Spring crocuses planting and care. When to plant crocuses - practical recommendations

Crocus (lat. Crocus), or saffron, forms a genus of herbaceous corms of the Iris family. In nature, saffron crocus grows in the steppes, forests and meadows of the Mediterranean, Central, Southern and Northern Europe, Asia Minor and Central Asia and the Middle East. Scientists have described about 80 species and 300 varieties of crocuses. The name “crocus” comes from a Greek word meaning “thread, fiber,” and the word “saffron” comes from an Arabic word that translates as “yellow,” which is the color of the stigma of the crocus flower. Crocus is mentioned in Egyptian papyri - philosophers and doctors wrote about it. For modern gardeners, crocus is interesting because it is one of the most beautiful primroses - early spring flowers. However, not everyone knows that there are many crocuses that bloom in the fall.

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Planting and caring for crocuses (in brief)

• Landing: Spring-flowering species are planted in autumn, autumn-flowering species in summer.
• Bloom: spring species bloom for 2-3 weeks in April, autumn species - in September-October.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• The soil: permeable light loams; some species are comfortable even in heavy clay soils.
• Watering: will be needed only if there was no snow in winter and no rain in spring.
• Feeding: full mineral fertilizer in the spring on snow and potassium-phosphorus during flowering. Organics cannot be used.
• Reproduction: daughter bulbs, and spring species can also be propagated by seeds.
• Pests: field mice, wireworms, aphids, thrips.
• Diseases: viral diseases, gray rot, fusarium, penicillosis, sclerotial rot.

Read more about growing crocuses below.

Growing crocuses - features

Crocus is a low-growing plant, reaching a height of about 10 cm. The flattened or rounded bulbs of crocuses reach a diameter of 3 cm, they are covered in scales and have a bunch of fibrous roots. The stem of crocuses does not develop. Appearing during or after flowering, narrow, linear, basal leaves are collected in a bunch and covered with scales. Single goblet-shaped crocus flowers with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm of white, cream, blue, lilac, purple, yellow or orange, blooming on a short leafless peduncle, are surrounded by membranous scales. There are varieties of crocuses with spotted or two-colored colors. Mass flowering of crocuses lasts from two to three weeks. Types and varieties of crocuses are divided into 15 groups.

Planting crocuses in open ground

When to plant crocuses

Spring crocuses are planted in the ground in the fall, and autumn-blooming ones in the summer; a sunny site is chosen, although crocuses grow well in partial shade and even in the shade. The soil for growing crocuses is preferably light, dry, loose and nutritious. When preparing a site for crocuses, it is advisable to place fine gravel or coarse river sand in the soil for drainage. As an organic additive, compost, rotted manure or peat with lime are added to the soil for digging, since crocuses do not like acidic soils. Ash is added to clay soil. For those species that do not tolerate wet soils, arrange raised beds with crushed stone or gravel as a drainage layer. Planting material must be without flaws or damage.

In the photo: How crocuses bloom

Planting crocuses in autumn

To see crocuses bloom in the spring, their bulbs are planted in open ground in September. Planting crocuses in loose soil involves planting the bulb to a depth twice its size. If the soil is heavy, then a depth of one size will be sufficient. The average distance between the bulbs is from 7 to 10 cm. After planting, the area is watered.

Do not thicken the planting, because crocuses grow in one place for 3 to 5 years, and during this time one bulb becomes overgrown with a whole colony of children, and the area with crocuses turns into a continuous carpet of flowers. After the five-year period, the crocuses need to be planted.

Planting crocuses for forcing

Many gardeners yearn in winter without their favorite garden flowers, so even in winter time They grow them in their apartment. The easiest way to grow a bouquet is from bulbs, including crocuses. Large-flowered Dutch varieties are most suitable for forcing. Crocus bulbs of approximately the same size are planted from five to ten pieces in shallow wide pots in order to obtain a whole bouquet of primroses by the appointed time. The soil for crocuses planted for forcing must be neutral, loose, air- and water-permeable.

The cycle of autumn-blooming crocus usually begins in August with flowering, during which the growth of leaves and the formation of a replacement corm occurs. And their dormant period begins a month earlier than that of spring-flowering ones. Therefore, if there is such a need, you need to dig up the bulbs of crocuses blooming in autumn from early June to mid-August.

Storing Crocus Bulbs

After being removed from the ground, crocus bulbs are dried in the shade, cleaned of soil, dead roots and scales, and laid out in a single layer in a box or box. The smallest bulbs can be placed in candy boxes. Until August, the storage temperature should not be lower than 22 ºC, because a lower temperature will prevent the formation of flower buds. In August, the temperature is lowered to 20 ºC, and a week later to 15 ºC. But these are ideal storage conditions, which are created only in specialized farms. At home, before planting, crocus bulbs are stored in a dark, dry place with room temperature and good ventilation.

In the photo: Growing crocuses in the garden

Types and varieties of crocuses

All varieties of crocuses are classified into 15 groups. The first group includes autumn-flowering crocuses, and the remaining 14 groups represent spring-flowering species and varieties of crocuses. The spring crocus species was the basis for many varieties and hybrids, most of which were created by Dutch breeders. The most popular commercial varieties are classified as Dutch hybrids. Another popular group of commercial varieties in cultivation is Chrysanthus, which was formed by hybrids between golden crocuses, two-flowered crocuses and its hybrids. We offer you a brief introduction to these groups and their best varieties.

Spring-blooming types of crocuses:

Spring crocus (Crocus vernus)

Grows up to 17 cm in height. The corm is flattened, covered with mesh scales, the leaves are narrow, linear, dark green with a longitudinal silver-white stripe. Lilac or white flowers with a long tube of bell-funnel shape, one or two, develop from a single corm and bloom for about three weeks in the spring. In culture since 1561.

In the photo: Spring crocus (Crocus vernus)

Crocus biflorus (Crocus biflorus)

It is found in nature from Italy to Iran, as well as in the Caucasus and Crimea. It has a variety of natural forms: flowers that are white, lilac-blue with brown spots on the outside of the petals, white with purple-brown stripes, white on the inside and purple-brown on the outside. The throat of the flowers is white or yellow.

In the photo: Crocus biflorus (Crocus biflorus)

Golden crocus (Crocus chrysanthus)

Grows on rocky slopes of the Balkans and Asia Minor. It reaches a height of 20 cm, its corm is spherical but flattened, the leaves are very narrow, the flowers are golden yellow with recurving perianths that are shiny on the outside. Some forms have brown stripes or markings on the outside of the petals. The anthers are orange, the styles are reddish. Blooms in April for three weeks. In culture since 1841. The following varieties are common in floriculture:

• Blue Bonnet– flowers up to 3 cm long with a pale blue perianth and a yellow throat;
• Nanette– a variety with large yellow-cream flowers with purple stripes on the outside;
• I. G. Bowels- a crocus with very large bright yellow flowers on the inside and gray-brown flowers on the outside.

In the photo: Golden crocus (Crocus chrysanthus)

Crocus tommasinianus

It grows naturally in deciduous forests and on hillsides in Hungary and the countries of the former Yugoslavia. It has pink-lilac perianth leaves, sometimes with a white border along the edge. The open flowers are star-shaped with a white throat. The flowers have a white tube. Up to three flowers up to 6 cm high develop from one corm. This species blooms in April for three weeks. Crocus Tomasini, one of the most popular species, has been in cultivation since 1847. The most famous varieties:

• Lylek Beauty– wide-open, almost flat flowers up to 3 cm in diameter with yellow anthers and oval-elongated narrow lobes of lilac color on the outside and a lighter shade on the inside;
• Whitewell Purple- large, wide-open, almost flat lilac-violet flowers up to 4 cm in diameter with narrow elongated lobes. White tube up to 3.5 cm long.

