We plant and care for crocuses correctly

Crocus species

As mentioned above, these flowers come in many varieties. All their diversity can be represented in the form of the following groups:

• Botanical or early spring blooming;
• Large-flowered or blooming in spring;
• Blooming in the fall.

Botanical

The first group includes plants in which flowering occurs immediately after the last snow melts. This usually happens between February and April.

The most striking varieties representing this group are the following:

• Blue pearl. Its main wealth is flowers of a pale blue color. The inflorescence base is yellow. The plant is distinguished by early and abundant flowering.
• Yellow. The most popular crocus variety. It got its name because of the special color during flowering, which is always abundant.
• Prince Claus. According to many growers, this is the most beautiful variety among all bred for all time. It stands out from others in its white color, which is perfectly complemented by a bright purple back.

Large-flowered

In these plants, flowering occurs 10 days after the first group. Large buds are the main distinguishing feature of large-flowered crocuses. Among the varieties belonging to this group, the following should be noted:

• Jeanna D'Arc. A plant with snow-white flowers, in which the base has a delicate lilac color, reaches a height of about 4 cm. The ovaries are formed in mid-April.
• Pickwick. A variety with large inflorescences that have an original color, represented by a combination of white and purple.
• Flower Record. A plant with a low stem and a large purple flower with a dark base. In the conditions of our country, this crocus begins to bloom at the end of April.

Blooming in autumn

These crocuses bloom in late September or early October. Older specimens shed their leaves in summer, but buds appear in the fall.

The most famous among the crocuses of this group are the following:

• Long-flowered. A variety that begins to bloom in early November.
• Holoflower. A plant with beautiful purple flowers.
• Pale ocher. During the flowering period, cream-colored flowers grow on the stem.

Major mistakes

Improper preparation and wrong planting timing result in freezing, early germination or lack of flowering.

Violation of the timing of planting and digging out the bulbs

You cannot dig up a bulb with a green stem and leaves, otherwise useful substances will not accumulate in it. It is also not recommended to delay transplanting and planting until late autumn - the children will freeze or rot.

The bulbs are dug up in August, after the stems and leaves have dried. They can be stored in a semi-dark cellar, pantry at + 10-12 degrees, constantly ventilating.

Direct exposure to sunlight

The sun dries up the bulbs, they become unusable. If the children are kept in a sunny place, the plants will bloom late.

Planting bulbs without pre-cooling

The cold stimulates the immune system and the growth of daffodils. Therefore, the onions must be stored at a low temperature. Without refrigeration, the flower will grow weak and painful.

How to care for a plant in the garden

Having planted young crocuses in the garden, they must be properly looked after.

Watering and feeding

Adherence to agricultural techniques for growing saffron will help grow healthy flowers. When caring for a plant, it must be properly watered and fed. If the area with the planted plants was covered with a dense layer of snow in winter, watering is not necessary. A large amount of moisture negatively affects the growth of crocuses. However, if there was no snow, you will have to moisten the soil every 2-3 months.

Top dressing is applied once - when planting the bulbs. Potash and phosphorus fertilizers are applied to the soil.

Loosening the soil

It seems to some that it is not necessary to loosen the soil, but this is not the case. In order for the flowers to grow and bloom normally, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil. This promotes the supply of oxygen and moisture to the topsoil. Loosening is recommended after each watering and lingering rains, when the ground is covered with a dense crust.

Flower pests and diseases: prevention and treatment

Crocuses that are planted often suffer from viral diseases, due to which deformation and cracking of the petals appear. Also, viral ailments lead to a stop in the growth of seedlings and yellowing of the leaves. For the prevention and elimination of diseases, crocuses are treated with fungicidal solutions.

Popular pests that often attack the flower include:

• aphid;
• slugs;
• scoops;
• rodents.

To prevent pests from appearing on the flowers, they will have to be planted near cultivated plants.

Transfer to a new location

Crocuses need to be repotted every five years. In this case, planting in a new place is carried out at the same time as the usual planting of bulbs.

Before planting, all the bulbs are dug up and thoroughly dried in a room with room temperature for about three months. Then the exfoliated scales are trimmed and the old roots are cut off. After that, the dried and trimmed bulbs are planted in the ground.

How to plant crocuses

We have determined when to plant crocuses outdoors in the fall. Planting any plant begins with choosing a place for it. For crocus, clearings open to the sun's rays on the hills are chosen. It is permissible to plant a primrose under trees, whose crowns bloom late and do not shade flowers in April - early May.

