall in the Moscow region and other regions

In the Moscow region and Central Russia, flower bulbs are placed in the open field at the end of September - October. The exact date will be determined by the gardener himself, focusing on the weather in his area. If early winter is expected, flowers are planted earlier.

Crocus is planted in the Leningrad Region in October.

The climatic conditions of the Urals and Siberia are harsh, the autumn is short, the first frosts on the soil occur in September. It is not worth delaying the planting of a perennial; the bulbs are placed in the ground in September.

For the winter, it is recommended to cover bulbous plants with fallen leaves, sawdust, spruce branches.

In the south of our country, a warm long autumn allows you to start planting at the end of October. The culture does not need shelter for the winter.

In Ukraine, the climate is as mild as in the south of Russia. Crocus planting dates are the same as in the Krasnodar Territory and the Stavropol Territory - the end of October.

In Belarus, the autumn weather is somewhat different, depending on the region of the country. In the north, crocuses are planted in the ground in early October, in the south - at the end of the month.

The gardener is advised to observe the weather in his area, recording the timing of the arrival of cold weather and thaws, droughts and rainy years in a diary. By analyzing records for several years, you can deduce the optimal time for working with plants in a specific area.

6 pests and diseases

• Crocuses will not bloom without preliminary cold stratification, which is carried out for at least a week.
• When the water stagnates, the bulbs rot and the leaves turn yellow.
• Sometimes viral diseases appear.
• From fungal diseases on the flower, gray rot, fusarium can appear.

• Flowering may not occur if the dormant period spent by the bulbs in a cool place is shorter than 3 months.

When grown outdoors, the bulbs can be eaten by mice. Also, harmful insects such as wireworms, slugs and snails can appear on the street. Both at home and on the street, aphids and thrips can attack crocuses.

Insects are pests

• Aphid

• Thrips

• Slugs and snails

• Wireworm

Saffron (crocus): description, varieties, varieties

Saffron (crocus) is a famous representative of the Iris family. This herbaceous plant can be found in natural conditions, mainly in the steppe and meadow zones of Europe, as well as in parts of Asia and the Middle East.

The well-known saffron is made from the yellow stigmas of crocus flowers, which are ground and then carefully dried. Saffron can be used as a coloring pigment and, of course, in cooking.

In nature, there are two main varieties of saffron: spring (bloom exclusively in the spring) and autumn, whose delicate flowers can be seen on the surface of the soil no earlier than September. In total, there are about 15 plant groups in the world, among which only one is autumnal.

Blooming crocus

The plant is represented by small flower-buds, reaching a length of no more than 8 cm. The leaves of the plant are folded into a bunch. But on the surface of the soil, they can be seen either before the flowering of the plant, or after.

Consider the best representatives of the autumn and spring species. Among the spring variety of varieties, the following can perhaps be distinguished:

• Crocus two-flowered. In natural conditions, it can be found in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, as well as in a wide strip from Italy to Iran.From one (which is understandable by the name) corms grow 2 medium-sized flowers of white, lilac with blueness or white with thin purple stripes. The pharynx can be either yellow or white.
• Spring crocus. The variety has been known to the world for over 400 years. It grows quite tall: it can reach 17 cm. The leaves are very narrow, straight, rich green shade, with a pronounced white stripe. From one corm grows on average 1-2 beautiful flowers of pale lilac and white. It pleases with its luxurious flowering in spring for 2-3 weeks.
• Crocus golden. The plant is very fond of rocky slopes. Therefore, it can often be found in the mountains. The plant is quite tall - it can reach a height of 20 cm. The flower petals are distinguished by a beautiful pale golden color. Some varieties have small brown markings on the outside of the petals. This spring species has been cultivated for about 150 years.

Crocus golden

• Crocus Banat. It is found mainly in the Balkans and the Carpathians. This autumn species has been cultivated for almost 400 years. Differs in an unusual appearance. So, its leaves have a delicate gray color, and the flowers are light lilac with bright yellow stigmas. The height of the plant is small - the flowers rarely rise above the surface of the earth above 13-14 cm.
• Crocus is pretty. A very beautiful compact plant (up to 10 cm in height), the rather large flowers of which brightly dazzle on the surface of the earth with their light purple petals. Despite the apparent fragility, the autumn crocus is pretty - the plant is quite hardy and can easily withstand small frosts.

How to store bulbs

The dug out bulbs are placed in a shaded place to dry. Then, soil residues, dead scales and roots are removed from them. Then they are placed in a box or in a box, stacked in one layer. Very small onions can be placed in candy boxes. In the room where the bulbs will be stored until August, the air temperature must be at least 22 degrees, otherwise the process of laying flower buds will be disrupted. In early August, the room temperature should be reduced to 20 degrees, and after 7 days - to 15 degrees. However, these ideal storage conditions for crocus planting material can sometimes be created only in specialized farms. For the storage of bulbs, amateur gardeners choose a dry, dark room that is well ventilated, while the air temperature there should be room temperature.

Care features

All varieties of saffron, including the autumn-flowering crocus, differ in simple care requirements, but in order for such flowers to look as bright as possible and bloom as long as possible, it will be useful to follow a number of rules.

Watering

Autumn crocuses, depending on the variety, may need regular and intensive watering, but most varieties still tolerate a long lack of moisture and can feel great in moderately moist soil.