In the photo: Crocus tommasinianus

In addition to those described, the following spring-flowering crocuses are known in culture: narrow-leaved, reticulated, Crimean, Korolkova, Imperate, Zibera, yellow, Geufel, Ancyra, Alataevsky, Adama, Corsican, Dalmatian, Etruscan, Fleischer, Malya and the smallest.

Autumn-blooming crocuses:

Beautiful crocus (Crocus speciosus)

It grows on the edges of forests in the mountainous regions of Crimea, the Balkans and Asia Minor. Its leaves reach a length of 30 cm, lilac-violet flowers with longitudinal purple veins up to 7 cm in diameter bloom in early autumn. In culture since 1800. Garden forms of this species are known with dark blue, white, light blue, lilac and light purple flowers. The best varieties:

• Albus– white-flowered variation with a cream-colored tube;
• Artabir– sky-blue flowers with bracts covered with dark veins;
• Oksinan– flowers are violet-blue with a wide dark perianth and sharp, elongated leaves.

In the photo: Beautiful Crocus (Crocus speciosus)

Pretty Crocus (Crocus pulchellus)

A very beautiful plant with light purple flowers with dark stripes, the diameter of which is from 6 to 8 cm, and the height is from 7 to 10 cm. On each plant, 5-10 flowers open in September or October. The pretty crocus is not afraid of light frosts.

Banat crocus (Crocus banaticus)

Grows in the Carpathians, Romania and the Balkans. The name was given in honor of the historical region of Banat, located in Romania. It has linear silver-gray leaves up to 15 cm long. Graceful light lilac flowers with yellow anthers rise 12-14 cm above the ground surface. The outer tepals are up to 4.5 cm long, the inner ones are narrower and half as long. Cultivated since 1629.

Autumn-flowering crocuses are also grown: beautiful, Pallas, kholmovoy, Sharoyan, Gulimi, holoflowered, kardukhor, medium, Cartwright, Kochi, trellised, medium, yellow-white and late.

In the photo: Banat crocus (Crocus banaticus)

Dutch hybrids, or large-flowered crocuses, are unpretentious and prolific spring-flowering plants, the flowers of which are on average twice as large as the flowers of the original species. The first varieties of Dutch hybrids appeared in 1897. Now there are more than 50 of them, and they are divided into groups according to the color of the flowers. The first group includes varieties with flowers of pure white or white with a spot of a different color at the base of each bract lobe. The second group combines varieties with violet, lilac and lilac colors. The third represents varieties with netted or striped flowers with or without a spot at the base of the lobes. Hybrids bloom during May, flowering lasts from 10 to 17 days. We recommend several varieties that grow well in our climate:

• Albion– white goblet-shaped flowers up to 4 cm in diameter with rounded lobes, with a tube up to 5 cm long with a rare purple streak;
• Vanguard– cup-shaped, open bluish-lilac flowers up to 4 cm in diameter with elongated oval lobes with small spots of a darker color at the base, with a bluish-lilac tube up to 4.5 cm long;
• Jubilee- goblet-shaped flowers of blue color with a barely noticeable purple-violet tint and with a clear light purple spot at the base of the lobes, as well as a narrow light border along the edge. The tube is light purple, up to 5.5 cm long;
• Sniper Banner- goblet-shaped flowers up to 4 cm in diameter with oval lobes of a netted color - a light grayish-lilac shade on the outside and with a dense lilac net on the inside. The lobes of the inner circle are of a lighter shade than the outer lobes. At the base of the lobes there is a small but very clear dark lilac spot. Tube up to 4 cm long, dark lilac color;
• Kathleen Parlow– cup-shaped flowers of white color up to 4 cm in diameter with a short lilac streak at the base of the inner lobes and with a white tube up to 5 cm long.

Chrysanthus

Spring-flowering hybrids, in the formation of which golden crocuses, natural forms of two-flowered crocus and their hybrids took part. The flowers of plants in this group are not as large as the flowers of the “Dutch” ones, but among the chrysanthus there are many varieties with yellow and bluish flowers. The most famous varieties:

• Gypsy Girl- cup-shaped, wide-open flowers up to 3.5 cm in diameter, light yellow on the inside with a dark yellow throat, and yellowish cream on the outside. There is a small brown spot on the inside of the lobes. The tube is up to 3 cm long, cream-colored with dusty purple streaks;
• Marietta- wide-open, almost flat flowers up to 3.5 cm in diameter with oval narrow dark cream lobes with a yellow throat, outside at the base of the outer circle lobes, covered with thick dark lilac stripes, a greenish-brown spot. Tube up to 3 cm long, light gray-green;
• Lady Killer- cup-shaped, almost flat flowers up to 3 cm in diameter with oval elongated lobes white on the inside, the lobes of the inner circle are white on the outside, and the outer ones are dark purple with a white border and a small dark bluish spot at the base. Bud purple, a tube up to 3 cm long of a dark purple-violet hue;
• Saturnus- wide-open, flat flowers up to 3.5 cm in diameter with slightly elongated tips of the outer circle lobes. The color is yellowish-cream with a bright yellow throat. On the outside there is a greenish-brown spot at the base, the lobes of the outer circle are streaked with thick lilac strokes. The tube is grayish-green, up to 2.5 cm long.

In the photo: Glade of crocuses

From latest achievements Breeders sell the following varieties of chrysanthus: Eye Catcher, Miss Wayne, Parkinson, Skyline, Zwanenburg Bronze and others.

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In early spring, when the snow has just melted, crocuses are one of the first to bloom in the garden. These beautiful bulbous flowers represent the arrival of spring. They look impressive on lawns and flower beds, are suitable for alpine slides and can be a decoration for any flower garden. Growing crocuses in open ground is not difficult even for inexperienced gardeners, so they can often be found in summer cottages and garden plots.

Description, varieties and photos of crocuses

Crocus or saffron belongs to the iris family and is a corm plant. This low-growing primrose reaches a height of 10 cm. The goblet-shaped crocus flowers bloom on a short peduncle and can be orange, yellow, purple, lilac, blue, cream or white. Narrow basal leaves covered with scales and collected in a bunch appear before or after flowering.

Crocuses are divided into spring-blooming and autumn-blooming species. Recently, the most popular varieties among gardeners are the varieties of Dutch hybrids.

Spring blooming crocuses

Among the spring primroses we can distinguish The four best known species are:

Autumn-blooming crocuses

Among the plants that bloom in September or October The three most popular types are:

1. Banat crocus has light lilac flowers, the height of which can be up to 14 cm. The linear leaves of the plant grow up to 15 cm and have a gray-silver tint.
2. A pretty crocus with a height of 7-10 cm and a diameter of 6-8 cm is distinguished by light flowers with dark purple stripes. The plant is not afraid of light frosts and produces from 5 to 10 flowers on one corm.
3. Crocus beautiful is known for its light purple, lilac, blue, white and dark blue flowers. Its leaves reach 30 cm in length.

Crocuses: planting and care in open ground

Crocuses are light-loving plants, so it is recommended to grow them in a well-lit place warmed by sunlight. To grow freely they need provide a spacious plot of land.

How to choose healthy corms?

The success of good growth and abundant flowering of crocuses is healthy planting material. When purchasing corms in flower shops, nurseries or markets, you should carefully examine the bulbs. They must not have:

• dark spots;
• rot;
• mechanical damage.

Any defects in the corms must be eliminated by first freeing them from roots and scales. After this, the damaged areas sprinkled with loose coal or ash.

Some flower shops sell crocuses already in bloom. Such a plant may not take root, but simply dry out. To prevent this from happening, you need to cut off the flowers, leaves and leave the plant alone. In this case, the crocus will bloom again next year, however, it will be able to fully recover only after two years. Therefore, you need to buy planting material before it blooms.

Features of planting crocuses

Spring species of plants are planted in open ground in the fall, and autumn-blooming plants are planted in the summer.