Crocus does not tolerate wet soil and stagnant melt water. Flower bulbs can rot.

The soil for the plant is prepared fertile, loose, well-drained.

Green crops, grains and vegetables (cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage) are good predecessors of crocus. Bulbous plants are not planted after other flowers, potatoes, tomatoes.

Crocuses are grown in one place for up to 5 years.

The preparation of the crocus and other snowdrops beds begins 2 weeks before planting the bulbs. The soil is dug onto the bayonet of a shovel, removing the roots of the weeds. On a plot of 1 sq. meter of area, contribute:

• sand from 5 to 12 kg, depending on the type of soil (more sand is required on loams);
• humus (rotted manure or compost) 5 kg;
• wood ash from burning grass or wood 200 - 300 g;
• superphosphate 40 g;
• potassium salt 30 g.

If planting crocus is planned on clay soil, in addition to sand, fine gravel or vermiculite is added.

The acidity of the soil should be 6-6.5 units. Acidic soils are limed by adding chalk or lime, in the amount of 250-400 g per 1 sq. meter.

After digging and adding additives to the soil, the area for the flower garden is leveled and left for several days so that the soil settles and the fertilizers dissolve. If the fall is dry, the soil can be additionally shed with water.

Preparation of planting material

A healthy crocus bulb should be:

• dense and juicy, heavy to the touch;
• the scales on the onion are dry;
• bulb size - at least 3 cm in diameter;
• there are no traces of rotting or mechanical damage on the tuber.

Bulbs with awakened sprouts are not suitable for autumn planting, they will not survive the winter. Such planting material is planted in pots and removed to the cellar. Flowers can be used for winter forcing.

Immediately before planting, crocuses must be pickled in a fungicide solution in order to destroy pathogens of fungal diseases. Use drugs for this:

• Maxim, Fundazol, Skor, - diluting them according to the instructions.
• You can apply a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate. Etching time is about half an hour.

Planting scheme for primrose

Crocuses are small-bulbous flowers that look beautiful when planted in groups. The bulbs of the plant are placed in clearings of arbitrary shape so that the distance between the bulbs remains equal to 4-5 cm.

For the convenience of the subsequent digging of crocus planting material and collecting its babies, gardeners practice planting bulbs in special baskets. A plastic low container with drainage holes is dug into the ground, later it can be easily removed. The whole baby will stay inside, you don't have to look for her all over the flower garden.

There is a secret on how to prolong the short flowering of crocus. Its bulbs of the same size are placed to a depth with a difference of 1 - 3 cm. As a result of this planting, a deeper-planted crocus will bloom a few days later.

A layer of dry sand with a layer of 2-3 cm is poured onto the bottom of the dug holes. Onions are placed on it. After covering the crocuses with soil, the surface of the earth is mulched with wood chips, peat, wood chips or bark. Looks aesthetically pleasing mulch made from pine nut shells. Mulch protects crocus from freezing and prevents weeds from growing.

Should crocuses be watered when planting in the fall?

If the weather after planting the flower is dry, then watering is necessary for the plant. Enough 1 - 2 plentiful watering, with soil moistening to a depth of 15 cm.

A flower bed of tulips, hyacinths, crocuses - planting scheme in autumn

In drawing up a flower garden, joint planting of different types of plants is practiced with similar requirements for agricultural technology and soil structure. Early bulbous flowers are placed in common flower beds.

A colorful flower bed of hyacinths, tulips and crocuses is formed according to the following principles:

• tall flowers (tulips) are in the background, crocuses, as the smallest ones, in the front row;
• the color combination is selected by playing in contrast (blue hyacinth + yellow crocus + scarlet tulip);
• varieties are selected according to the flowering period so that the flowering lasts as long as possible.

When planting plants in a flower bed, first of all, tulips and hyacinths are placed in the ground. Their bulbs require a planting depth of 15-16 cm. The distance between flowers is maintained at 10-15 cm. Crocuses, as the smallest plants, are planted shallowly (8-10 cm).

Reproduction methods

Crocus propagation can be carried out by seed and vegetative methods.

The seed method is not always possible, since some varieties or hybrids of a plant do not have seeds or have, but they are sterile.

The seeds used for planting must necessarily be processed and stratified (exposed to both moisture and cold).

