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| Ranunculus |
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Ranunculus grow to about 250mm(10") high and are better suited to greenhouse cultivation or as pot plants.
They are also suitable for growing in containers and make ideal cut flowers.
They may be used as outside bedding in the warmer sheltered areas of the UK.
They should be kept cool 15-18°C (60-65°F) during the day and frost-free by night.
If temperatures are too high, plants become ‘leggy’ and require staking.
Autumn sown plants should flower the following April indoors, and June-August if grown outdoors .
They must not dry out, keep the greenhouse well damped down and ventilated on very hot days.
Week 15> Regularly feed with a high potash fertilizer from now on.
Week 20; If growing outdoors plant about 75mm (3") deep and 75mm (3") apart in a rich soil, incorporating well rotted manure to ensure strong plants with large flowers.
They should be planted claws downwards.
Circa Week 30; Lift outdoor grown tubers (claws) after plants have died down and place in dry sand and store in frost free coldframe or greenhouse until required the following spring.
Week 32; Sow seed anytime from now until October on moist seed compost and cover with vermiculite, this will keep the seeds moist but allow light and air to reach them.
Place in sealed plastic bag into refrigerator and keep at a temperature of 4°C (40°F) for a week, then place them in a propagator at a temperature of 15°C (60°F).
Seeds should take about three weeks to germinate.
Week 36; if large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into pots / boxes of potting compost and grow on in a frost free area until the following spring.
Week 40; Soak saved tubers for 24 hours, and plant them up into 125-150mm (5”-6”) pots filled with potting compost, keep them cool and moist.
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