When planting crocuses, keep in mind that they do not like wetlands and acidic soils. They prefer nutritious, loose, dry, light soil.

Preparing the area for planting crocuses, the following must be added to the soil:

• coarse river sand or fine gravel;
• peat with lime or rotted manure;
• ash if the soil is clayey;
• a drainage layer of gravel or crushed stone if the soil is wet.

Autumn planting

In order for primroses to delight you with their flowering in the spring, they need to be planted in a permanent place of cultivation in the fall. This is best done from mid-September to mid-October.

Features of planting corms include:

Rules for caring for crocuses in the garden

Growing primroses is not difficult. For them to grow, develop and bloom well, you just need follow some recommendations:

1. From the moment seedlings emerge, plants need regular watering. Despite the fact that crocuses are drought-resistant crops, a lack of moisture during the period of active growth can lead to shredding of the corms.
2. Leaves should not be removed from the plant until they are completely dry. Otherwise, the flower may weaken.
3. In order for new buds to form and crocuses to bloom longer, it is recommended to remove wilted flowers.
4. After the leaves wither, caring for primroses consists of mulching the soil between them with dry leaves or a thick layer of peat.
5. Every three to four years, primroses need to be replanted. During this period of time, many children will grow on the corm. Autumn-blooming crocuses can be planted throughout the summer, and spring-blooming ones - from mid-summer to the end of September.

When can you dig up crocuses?

Spring flowering plants begin their active growth already late winter or early spring. By mid-June, primroses begin a dormant period. And in the fall, when the crocuses become active again, they begin to accumulate food, grow roots, and form buds. That is why digging and planting spring plants should be done during the dormant period, which usually lasts almost the entire summer, starting in mid-June.

Autumn-blooming crocuses begin to bloom actively in August. At this time, they are actively forming new bulbs and growing leaves. Their dormant period begins at the end of spring. Digging and planting of autumn-blooming plants can be done from early summer to mid-August.

Onions extracted from the soil cleared of husks and dead roots. Then they need to be dried by laying them out in one layer in a suitable container. At home, planting material should be kept in a dry, dark room with good ventilation and room temperature.

Pests and diseases of crocuses

By growing bulbous plants in compliance with all recommendations, there should be no problems with pests and diseases.

Their main enemies are rodents that love to eat bulbs. Therefore, it is not recommended to leave planting material laid out to dry unattended.

The same rodents, aphids or thrips can be carriers of viral diseases. A diseased plant can be recognized by flattened flowers with gray spots. Before other flowers become infected, the corm of the diseased plant must be dug up and destroyed, and the soil must be spilled with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.

When caring for crocuses, you can find holes in the bulbs made by wireworms. If there are a lot of these yellow larvae that are hard to the touch on the plant, then you need to get rid of them. To do this you can use homemade traps:

1. In the spring, place bunches of straw, hay or grass mowed last year around the area.
2. Moisten everything and cover with boards.
3. After the larvae move into these traps, the grass tufts will need to be collected and burned.

Improper care and damp weather can lead to fungal diseases of primroses. They can be affected by fusarium, sclerotial or penicillium rot, gray fungal disease. To prevent such a problem from arising, the planting material must be carefully inspected. Before planting, it is recommended to etch it in a fungicide solution.

Having planted primroses in your garden in the fall, you can enjoy their flowering in early spring. But in order for the plants to be truly spectacular and bloom beautifully, when planting, growing and caring for them, you must follow the simple recommendations of experienced gardeners.

Crocus flowers

The appearance of the first crocus flowers (the Latin name for saffron) in the spring is always welcomed by gardeners with great enthusiasm and a considerable dose of optimism, as it invariably signals the arrival of spring and the opening of the dacha season. Yellow, white, blue-violet positive flowers captivate with their tenderness, brightness, and original cup-shaped shape. That is why they can so often be seen on alpine hills, rock gardens, flower beds, and in garden compositions. This plant is indispensable in containers, borders, and lawns. In addition, saffron is simply doomed to success due to its bitter, spicy taste and strong smell, as well as the yellow coloring matter that is obtained from it. Our article will discuss how to plant and care for an unpretentious flower.

Popular varieties of crocuses

Crocus differs in terms of flowering:

The most popular autumn varieties of crocuses are:

Important! The most famous and widespread are spring crocuses, so what follows will be about planting and growing them.

When to plant crocuses in spring and autumn

Like almost all bulbous plants, crocuses are planted in the fall. As for certain autumn planting dates in open ground, this is approximately second half of August - September, although landing can be delayed and until October. In general, it is best to plant bulbs 2-4 weeks before the first frost, so that they definitely do not have time to germinate. This means that you must be guided by the climatic conditions of your region of residence.

However, recently these beautiful ones began to appear on sale in the spring, so they often began to be given in flowerpots on March 8th.

So, after they bloom, they can be quite successfully planted in the garden. In other words, crocuses can be planted in the spring, approximately in the beginning of April.

Tips for choosing quality crocus bulbs

In order for crocuses to decorate your garden in early spring, you must choose the highest quality plant bulbs, and before purchasing you should carefully inspect them:

• it should not show any signs of disease: mechanical damage, rot, stains and sores;
• the bulb must be healthy: dense and well dressed, that is, covered with dry scales;
• there should be no overgrown roots or stems on the bulb;
• It is better to choose the largest onions.

Planting crocuses in open ground

When planting crocuses in open ground, it is necessary to focus on choosing the most suitable place in the garden, appropriate soil for planting the bulbs, as well as on the mandatory preparation and processing of the bulbs before planting.

The optimal location in the garden and suitable soil for planting bulbs

Despite the fact that crocuses are light-loving plants, they are often planted in flower beds and under the trees, because they can bloom already in late February-early March (some varieties later - in April-May), when there are no leaves on the trees yet, and accordingly, there will be no lack of sunlight either.

It is especially beautiful to plant saffron bulbs directly on, because, as a rule, it occurs in April-May, and by that time the crocuses will have already bloomed and their green mass will be gone.

In general, for saffron it is better to choose the most sunny place in the garden, without drafts, that is, protected from strong winds.

As you know, bulbous plants do not tolerate stagnation of water, because this causes them to rot. Therefore, the optimal soil for planting crocuses should be well-drained and relatively light, that is, loam or sandy loam soil is ideal.

If you are the “lucky” owner of heavy (clayey) or insufficiently fertile land, then in order to successfully grow saffron, it should be thoroughly fertilized before planting flowers.

When digging, sand or humus should be added to clay soil (calculating approximately 10-15 kg per 1 sq.m of bed), peat (0.5 kg per 1 sq.m) and superphosphate (40 grams or 2 tablespoons per 1 sq.m).

If you have poor and sandy soil, then during digging, add peat, humus or compost to it (about 5-10 kg per 1 sq. m of bed).

Note! So that the roots of the crocuses have somewhere to break through, any soil needs to be dug up by 20-25 centimeters (on the bayonet of a shovel)

Preparing and processing bulbs before planting

All bulbous plants must be treated before planting in the garden to prevent the formation of various rots and other diseases. There are several means for treating crocus bulbs. The simplest method of treatment is a pink solution of potassium permanganate; you can also use special fungicides, such as “Maxim Dachnik” or “Fundazol”; various growth stimulants, such as “Epin”, “Kornevin” or “Heteroauxin” will also work.

Important! As a rule, the average time for pickling bulbs is about 20-30 minutes, the consumption rate of the drug is 2 ml per 1 liter of water, but be sure to read the attached instructions first.

Planting in autumn

Advice! Optimally choose for landing cloudy morning or evening after sunset, a dry and sunny day is the most unfavorable time for planting almost any crop.