The seed is processed in the following order:

1. Soaking in growth stimulant solution (for 40–45 minutes).
2. Disinfection with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Stratification

1. Seeds are sown in a flat vessel filled with wet sand, evenly spreading over the surface (without deepening).
2. The vessel is covered with polyethylene and placed in a refrigerator for 15–20 days.
3. After this period, the stratified seeds are embedded in the ground to a depth of 1–1.5 cm, keeping a distance of 10 mm between them.
4. The container with the soil is covered with glass until the seedlings germinate.
5. From the moment the shoots sprout, the glass is removed and the container is placed in a lighted place.
6. At this stage, the seedlings need moderate watering. After the seedlings stretch 50 mm, they are dived into the ground.

Vegetative reproduction occurs during the dormant period (summer). All formations are separated from the mother corms and planted in separate holes with fertilized loose soil.

Planting crocuses in open ground

An autumn flower is less whimsical than a spring one, however, when choosing the optimal time in autumn, it is important to remember, among other things, the influence of climatic conditions. It is impossible to specify the exact date - it could be the second half of August and October

It is optimal to plant the bulbs 2–4 weeks before the first frost in order to avoid untimely germination and subsequent death of delicate shoots.

Important! Many varieties of autumn-flowering crocuses are planted in mid-July.

A successful landing is guaranteed by the following nuances:

• correctly determine the place on the site;
• choose a suitable soil composition;
• prepare and process planting material in advance.

Desired condition of the bulbs

Potential planting material should be dug out of the ground when it is dormant (August or September).

Did you know? For 30 g of spice «saffron» you need to collect 80 thousand flowers by hand. That is why it is the most expensive in the world.

Externally, the bulbs should be:

• no damage or dents;
• without germinated shoots and roots;
• feels tight and heavy.

How and what to treat before planting

Pretreatment of the bulbs will avoid infection with various diseases and the appearance of rot.

Treatment (etching) can be carried out:

• pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• special fungicides;
• growth stimulants.

Suitable soil

Crocuses are photophilous, but already at such an early period of flowering, almost the entire garden or cottage is open to sunlight, so choosing a place for a flower bed will not be difficult

It is important that it is protected from strong winds. A few weeks before planting, you should dig up the selected area, which will facilitate the process of further germination for weak roots.

Important! Planting bulbs should be carried out closer to the surface if the soil is clayey in composition, which means it is denser and heavier.

The success of growing this plant directly depends on the characteristics of the soil, namely:

1. Crocuses prefer soft and loose soil.
2. Waterlogging of the soil must not be allowed.
3. It is recommended to dilute the clay composition with sand.
4. It is necessary to add organic fertilizers in advance (rotted compost or manure).

Planting depth

There is no need to plant too deep, since the root system itself deepens well enough as it grows.

For small bulbs, the recommended depth is 5–7 cm, for larger ones, up to 12 cm. Typically, when planting bulbous plants, the depth is three bulb heights.

Distance between bulbs

Saffron is considered to be a “family group”, so it is recommended to plant flowers in 8–12 pieces, keeping the distance between the plants not too great (3–6 cm). The maximum distance is 10 cm.

Learn how to repot crocuses.

Preparing for winter

Crocuses are hardy plants. Winter is not dangerous for them, they do not need additional shelter during the cold period. If the growing region of the described plant has a too harsh climate, you can cover the planting with foliage, branches or coniferous spruce branches.

Growing from seeds

Crocuses are rarely propagated by seed. This method is mainly used to get an early flowering plant a few years after sowing the seeds. In autumn species of crocuses, the seeds do not have time to fully ripen before the cold weather.

Sowing is best done in spring. Before planting the seeds in the ground, they are kept in the cold, treated with a fungicide, a growth stimulant. The soil is disinfected and moistened.

Important! The seeds are not deepened into the ground, they are sprinkled with a thin layer of sand. Germinated in a mini-greenhouse, which is placed in a warm dark place before germination, then exposed to light

The sprouts are watered with soft water, it is better to use rainwater. In the summer, the grown plants are planted in pots and continue to grow at home, or immediately transplanted into open ground

Germinated in a mini-greenhouse, which is placed in a warm, dark place before germination, then exposed to light. The sprouts are watered with soft water, it is better to use rainwater.In the summer, the grown plants are planted in pots and continue to grow at home, or are immediately transplanted into open ground.