If you have planted autumn crocuses in a sunny area, and the summer is hot and without rain, then it is recommended to spread a high-quality layer of mulch from needles, sawdust, straw or rotted manure near the flower. If crocuses are planted in a monsoon climate, then a drainage layer is organized in the hole of the plant, and the near-stem circle near the plant is covered with sand to drain moisture.

As a rule, crocuses do not need more watering during the flowering period, unlike other horticultural crops. If in your region there is a dry spring with little snow in winter, then sometimes watering the crocuses is still worth it - this will help them form healthy bulbs.

Top dressing

If the autumn crocuses planted in open ground do not need special watering, then these garden crops cannot do without fertilizers.Phosphorus and potash fertilizers improve the appearance of plant leaves, freshen the color of the buds and prolong the flowering period of saffron. As a rule, top dressing is introduced into the soil to increase the number of shoots or during viral or fungal diseases.

From a large amount of fertilizer, the plant will acquire many green shoots, but the number of buds will remain the same. During the summer and until the very end of flowering, saffron should not be fertilized.

Particularly noteworthy is the feeding of saffron during its transplantation to a new place. In this case, the soil for planting is thoroughly prepared. It is best to choose a mixture of meadow soil, sand or fine gravel as a substrate. This will make the soil lighter and more airy, allowing air and moisture to be absorbed more efficiently into the soil. If depleted soil with a small amount of nutrients is observed at the site of saffron planting, rotted manure is introduced into the soil.

Loosening

Usually, autumn crocuses are planted in the summer or late spring, and therefore some conditions for caring for such plants are different. For example, throughout the entire period of active growth and until flowering, the soil in the near-stem circle near the autumn saffron must be regularly loosened. This will not only allow moisture to pass quickly to the plant bulb, but also provide good air permeability.

Chrysanthus

Ornamental plants of the chrysanthus group contain a large number of crocus varieties that delight with yellow and light blue flowers. Among the most spectacular varieties, it is worth highlighting:

Crocus Gypsy Girl

• Gypsy Girl is a variety whose cupped flowers are wide open. The inner surface of the petals is painted in yellow tones, and the outer surface in creamy yellow shades.
• Marietta is an amazing plant that effectively combines the bright yellow and cream tones of the petals. The petals are naturally oval shaped. Yellow crocuses can decorate any flower bed.
• Lady Keeler is an ornamental crop whose flowers look completely flat despite their cupped shape. The diameter can be up to 3 cm across.
• Saturnus is characterized by flat, wide-open flowers, the diameter of which is in the range of 32-35 mm. The tops of the lobes, painted in a creamy palette, are slightly elongated. At the base of the lobes, spots of a brown-green hue can be found.

Planting crocuses in open ground

The best time to plant

The exact timing of planting crocus bulbs depends on the period of their flowering. So plants that bloom in the spring must be planted in the beds in the fall. Autumn-flowering crocus varieties can be planted during the summer. But the requirements for places for placement do not differ from them. A sunny corner is suitable for crocus, although these plants do well even in sufficient shade. The soil for planting should be light and nutritious, and not too acidic. Dry and loose soils are suitable, in which water does not stagnate. To provide a drainage layer, sand is applied to the bed, but fine gravel is also suitable. When preparing the beds, you can add to the soil and organic matter. For this, compost, rotted (not fresh) manure or lime are mixed with peat. Clay soil can be supplemented with wood ash.

Some crocus species are only able to thrive well in dry ground. Wet beds will not work for them: it is best to use raised beds. Drainage for such high flower beds is made of crushed stone or gravel.

Before planting, all crocus bulbs must be carefully examined, picking out the affected or dented ones.

Planting crocuses in spring

Planting in autumn

For crocuses to bloom next spring, they must be planted in September. Dig up the future bed properly. The depth of the planting hole is calculated based on the size of the bulbs: it should exceed it by about 2 times.If the soil in the garden bed is too dense and heavy, one size deepening will suffice. Moreover, the deeper the bulb is planted, the larger it will become, but the smaller the foliage will be. Typically, deep planting is practiced to obtain large forcing bulbs. For quick reproduction, the bulbs should not be buried so deeply.

The distance between the holes should be about 8-10 cm. Too close plantings may require earlier planting. Usually, saffron grows in one place for about 4-5 years. During this time, each bulb forms a row of children, occupying the surrounding space. After the crocus plot turns into a dense carpet, the flowers are planted. The planted corms are properly watered.

Forcing crocuses in winter

In the cold season, garden flowers are often grown at home. Bulbous plants are considered one of the most suitable for this, including crocuses. The forcing process allows you to enjoy the sight of their flowers at the chosen time, without waiting for spring. For her, it is recommended to choose large-flowered varieties of crocuses.

Of all the bulbs, about 10 pieces of a similar size are selected. They are planted in a large, wide, but not deep container. As a substrate, you can use any sufficiently loose soil of a neutral reaction, in which water does not stagnate. In it, the onions can sprout and form a real mini-bouquet.

After flowering, the corms are not thrown away. Plantings continue to be watered and lightly fed. When the foliage begins to turn yellow, watering begins to decrease until it stops altogether. After complete drying of the aboveground part, the onions are pulled out of the ground and cleaned of soil residues. Then they are wrapped in napkins and put in a cardboard box, which will be stored in a dry and unlit place until the autumn planting in the garden.