Step-by-step instructions for planting crocus bulbs in open ground in the fall:

1. Choose the optimal location in the garden.
2. Prepare landing hole, digging and fertilizing the soil.
3. If the soil is very heavy and there is a possibility of moisture stagnation, then add a layer of sand to the bottom.
4. The bulb should be planted bottom down, top up, not on its side.
5. The planting depth for crocuses, like all bulbous plants, is 3 times the height of the bulb, that is, about 5-7 centimeters.
6. Saffron is a family plant, so the bulbs must be planted at a minimum distance from each other, that is, about 3-6 centimeters. However, if you plan to dig them up, it is better to plant them more densely.
7. Cover with soil and water generously.
8. After planting, mulch the area with fallen leaves or spruce branches. This will be a kind of shelter for crocuses for the winter.

Video: two ways to plant crocuses in open ground in the fall

Planting in spring

In order to transplant crocuses donated in spring from a pot into open ground, you need to do the following:

1. Cut off all flower stalks; no need to remove leaves.
2. Remove from the pot along with the soil and divide.
3. Plant at the same distance and depth as when planting in the fall.
4. Further, all manipulations are similar: cover with soil, water and mulch.

Video: planting crocuses in spring

Caring for crocuses in the open ground: growing rules

Crocuses do not require special care, so they can be called fairly unpretentious flowers. However, to make them look neater and bloom profusely, they still need some gardening manipulations, namely:

• if necessary, loosening and weeding from weeds (in early spring and after flowering);
• moderate watering;
• timely feeding.

In the spring, crocuses practically do not need watering, but after they bloom, closer to summer, if the weather is dry, then at least once a week they should be slightly moistened (especially if the soil is too sandy), but not Do not overwater in any case, so that the tubers do not rot. If the autumn is dry, it will be great to carry out a couple of moderate waterings.

Timely application of mineral fertilizers can contribute to more productive development of plants.

Every year it is best to fertilize crocuses 2 times:

1. In early spring there is still snow, that is, before the start of the growing season, it is necessary to use nitrogen fertilizers, such as urea (carbamide) or ammonium nitrate, or better yet, complex nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers, such as nitrophoska.
2. Before or after flowering, it is reasonable to fertilize the plant with any complex potassium-phosphorus fertilizer, for example, superphosphate (preferably double) or potassium monophosphate; it is also good to feed it with ash (just sprinkle in a circle).

How to care for crocuses after flowering: digging and storing bulbs

Saffron can be grown in one place for about 4-5 years. Whether or not to dig up crocus bulbs depends on how much the bushes have grown. If the plantings are too dense, the flowers may become smaller, which means in this case it makes sense to get the bulbs. As a rule, the time for digging comes when the leaves of the plant turn yellow and begin to dry out, that is, 2-4 weeks after flowering, approximately in May-June.

Next, they need to be sorted out, those that are too sick and damaged should be thrown out, the remaining ones should be cleared of soil and left to dry for a week. Then sort by size and store in cardboard box in a dry and well-ventilated room (at a temperature of +15-20 degrees) to plant again in late summer - early autumn.

Video: what to do with crocuses after flowering

If there is no need for propagation, then after the crocuses have faded and the leaves have withered, they should be trimmed and mulched and covered for the winter (if this was not done during planting).

By the way! Crocuses can also be propagated using seeds. More details in the video below.

Video: how to propagate crocuses by seeds

Why crocuses don't bloom: reasons

Gardeners often complain that their crocuses do not bloom. There may be several reasons for this:

1. Perhaps you planted early spring varieties, so you simply do not have time to see them bloom, because the country bus may start running quite late, for example, only in April, and they may have time to bloom as early as March.
2. On the contrary, you could plant autumn crocuses, which begin to bloom no earlier than September-October, but their leaves also appear in the spring and die off by the end of May-beginning of June.
3. Mice often like to feast on flower bulbs. How to deal with rodents on personal plot, told
4. There was an excessive division of the bulbs, which is why they simply could not bloom due to a banal lack of strength after the reproduction process.
5. The planting was too deep, or the soil was too heavy or clayey, which is why the sprouts cannot break through to the light.

The critical steps when planting crocuses in spring and fall include choosing the right location in the garden, choosing the right soil, and how to properly prepare and treat the bulbs before planting. In addition, the culture of beginning gardeners should include rational care in the open ground and care after flowering. And then the captivating crocuses will only delight you!

In contact with

Crocuses look great in flower beds and flower beds. These amazing, bright and colorful flowers are planted in small groups. With the onset of spring, timid sprouts first appear from the ground. They quickly turn into large buds, the diameter of which often reaches 4-5 cm. This hybrid varieties. Crocus is a flower that grows not only in gardens, but also in the wild, also known as saffron. It produces the most expensive spice in the world with the same name.

More often than others, hybrids with large flowers that are distinguished by a variety of colors are chosen for planting. Pay attention to the varieties Pickwick and Joan of Arc, Grand Maitre, Flower Record, Purpureus Grandiflorus. Looking at the crocus (photos of flowers are presented in the article) of the purple Ruby Giant variety or the bright yellow Lajest Yellow, blue Blue Pearl and creamy Cream Beauty, you begin to understand that each of the presented species is worthy of being paid attention to.

When crocuses bloom

The plant belongs to the Iris family. Flowering duration does not exceed 2-2.5 weeks. However, crocuses come in autumn and spring. Knowing this, you can grow in parallel different varieties and enjoy the bright flowering of amazing plants.

Autumn crocuses bloom between September and November. Therefore, they need to be planted in the ground in June - August. The flowering period of spring crocuses occurs in March-April. They are planted in September.

How to choose the right bulbs

Crocuses can be grown from seeds or bulbs. The first option has not received proper distribution and is used only by breeders when developing new varieties. But thanks to the bulbs, you can grow the most beautiful hybrids right in your garden.

Of course, the decorative nature of the crocus is of great importance. Therefore, the most popular are flowers with two shades of color and large buds. Red, purple, yellow, white, blue, with stripes of different shades, cream - their variety is simply dizzying! Pay attention to the crocus (photos of flowers are in the article) - this unpretentious but exquisite plant will become a real decoration of the garden. The best representatives are the works of Dutch breeders.

Crocus is a flower that is grown both in flower pots and in open ground. When choosing bulbs, carefully inspect them for damage. Healthy and large-diameter planting material produces 2-6 buds when planted. If the bulb gains more than 10 cm in circumference, the number of flowers reaches a maximum (5-6 pieces). The smaller the size of the planting material, the fewer buds the grown plant produces. Crocus flowers can be larger or smaller - the circumference of the tuber also plays a role here. An ideal bulb must be dense and heavy enough, there should be no roots or shoots.

Preparing the landing site

Any plant chooses optimal conditions for growth and reproduction. For example, crocus develops better when there is a lot of light. Choose an area for planting that is well lit by sunlight. Acidic soil is unsuitable for crocuses, while sandy soil is what is needed. In such conditions, excess moisture constantly comes out, there is no stagnation, and the plant feels good during the flowering period.

If the soil is heavy, you can dig it up with fine gravel or add sand - this will make the soil drainable.

Crocus propagation

Those who have experience working in their own plots are well aware that any plant grows over time. Crocus is no exception. The flower that you planted 3-4 years ago has probably produced offspring bulbs. Now they are crowded, and each requires a separate place in a bright flowerbed.

Wait until the beginning of summer (and crocuses are dug in June), carefully remove the bulbs. Now each nodule can grow separately. True, you can’t replant right away. The bulbs are kept in special conditions for a certain time so that a bud is formed inside, from which a crocus flower will subsequently appear. Planting such a tuber is carried out only after preparation, which we will discuss below. Follow the advice exactly, and new bright buds will soon appear in your flowerbed.

Crocus flowers: planting and care

Regardless of whether you use tubers from your garden or purchased bulbs, they need to go through the preparation stage. Starting from mid-summer, planting material of this plant goes on sale. Let us remind you that tubers are dug up in June. Until September or October, it is necessary to find a place to store them in order to withstand the gradual decrease in temperature.