Note! For soil disinfection, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is used, for seed treatment - phytosporin, zircon

Crocus seeds

Diseases and pests

Crocuses often face various pathologies and attacks of parasites. In such a situation, it is recommended to take timely measures.

Field mice

To avoid damage to the flower bed, it is worth getting rid of all dry grass 3 meters before the flower garden. Rodents do not run further than 3 meters from the nest.

Clicker Beetle Larva

These pests make holes in the bulbs. If there is a large accumulation of parasites in April or May, it is worth collecting the grass and placing it in the grooves in the beds. Then moisten a little and cover with boards. After a certain time, the larvae will settle in the baits. The grass should be collected and burned.

Slugs

Sometimes the flowers suffer from slug attacks, which absorb the sap of the plant. In this case, the pests are collected by hand or the plants are treated with chemicals.

Thrips

It is recommended to destroy these pests in a timely manner, as they will lead to the death of the culture. Insecticidal products help to cope with parasites.

Viral disease

When a plant is infected with viruses, the flowers acquire a flattened shape and become covered with gray spots. In this case, the buds do not fully bloom. Damaged plants must be removed and burned immediately. The land on which they grew should be watered with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.

Fungal diseases

These diseases develop predominantly in damp and warm weather. First of all, bulbs suffer. They lose density and become shriveled. Infected bulbs should be destroyed. The rest should be dried in a cool place. Before planting, the material is treated with Fundazole.

Crocus reproduction

A simple way to reproduce crocuses is by daughter corms. Under suitable conditions, up to ten of them are formed around the original. It is not surprising that crocuses grow very quickly and after four to five years they become cramped.

When the leaves dry, during the summer sleep period - from July to August - the bulbs of spring crocuses are dug up. For autumn digging periods - from June to mid-August. Corms are pulled out of the ground, dried in the shade for a couple of days. They are disassembled, eliminating scales with defects, dried roots, and children are separated. Rotten, badly damaged, crumpled, sick bulbs are discarded. Healthy planting material is stored in a dry and warm, ventilated place at an air temperature of twenty-two to twenty-four degrees. With temperature drops below the indicated, the laying of flower buds in the bulbs will slow down, and crocuses may not bloom.

If you want to grow crocuses as soon as possible, you don't have to wait four to five years, you can dig up and replant the bulbs every year. The most important thing is to do it in a timely manner, not forgetting about the rest time. The planted crocus babies will bloom in the second - third year after planting.

Seed reproduction

Crocuses are propagated by seeds, if you want to quickly breed a particularly valuable species, get a lot of planting material at the same time. Fresh seeds are sown in the fall. Seeds are laid out on the prepared substrate of peat, sand and humus in equal parts, covered with soil with a layer of no more than one centimeter. They are sown infrequently, so that the seedlings do not need to dive. After natural winter stratification, friendly shoots are shown. Since the plants are quite small, it is better to plant the seeds in containers or boxes so as not to lose them.

With scrupulous care, protection from weeds and parasites, regular watering and top dressing, after a year or two, corms are formed. In July, they are dug up, and in August they are planted in a permanent place. A year later, the crocuses will bloom.Reproduction of crocuses by seeds is a painstaking and troublesome occupation, they rarely resort to this method.

Separating the bulbs

In the process of growth, the bulb grows in size and becomes overgrown with “babies”. Over time, the main bulb dies off, and the daughter forms a nest. It needs to be divided and planted. As a rule, it is recommended to plant babies from one nest close to each other.

The separation must be done with the utmost care and care in order to avoid defects in the planting material.

Crocuses: growing and care

If you want crocuses to delight you with lush and beautiful flowers every season, you need to thoroughly prepare and learn about the features of care, reproduction and planting of these flowers. So that when growing outdoors you have fewer problems, you need to remember the following rules:

• Like many other ornamental plants, crocuses come in many varieties, each with a different bloom start time. Based on this, you need to know when to plant a particular variety. For example, if your chosen variety blooms in spring, then planting is necessary in the fall, and vice versa.
• Crocuses feel best in fertile and light soil, while they do not need frequent watering. If clay soil prevails in the place chosen for planting crocuses, it should be diluted by adding sand and fertilizers.
• In order for crocuses to grow well and start blooming on time, they must be provided with good lighting. It is enough to comply with this condition, and then you can be sure that every season the plant will delight you with large flowers. Of course, you can grow it in partially shaded conditions, but keep in mind that the flowers here will turn out to be not as bright and saturated than those for which the most comfortable conditions are created.
• While waiting for the moment to germinate, you must constantly keep the soil moist. When you notice the first shoots protruding from the ground, the plant needs to be well watered. In the future, this should not be done too often; as part of caring for crocuses, watering is carried out only if there are signs of drying out of the earthen coma.
• If you have chosen a plot with fertile soil for planting and are planting crocuses here for the first time, then you do not need to apply fertilizer for flowers this year. It is worth thinking about feeding if you have to grow crocuses on the same substrate for several years.
• It is necessary to apply fertilizers for flowers at least 3 times per season. The first feeding is carried out at the moment of emergence of sprouts, the second - in the phase of ovary formation, and the last - after the end of flowering. For crocuses, it is necessary to take fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. Potassium will give plants the strength to grow and form bulbs, and due to the presence of a sufficient amount of phosphorus in the soil, the plants will be able to set buds in time and begin the flowering phase.
• When choosing a planting scheme, bulbs must be based on their size. If the bulbs are small, they must be buried in the ground no more than 5 cm, large ones are planted to a depth of 12 cm. Plants should be planted at an interval of at least 5 cm from each other. Sometimes this distance can be reduced to 3 cm, if you are not going to grow them in a new place.

Crocus care after flowering is easy. If you are not going to transplant them to a new place this year, then all you need to do is remove the dead ground part after flowering. If your site is in harsh climatic conditions, then you will have to protect the crocuses from the winter cold. To do this, cover them with a leaf pillow or dry grass.

General information about culture

Saffron, or crocus, is a representative of the Iris family. Refers to the genus of perennial corms. It reaches a height of up to 15 cm.

The size of the bulb can be up to 3 cm in diameter. One, rarely 2-3, flowers grow from it. By color, they are divided into two groups:

• yellow-flowered - from yellow to orange;
• blue-flowered - from light lilac to dark purple.

Outdoor crocus care activities

Saffron leaves are linear and basal, covered with scales below. Present during and after flowering.

The seeds of the plant are angular and small in size, the fruit is a three-celled capsule.

Origin story

In the East, crocuses began to be grown before our era. They were mentioned in the writings of Hippocrates, Solomon and Homer. Introduced to Europe during the Crusades. First they began to cultivate in the countries of the western Mediterranean.

For your information! The first decorative species appeared in European botanical gardens in the 16th century. Spring, narrow-leaved and yellow crocuses marked the beginning of a large number of varieties.

Dutch hybrids have taken the lead in terms of commercial success. The formation lasted for several centuries. The countdown for modern commercial varieties is from the beginning of the twentieth century.

Saffron is used in cosmetology. It is found in balms, creams and gels. You can make your own care products at home. The plant nourishes, rejuvenates and improves skin structure.

Medicinal properties of crocus:

• calms the nervous system;
• helps to get rid of headaches;
• the best remedy for worms;
• improves brain activity;
• prevents cancer cells from spreading;
• is a strong antioxidant;
• improves liver function;
• effective in ICD;
• has a positive effect on male sexual function.

Note! Dried stigmas of sown saffron were used as a spice in BC to this day. To add a special taste, color and aroma, it is added to pilaf, fish and meat dishes

Description of the plant

Crocuses are short plants that grow to only ten centimeters in height. The root system is presented in the form of flattened or rounded bulbs, which can reach three centimeters in diameter. The bulbs are completely enveloped in scales, and also have a small bundle of fibrous roots. Crocuses have practically no stem. However, linear, narrow leaves appear from the roots, which can grow during or after flowering.

Crocuses also have no inflorescences. All flowers are single. The diameter of each flower is no more than five centimeters. The color palette is quite varied. There are blue, cream, purple, yellow, orange, lilac shades. The flowers are located on a short peduncle, on which leaves are completely absent, the petals are surrounded by filmy scales on all sides. Each crocus (saffron) bush can bloom for one to three weeks. Some varieties are distinguished by the fact that they have a two-tone or spotted color.

What month to plant crocuses in the fall

Tentatively, 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 established 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.

The term for planting crocuses in open ground in the fall is 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 recommended 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.

When to plant bulbous irises: optimal timing

The optimal planting time for bulbous irises is late summer - early autumn. In general, it is better to plant small-bulbous ones a little earlier, because with a shallow planting, the bulbs can suffer with a sharp drop in temperature, so it is better to give them more time for rooting.