In the first 7-10 days after purchasing (or digging), place the tubers outdoors, avoiding direct sunlight. The bulbs should be well ventilated and dry. Then the tubers can be stored for a week or two in a closed pantry (cellar). After this, the bulbs are transferred to the refrigerator and stored at a temperature of 8-10 ° C until September - early October. As a result, colorful crocuses will appear in your flowerbed. Flowers that are planted in compliance with all the rules survive the winter well and also grow strong and healthy.

If the soil is saturated and heavy, then you should not deepen the tuber. It is enough to dig it into the ground at a distance equal to the height of the bulb itself. When planting in sandy loam soils, the tuber is positioned differently. Multiply the height of the bulb by 2 - this will be the required depth.

Crocuses are watered moderately until the flowering part begins to die off and the plant enters the dormant phase. In the spring, after the snow melts, the soil is sufficiently moist. But if the winter was without snow and the spring was dry, then the crocuses are watered a little. Lack of moisture will not cause the bulb to die, but the bud may be smaller than needed for a given variety.

Weeding and loosening of crocuses should be done only after sprouts appear, otherwise the bulb may be damaged. After flowering has stopped, crocuses do not need additional care.

Top dressing

You won't have to apply a lot of fertilizer if you have crocus growing in your area. Flowers, the care of which involves periodically adding phosphorus (during flowering) or potassium (before wintering), are quite unpretentious. When planting, you can add a little compost; this will be enough for excellent flowering and strengthening of the plant.

It is prohibited to apply fresh organic matter as fertilizers, since this only causes the appearance of diseases. The first fertilizing is carried out in the spring, when intensive growth occurs. It is enough to sprinkle the required amount of mineral fertilizers directly on the ground (or on the snow).

Wintering in the ground

It’s amazing that such a delicate flower can survive the coldest time of the year quite calmly. In fact, the plant tolerates severe frosts well and does not require additional protection. On the other hand, in winter, when birds and rodents have to forage for food, crocus tubers can be excellent prey. That is why it is enough to cover the ground in the place where the bulbs are located with ordinary branches, and then remove them with the onset of winter. Spring came? Take your time to loosen the soil where the crocus grows. The flower should produce its first shoots. And only after this can the soil be cultivated. It is believed that even frosts down to -5 ° C are not scary for this plant.

Growing at home

If you want to enjoy crocus blossoms on the balcony in your own apartment, then choose the coolest room - the flowers feel great at a temperature of 10°...15°C. Crocus is a house flower, but the most unusual thing is that it can bloom by a clearly established date. You just need to create the necessary conditions and follow the procedure. Let’s immediately make a reservation that you should not try to create a multi-colored “miracle” in one pot by mixing all possible varieties. The effect will be the opposite, since different hybrids have different timing and duration of flowering.

Purchase bulbs 3 months before the expected date. Choose a low but wide container that needs to be filled with light soil with neutral acidity. If you have regular soil, it can be mixed with sand. This way the soil will allow water to pass through, which is necessary to create optimal conditions. Expanded clay can be poured onto the bottom. Bulbs are often planted directly in a layer of sand sprinkled on a layer of soil - this way the roots receive the necessary nutrition, in addition, there is protection from stagnation of excess moisture. Make sure that the tubers do not touch each other and are not near the wall of the pot.

The container should be stored in a dark place at a temperature of +4°...+10°C for 8-10 weeks. The appearance of sprouts 4-6 cm high indicates that the time has come for flowering. Conditions change a little. Now the plant requires a lot of light and an increase in temperature to +12°...+16 °C.
Crocus flowers appear after 10-15 days and delight the eye for 2-2.5 weeks. You can extend this moment a little if you take the flowers out into a cool room at night, where the temperature is +2°...+5°C. When moistening the soil, make sure that the top layer has time to dry out a little. Crocuses are resistant to drought, and excess moisture disastrous for them.

When the flowering period is over, the tubers can be dug up and given a little rest. After just a couple of months, the bulbs will be ready to bloom again.
If you want to surprise your guests at New Year, consider purchasing bulbs in September or early October. And then for the winter holidays you will have a wonderful reason to present amazingly beautifully blooming crocuses on the windowsill!

In early spring, as soon as the snow melts, the crocus blooms - a flower whose second name is saffron.

This bulbous plant of the Iris family is native to the tropics, but also thrives in harsher climates.

Delicate, exquisite flowers appear almost the very first in sunny areas freed from snow.

But they bloom not only in spring, but also in autumn. Caring for crocuses does not require any special skills.

Features of growing crocuses in a summer cottage

This plant is suitable for those gardeners who live outside the city and have the opportunity to admire its early flowering. After all, it blooms for a very short time - no more than 7 - 10 days.

In such a short period of time, it can be difficult for city dwellers to get out to their dachas in order to catch the saffrons blooming. Crocuses that do not require planting and care in open ground special effort, are an unpretentious and disease-resistant crop.

In early spring, the plant does not need the care of gardeners. However, a number of agricultural technology features will have to be observed, otherwise flowering may not occur.

Saffron prefers sunny places, protected from cold winds if possible. Growing crocuses comes down to choosing the right planting location.

The more illuminated area provided to the plant, the larger the flowers will be.

The plant prefers fertile soil with a neutral reaction. Light loams are best suited for them, but crocuses can tolerate heavier soils. The main thing is that there is no stagnation of moisture.

Crocus propagation

The culture is most often propagated by daughter bulbs. They are formed from dormant buds, which are present in the axils of the scales covering the crocus bulbs.

The vegetative propagation method is the most preferable, since it preserves all varietal characteristics.

Young bulbs grow annually near the old mother plant. Depending on the variety, their number can vary from 1 to 10 pieces. Daughter corms bloom after a season.

Seeds can also be used to grow crocuses in open ground. But this method is much more labor-intensive.

It is more often used by professional flower growers when breeding the latest varieties and hybrids, as well as for propagating rare varieties and obtaining a large number of bulbs at the same time.

Flowers from plants grown by seed can only be expected after 4 to 5 years.

Rules for planting crocuses in open ground

The best period for planting spring-flowering varieties is August-September. In the time remaining before the onset of cold weather, the bulbs will have time to take root.

But sometimes, when the weather is warm and dry, planting crocuses in the fall is acceptable even in early November.

Autumn-flowering varieties are planted from early July to early August.

Bulbs are planted according to the following rules:

• large specimens are embedded in the soil to a depth of 12 cm;
• medium bulbs deepen by 4 - 6 cm;
• the bulbs are small - no deeper than 2 - 3 cm;
• the distance between individual corms should not be less than 3 cm (it is better to leave about 10-15 cm, since plantings thicken quickly).

Crocus bulbs have the ability to go deep into the soil on their own, forming retracting roots. Therefore, it is not necessary to strictly observe the embedment depth.

Seed material (from seeds prepared at the beginning of summer) is sown directly into the ground in the fall. During the winter months, the seeds undergo natural stratification; in the spring their germination will be better.

Forcing crocuses

Crocuses, like many bulbous plants, are often grown in room conditions by forcing method. It is quite easy to get a flowering plant by the desired date (Christmas, March 8, etc.).

It is necessary to select bulbs of the same variety and approximately the same size, since they will bloom at the same time and the stems will be the same height. The larger the onion, the larger the crocus flower and the sooner it will bloom.

Approximately 3 - 4 months before the expected date, the bulbs are planted in wide bowls with a soft, loose and permeable substrate so that they do not touch the walls of the container or each other.

Then the pots with crocuses should be stored in a room with a temperature of +5...+8°C. This could be a cellar, basement or even a refrigerator.

Within 8 - 10 weeks, rooting occurs and sprouts appear. When they reach a height of 4 - 6 cm, the pots are brought into a cool room with a temperature of about +10...+15°C and shaded with paper caps.

After 5 - 7 days, the covering can be removed and the crocuses can be placed on the windowsill in a warm room. The better the lighting, the larger the flowers.

If the room is too warm, the crocuses will quickly fade. To prolong flowering, the temperature should be maintained no higher than +15…+20°C.

After 2 - 3 weeks, the flower stalks will fall off, and the leaves will wither and gradually dry out. After the foliage has completely withered, the bulbs can be removed from the ground and, after allowing them to rest for 2 months, they can be planted again.

How to care for crocuses

Caring for these bulbous plants involves choosing a good planting site, timely weeding, loosening, regular watering and periodic feeding.

Choosing a place for landing and transfer

The place intended for crocuses should be as sunny as possible. In heavily shaded areas, flowering will be weak.

If crocuses are planted and replanted in soil that is too heavy and does not absorb water well, then the soil must be drained.

To do this, you need to add fine expanded clay or coarse river sand to the soil and dig it well. Excess and stagnation of moisture has an extremely negative effect on plants.

It is advisable to fence the area with a low fence or decorative border stone so as not to forget this place.

The fact is that when the foliage dries completely, the bulbs are quite difficult to find. Moreover, over time they go deep into the ground.

Fertilizer and feeding

There is no need to fertilize crocus corms immediately after planting them in well-prepared soil.

However, if the bulbs are not dug up, the soil is gradually depleted, and mineral potassium-phosphorus fertilizers will be required.

Phosphorus has a positive effect on flowering, there will be more buds and they will be larger. Potassium helps the formation of healthy and large bulbs.

Nitrogen fertilizers have a detrimental effect on crocuses, as they can provoke the development of fungal diseases.

During the growing season, the crop is fed 3 times:

1. When the first shoots appear, a potassium-phosphorus complex is added in a 1:2 ratio. The granules are simply scattered over the snow that has not yet melted.
2. During the mass ejection of buds - in a 1:1 ratio.
3. At the end of flowering - in a 1:1 ratio.

Crocuses do not tolerate fresh organic matter, but the use of humus and peat is allowed.

Watering

During the period of active growth, plants require a lot of moisture. But, since crocuses bloom early in the spring, nature itself takes care of this, providing the plantings with melted snow water.

There is no need to water them, because the crop is quite drought-resistant. In the future, watering is carried out only when the top layer of soil dries and as needed.

Why don't crocuses bloom?

The reason for the lack of flowering is often improper care of the crop. The reasons may be the following:

1. Long-term cultivation of crocuses in one place. The corms grow too much, become smaller, they become crowded, and they stop blooming.
2. The foliage was trimmed ahead of time after flowering, or the bulbs were dug up before the leaves completely dried out. The plant does not have time to gain enough nutrients.
3. The bulbs are planted too deeply or have sunk deep into the ground (if they are not replanted for a long time), and they do not have enough strength to flower.
4. Depleted soil.

Diseases and pests

With proper care, crocuses rarely get sick or are damaged by insects. If there are errors in maintenance, they can be affected by fungal infections: gray and white rot (sclerotial), fusarium.

All affected material must be destroyed, and for prevention purposes, the corms are soaked for 20 minutes in a fungicidal solution.

It is necessary to carefully select planting material and when digging, try not to accidentally damage the bulbs. Damaged areas are treated with crushed ash.

Plants are occasionally damaged by wireworms (larvae of click beetles).

To collect pests, traps are set up from tufts of wet grass, hay or straw laid out around the area, covered with boards.

After a few days, the traps with crawled larvae are burned. With excessive moisture, slugs may appear on the crop, which are simply collected by hand.

Crocus bulbs are often attacked by hares, mice and other rodents.

Caring for crocuses after flowering

Crocuses fade quickly, but the leaves remain green for some time. Peduncles can be cut off as soon as the flowers fade, if you do not plan to collect seeds.

The foliage is not touched until completely dry. At this time, a renewal bud is laid and formed inside the bulb. If you cut the leaves ahead of time, this process will be disrupted.

If this is not required yet, then the flowers are left in the ground without any care. It is also necessary to dig up crocuses after flowering if they plan to plant them in another place in the fall.

The bulbs are removed from the ground, dried in a shaded place, and cleaned of remaining soil, scales and old roots.

Sick and damaged specimens are rejected. Healthy bulbs are stored until autumn at a temperature of +18...+ 22°C in a regularly ventilated area.

Spring-flowering varieties of crocus are dug up from about the second half of June to mid-August.

Plants that bloom in autumn should be removed from the soil between the end of May and the end of July, since their vegetative cycle is different and the dormant period begins earlier.

It must be remembered that all manipulations with corms (digging, planting) are best done when they are at rest.

Wintering crocuses

During the winter months, crocus bulbs remain in the ground; they can easily withstand frosts down to -20°C.

In regions with more severe climatic conditions It is recommended to cover them with spruce branches, branches or dry leaves.

The best varieties of crocuses

Many varieties and varieties of crocus have been bred. Hybrids with large flowers are especially popular.

Some of them will be discussed below:

1. Albus. A snow-white flower up to 7 cm in diameter, with a creamy center. Blooms in September - October.
2. Artabir. The plant is up to 18 cm high, with large (about 12 cm) sky-blue flowers. Autumn blossom.
3. Pickwick. The flowers are about 4 - 6 cm in size, light purple in color with purple stripes, with large yellow stamens. It blooms quite late in the spring.
4. Grand Mater. The flowers are goblet-shaped, up to 4 cm in size, the petals are a rich dark purple color and pointed at the top. Spring flowering variety.
5. Saturnus. Flat, wide-open, creamy-yellow flowers with bright orange stigmas, up to 3.5 cm in girth. A hybrid that blooms in spring.
6. Marietta. The spring flower is lemon or light yellow in color, the oval petals are mottled on the outside with thin stripes of a dark brown hue.
7. Blue Pearl. Small (about 2 cm) delicate white-bluish flowers with a yellow center. Blooms early in spring.

The crocus saffron itself, from the stamens of which the spice is made, is called sativus. It belongs to the autumn-flowering varieties.

Crocuses are very beautiful spring flowers. They bloom in early spring and bloom for 7 to 10 days. After the flowers wither, the leaves remain fresh, but in the middle of the first summer month they also wither - these plants enter a dormant period.

With the onset of dormancy, the corms can be dug up, but this is not necessary, since crocuses can grow in one place for up to five years. But many gardeners still prefer to dig up corms in order to sort them out and discard sick and damaged ones. The sorted corms can later be planted in a new location.

When planting crocuses, you should follow several rules of care

The soil in which the plants are planned to be planted must be fertile and fairly light. It should be remembered that crocuses do not tolerate waterlogging. Therefore, if the soil in the flowerbed is clayey, you need to add sand and fertilizers - compost and manure.

Crocuses are light-loving plants, so they need to be planted in open, well-lit areas. If this condition is met, the flowers will be large and beautiful. Plants can develop normally even with slight shading, but in this case the flowers will be smaller.

If you want the flowerbed to be decorated flowering plants As long as possible, plant other spring flowers next to the crocuses - tulips, daffodils, hazel grouse, bergenia. The plants will bloom in turn, allowing you to admire the bright colors all spring.

It is necessary to ensure that the soil in which crocuses grow is properly moistened. Sprouts emerging from corms need to be watered. And then water as needed. The soil should dry out a little between waterings.

The soil on which crocuses grow must be quite fertile. If you planted the corms in good prepared soil, then during flowering they do not need to be fed with fertilizers. If the plants have been growing in the same flower bed for several years, it is necessary to add fertilizer to the soil.

You should select fertilizers that have a high content of potassium and phosphorus. Phosphorus is essential for buds to form and flowering to last longer, while potassium helps keep the corms large and healthy. Fertilizers need to be applied three times.

The first time is when the sprouts appear, the second time is when the buds begin to set, and the third time is after the end of flowering and the flowers have completely withered. During the first feeding, potassium should be added twice as much as phosphorus, and during the second and third, potassium and phosphorus should be taken in equal quantities.