So, in the Central lane (Moscow region), irises are best planted in late August - early September, and in warm southern regions, the procedure can be postponed to October, which definitely cannot be done in the Urals and Siberia.

However, it often happens that in early spring (or at the end of winter - in February) iris bulbs appear on sale, you cannot help buying them, or they are presented to you. What to do in this case?

To plant bulbous irises in the spring and try to get them to bloom already this season, you can try to simulate the cooling period, namely: put in the refrigerator in a box or in some kind of container (and so that the sprouts, if they sprout, look up, and not bent), or put it in a pot of earth and put it on the balcony or in the same refrigerator. And then land in April-May.

Leaving during flowering

It is helpful to remove weeds so that harmful grasses do not absorb nutrients from the soil.
Loosening is carried out carefully to enrich the soil with oxygen.
It is useful to feed crocuses with fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus.

Moderate watering is important: the drying out of the soil during the flowering period negatively affects the plant.
It is important to remove faded buds in time.

Crocuses after flowering

Unfortunately, delicate buds do not decorate gardens and flower beds for a very long time: only two to three weeks, depending on the variety.

It is important to know what to do when the crocuses have faded. After yellowing and wilting of the leaves, the bulbs are dug up together with numerous children, the number of which often reaches 8-10 pieces

On a note! Most crocus species tolerate wintering well in the ground and it is not necessary to create shelters from fallen leaves, spruce branches or peat. If the winter in the region is usually very cold and little snow, then you can additionally cover the planted bulbs in the ground with the listed natural materials for reliable protection from frost.

When and how to dig up the bulbs

Planting material for growing delicate and bright flowers is taken out of the soil at different times, taking into account the variety:

• spring-flowering varieties - from July to the end of September;
• autumn flowering varieties - from June to August.

It is important to act carefully so that the bulbs remain intact, otherwise the planting material will rot. For subsequent planting, only healthy, whole specimens are needed

It is useful to process each specimen with crushed coal: the risk of bulb rotting is significantly reduced.

Storage of planting material

If the planting material is dug out without damaging the dense base, then the collected elements can be placed in a cool place. Before storage, damaged, dry roots are removed from the bulbs, rotted scales are removed, but the inside is not exposed.

Conditions for preserving planting material:

• dry, ventilated room;
• temperature - about + 8 ° C ... + 10 ° C degrees;
• without access to light.

Experienced flower growers advise a simple device for storing bulbs - a dense paper packaging from eggs. The meshes are large enough to fit a medium or larger base. In paper containers, the bulbs are well ventilated, you can easily increase the size of the gap for air in and not disturb the young base.

You can not keep sick, fungus-infected specimens for planting: rot often spreads to neighboring bulbs.

How to choose bulbs

The basis should be:

• dense;
• without damage;
• large;
• with deep brown scales;
• with small roots;
• free of mildew, whitish or black-gray plaque;
• not softened.

Pre-landing preparation

Initially, the base is stored at a temperature of +34 degrees, then the indicators are reduced to +20 degrees. After 14-15 days, the temperature is reduced by another 2-3 degrees, eventually brought to + 17 ° C. The cooling period is an important step in getting the crocuses to bloom.

This method is used if flowers are grown in winter, distillation is carried out by March 8. For a normal spring or autumn planting, it is enough to store the bulbs in a cool place, with good ventilation of the room.

Site selection and soil preparation

Delicate crocuses love sunny areas: the area under the trees interferes with active germination and ejection of buds, especially in spring species.

Substrate preparation:

the soil is dug up to destroy the larvae of pests

It is important to remove weeds with roots: primroses do not grow well in weedy soil;
be sure to break large clods, loosen the soil. Clay soil is always "diluted" with sand for looseness and good aeration;
acidic soil must be alkalized with lime;
it is useful to add a little peat or humus to enrich the substrate with nutrients.

Illumination is an important nuance that a florist should be aware of when choosing a site for planting crocuses. Plants need enough light, but light shade does not interfere with growth and flowering.

Disembarkation dates

When to plant crocuses? The answer depends on the variety:

• spring flowering plants are planted in autumn. In this case, the buds will appear next spring;
• crocuses that bloom in autumn are placed in the soil in spring.

On a note! Saffron loves coolness: temperature - from +10 to +15 degrees. At moderate levels, the flowering period lasts more than two weeks. If the indicators increase to +20 and above, then the buds quickly wither, turn yellow and fall off.