Rules for planting crocuses

Now there are many varieties of crocuses, and some bloom not in spring, but in autumn. Corms of autumn-blooming crocuses are planted starting in mid-July. Crocuses that bloom in the spring are planted in the fall - from September to October.

Large corms are planted to a depth of 10 to 12 cm, and small ones - from 4 to 5 cm. It is also important to ensure that the distance between the corms is at least 5 cm, but if you do not plan to replant the crocuses in the next few years, you can plant at a distance of 3 cm.

Rules for caring for corms

In mid-summer, when the crocuses have completely faded and the leaves have withered, it’s time to take care of the corms. If you do not want to transplant the crocuses to another place, then you don’t have to dig them up. It is enough to carefully remove faded flowers and leaves. Typically, crocus corms tolerate winter frosts well, but in regions where the winter months are quite harsh, the flower beds are covered with branches or leaves.

If you want crocuses to grow in some other place next year, then in July you need to dig them up and sort them out - leave the large and healthy ones, and throw away the sick and damaged ones. Corms are stored at a temperature of 18 to 22 ° C in well-ventilated rooms. Crocuses can also be grown in apartments on windowsills. But in such conditions, the rules for caring for these plants are completely different.

This is interesting

Crocuses are valued not only by flower growers. For hundreds of years, chefs from all over the world have used these plants in their culinary recipes. After all, saffron is a valuable spice of bright orange color - nothing more than the stigmas of crocus flowers.

Crocus (Crocus) or saffron is a herbaceous corm perennial of the Iris family (Iridaceae). The natural habitats of crocus are rare forests, steppes and meadows of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This delicate, exquisite flower blooms in early spring, right after snowdrops. But there are species that delight with their buds in September and October. Growing crocuses does not require any special skills and is not a hassle. We'll show you how to care for crocuses in your garden so you can enjoy the graceful flowers in spring and fall.

Species features

An unpretentious corm primrose that is widely used in garden design.

The name crocus is more common among gardeners, although in the scientific literature the plant is called saffron. Crocus is a low-growing plant, with an average height of 10 cm. It does not form stems, and narrow, linear leaves grow directly from the ground.

The flowers are goblet-shaped, from 2 to 5 cm in diameter, arranged singly on short stalks. The colors of the flowers are different: yellow, orange, cream, and white, purple and lilac, blue and violet. Saffron also comes with bicolor or spotted flowers. Crocuses bloom for about 2-3 weeks.

In total, the genus Crocus includes about 80 species and 300 varieties, which are divided into 15 groups. One of them includes varieties that bloom in autumn, the other 14 groups include varieties that bloom in spring. The spring crocus species (Crocus vernus) has given rise to various hybrids, the most popular of which are the Dutch large-flowered varieties.

Growing in open ground

Growing and caring for crocuses is not difficult. As with any other flowers, you need to choose the right site for growing saffron, prepare the soil for planting, provide access to light, moisture and nutritional compounds.

Choosing a landing site

It is better to plant crocuses in a sunny area that is well lit. Although the plant reacts normally to partial shade, the flowering of crocuses growing in a lack of light will not be as abundant, and the size of the buds will be small.

Crocuses do not tolerate excess humidity, so a place where melt and rain water stagnates is completely unsuitable for them.

Is it possible to plant saffron next to other flowers? Undoubtedly. Crocus planted with tulips, daffodils and other bulbous plants will provide beautiful bloom flower beds from early spring until summer. Newly blooming buds will replace flowers that have already faded.

In nature, crocuses grow in meadows with other perennial herbs, and when grown in the garden, they can also be planted together with peonies, daffodils and other flowers.

The soil

Saffron prefers soil that is light and dry, loose, and fertile. Drainage is provided with fine gravel or coarse sand. Krokus does not react well to acidic soil, so peat mixed with lime and compost can be added to the soil for digging. Clay soil is improved by adding fine gravel or decomposed compost.

Landing

Experienced gardeners know how to plant crocuses. The planting depth should be equal to two bulbs if the flowers will grow on light soil. Crocuses are planted in heavy soil to a depth equal to one bulb. An interval of 7–10 cm is usually left between the bulbs. And for those who do not plan to replant crocuses for 3–4 years, you can plant the flowers closer - at a distance of 3 cm. After planting, the soil is watered.

When to plant crocuses depends on when the flowers appear. Spring crocuses should be planted in the fall. Plants that bloom in the fall should be planted in June.

Crocuses can grow in one area for 3 to 5 years. During this period, many children appear on their bulbs, and when the crocuses bloom, the area becomes a continuous carpet of flowers. But if the plants become crowded, the number and size of flower buds decreases. Therefore, crocuses need to be planted after 4–5 years.

Do I need to dig it up and when?

The faded bud can be cut off, and after a while the green leaves will turn yellow and dry out. Whether it is necessary to dig up crocuses after flowering is up to each gardener to decide for himself. After all, saffron is a perennial that can grow in one area for more than one year.

If replanting flowers is not planned, they are not dug up, but only the dried buds and leaves are cut off. In southern regions with a warm climate, the bulbs can withstand winter cold. In areas with harsh weather conditions, the soil with the bulbs should be covered with small twigs or fallen leaves.

One of the main advantages of plants is that their bulbs do not have to be dug up every year.

If the flowers need to be transplanted to a new area, they are removed from the soil. When to dig up crocuses depends on the time of flowering. For spring plants best time- July August September. Bulbs of varieties that bloom in autumn are removed from the soil from June to August.

Bulb storage

The planting material is dried in the shade, sorted, removing bad scales and dead roots from the bulbs. Damaged bulbs are sprinkled with ash, and diseased and small ones are discarded. The material selected for planting is placed in one layer in a box or box.

According to the rules, the bulbs are stored at temperatures above 22 ° C until August, otherwise flower buds will not form. At the beginning of the last summer month, the temperature is reduced to 20 ° C, and after another 7 days - to 15 ° C. But a botanical garden or flower farm can provide such conditions. At home, store the bulbs in a dry, dark and well-ventilated place at room temperature.

Caring for crocuses in the garden

Caring for crocuses at home is quite simple. The soil must be regularly moistened and loosened, weeds must be pulled out in a timely manner, and fertilizers must be applied if necessary.

Watering

For good growth and development of plants, the soil must be constantly moist. As the soil dries out, young shoots need to be watered. But it is important to ensure that the top layer of soil dries out before each watering.

Fertilizer application

Planting crocuses in fertile soil will provide the plants with normal nutrition. But if the soil is poor, or the flowers have been growing in one place for more than one year, they need to be fertilized with potassium-phosphorus mineral fertilizers. Phosphorus ensures abundant formation of buds and increases the flowering period. And potassium is needed to maintain the health of the bulbs. Concerning nitrogen fertilizing, then their excess causes fungal diseases.

Fresh organic fertilizers cause various diseases; crocuses cannot be fed with them.

During the season, fertilizing is applied to the soil three times:

• when sprouts appear;
• during the formation of flower buds;
• after flowering is complete.

When first fertilizing, potassium is taken in half as much as phosphorus; during subsequent fertilizing, equal ratios of fertilizers are applied.

Planting for forcing

Some gardeners grow crocuses at home in winter using the forcing method. Wherein indoor flower requires other conditions of detention. Most often, large-flowered Dutch hybrids are grown by forcing.

It is necessary to outline the expected flowering date, and 3.5–4 months before the scheduled date, plant the bulbs in wide, shallow containers of 5–10 pieces. The soil for planting crocuses in pots should have good moisture and air permeability, be loose and have a neutral environment.

Flowers in a pot are kept in a place with a temperature of 5 to 10 ° C (this can be the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, basement, cellar). Two weeks before the expected flowering date, the temperature is raised: the pot is moved to the coolest place in the house, then to a warmer room, and finally, the flowers are placed in the sun on the windowsill. They will bloom soon.

When the bulbs are tightly arranged in a pot, you can get a beautiful bouquet of crocuses.

Problems of growing crocuses in open ground

If planting and care at home are carried out correctly, plants are practically not susceptible to disease and insect attack.

A danger to plants is the larva of the click beetle (wireworm), which feeds on the bulbs. Flower growers have figured out what to do with this pest. They advise at the end of April or beginning of May to spread wet hay or straw over the area with crocuses and cover them with boards. The larvae will definitely move into the traps, which then need to be burned. Plants can also be attacked by slugs (they will have to be collected by hand), and mice and other rodents also like to feed on the bulbs.

If the flower has a flattened shape, does not fully bloom, and its petals are covered with gray spots, most likely the plant is affected by a viral disease. Its carriers can be mice, aphids, and thrips. Affected flowers should be immediately dug up and burned. Disinfect the soil with a hot concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.

Self-seeding of crocuses can also be a problem: flowers sprout in the most unexpected places and turn into weeds.

If crocuses are not kept properly at home, the plants may become sick:

• gray rot;
• fusarium;
• sclerotial or penicella rot.

To prevent diseases, it is important to plant healthy bulbs and transplant carefully. If there is still damage on the bulb, you need to sprinkle this area with ash, and before planting, soak the bulbs for 20 minutes in a solution of a fungicidal agent.

Reproduction

Flowers are easiest to propagate from bulbs that form on the mother corm. They are separated and seated one at a time.

You can also grow flowers from seeds. But this is more difficult to do, since most often the plants lose their varietal characteristics and begin to bloom only after 4–5 years. Therefore, this method of reproduction is not popular. The best option– buy plant bulbs at a flower shop or greenhouse.

Purchase Features

In order for the plant to grow strong and delight you with its flowers, it is important to buy high-quality planting material and carefully inspect the bulbs before purchasing. They must be healthy, large, and without damage. Dutch varieties on sale with large bulbs are marked + 10 on the packaging bag. They produce 5-6 large flowers. Smaller bulbs produce 3–4 flowers, and very small ones produce 2–3 flowers. The size of the flowers also depends on the size of the bulbs (in selected large specimens it reaches 5–7 cm) and the height of the plants.

Planting and caring for crocus flowers is not difficult. Plants look great on alpine slides; they can be used to decorate flower beds, borders, and lawns. The flowers are beautiful on their own and go well with other bulbous flowers. And in an apartment you can grow crocuses for the holiday, and admire the beautiful elegant flowers for the New Year or March 8th.

Crocuses are early spring bulbous perennial plants. The color combinations of these spring flowers delight and delight tired eyes and hearts after a long winter. Under natural conditions, growing these bulbous plants perennial plants carried out on sandy, rocky and loose soils. Planting and care is carried out in sunny areas in open ground.

Crocuses: varieties and varieties

The homeland of these perennial flowers is European countries, North African states and western Asia. In addition to its remarkable property of pleasing the eye, the scope of this plant is wide: crocus (or saffron) is used in cooking as a seasoning, as a dye and as a medicine. Varieties with large inflorescences, differing in color: striped, spotted, two-colored, with a contrasting pattern. The propagation method for preserving the variety of this plant is simple and quite accessible to gardeners.

Crocuses, grown in modern conditions made it possible to obtain more than 250 species, differing not only in color, but also in the size of the stamens and pistils.

At the end of the 19th century in Holland, the propagation of species contributed to the emergence of the Crocus sativa variety, but interest in it as an ornamental plant appeared much later. Along with this variety, varieties such as angustifolia crocus, yellow crocus and spring crocus were introduced into European gardens. It was thanks to these varieties that Dutch hybrids appeared.

Crocuses in open ground begin to bloom in late April - early May. These are cold-resistant plants; they tolerate frosts down to minus 5 - 7 degrees. Bright flowers each variety pleases the eye for 10-15 days. To extend the flowering period, it is recommended to use different varieties - early, middle, late. For example, in landscape design the most popular spring species are now:

1. Golden crocus “Blue Pearl”– small (2 cm in diameter) cup-shaped flowers, white, pale blue. At the base the flower is yellow in color. The pistil is large, much larger than the stamens, the anthers are cream-colored. Blooms early.
2. Crocus golden "Saturnus"— The flowers are flat, oval, creamy yellow. The anthers are light yellow and the stigmas are reddish-orange.” Blooms in mid-season.
3. Spring crocus “King of striped”— the outside color of its flowers is white-lilac, reticulated, the anthers and stigmas are bright yellow. Flowers up to 4 cm high. Flowering late.
4. Spring crocus 'Pickwick'- the flowers are large (4-6 cm), the color is light lilac with purple spots at the base, the stamens are yellow and large. Blooms in late spring.
5. Spring crocus "Grand Maitre"- this variety has large goblet-shaped flowers (4 cm), the color is purple, rich, the tops of the petals are pointed, the pistil and stamens are equal in height. Late spring flowering variety.

Planting a plant

Spring crocuses are planted in early autumn (late August - early September) at a distance of 7 to 10 cm from each other. Crocuses planted in September are not winter-hardy enough, so they are covered for the winter to avoid freezing of the bulbs, which is quite dangerous on clay soils and loams. Dry leaves, peat and humus are useful for insulation.

At the planting site, prepare depressions of such a size that the bulb can fit freely. When planting tubers, the soil should be well fertilized with compost. Drainage is placed at the planting site to avoid the accumulation of stagnant water and rotting of the bulbs. Expanded clay, screenings, and coarse sand are used as drainage. Then a fertile layer mixed with compost is poured on top.

If the soil is fertile and well fertilized with compost, then in the first year after planting, no fertilizer is added; the next year, potassium and phosphorus additives are added to the soil. After planting, the rhizomes are covered by mulching the soil.

Crocus care

Caring for the plant when planted correctly is not difficult. Crocuses are sun-loving flowers; growing them in open ground in shaded areas leads to crushed flowers or to their absence. Quite resistant to drought: in the spring, during flowering, the flowers have enough moisture, but in the summer they still need watering.

Some amateur gardeners dig up crocus bulbs every year, dry them and store them in a cool place. This makes it possible to select the largest perennial plants; such care saves the bulbs from rodents and rotting.

Plant propagation

Crocuses reproduce mainly by children. Large daughter bulbs are carefully separated and planted separately. This allows you to maintain the quality of the perennial. To speed up the propagation process, the bulbs should be dug up annually, since they are replaced every season: the old ones dry out, and up to five new tubers grow nearby.

For planting, larger bulbs are selected, old dried and rotten lobes are cut off. In general, crocuses are unpretentious, you don’t have to dig them up every year, but you don’t need to keep the flowers in one place for more than five years, the plantings grow and bloom poorly.

Dig up faded plants in July, after the foliage has dried. Saffrons can also be propagated by seeds, but then you will have to wait for flowers only in the third year. With this method of propagation, varietal characteristics are not always preserved.

Diseases and pests

The developed varieties and hybrids of crocuses are resistant to diseases, but in moist soils they are exposed to various viruses and fungal diseases. Diseases can only be fought, unfortunately, by destroying the affected bulbs, while the soil is spilled with a special solution. After discovering diseased bulbs, flowers must be grown in another place.

Crocuses suffer from invasions of moles and mice, but if flowers are planted on alpine hills and rockeries, then protection from rodents is first installed there. Crocuses are also susceptible to attacks by slugs and moths; insecticides are regularly sprayed to get rid of insects.

Attention! At improper care Crocus flowers become smaller, lose color intensity or do not bloom at all.

The use of saffron in landscape design

Crocuses, planting and caring for which do not pose any great difficulties, are now widely used in mass compositions when creating beautiful garden landscapes - in a mixborder, edging or flowerbed.