Crocuses: planting and caring for them in the open field requires specific knowledge so that this fragile and delicate flower takes root in the soil and pleases the eyes of the owners with its variegated petals. Another name for the plant is saffron, and most gardeners believe that it blooms exclusively in the spring. However, breeders have long bred special varieties of crocuses that can bloom in the fall.

Saffron is widespread almost throughout Eurasia and thrives in temperate climates. But, before moving on to the issue of planting and caring for crocuses in the open field, you need to choose healthy plant bulbs and highlight right place for planting flowers in your garden.

How to Pick Viable Saffron Bulbs:

Even healthy parts of future flowers require pre-treatment before planting. It is necessary to peel off the old skin from the bulbs and disinfect them by sprinkling with ash or keeping them in a manganese solution.

Planting and caring for crocuses in the open field should take place in spacious flower beds (flowers can occupy the entire area in a short time). They should be located in an open area where there is a lot of sunlight. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant saffron under densely crowned trees.

The soil for crocuses of all subspecies should not be excessively wet. The soil structure should be loose, nutritious, light and non-acidic. Do not be afraid if the soil in the garden does not meet these requirements, it can be made suitable for saffron using simple methods. Coarse river sand, gravel or crushed stone, which is used as a drainage layer, will help get rid of excessive dampness. The acidity of the soil is neutralized by a mixture of peat and lime, ash or rotted manure.

Crocus planting time in the garden

When to plant crocuses outdoors? It all depends on the type of plant that the gardener has chosen, but they are all divided into flowers that bloom in spring or autumn.

Spring flowering plants include:

Since the flowering of these subspecies of decorative flora falls on spring, then crocuses are planted in open ground in the fall. They should be planted from late September to early October.

If spring-flowering varieties are planted earlier than the second half of September, then saffron can bloom by the frost period and eventually die. And if you plant a flower later than the first half of October, then the soil for the bulbs will be too cold, they will not be able to take root in it and will simply freeze.

Autumn-flowering saffron subspecies include:

Flowers bloom in the garden in autumn, and therefore crocuses are planted in the ground in spring (late May) or early summer (first half of July).

How to care for saffron?

Saffron is not a flower that needs abundant watering. If autumn or spring (depending on what kind of flower is planted) were rich in precipitation, then they should be watered only when the soil becomes dry, not only on the surface, but also in depth. Otherwise, the plants can simply rot.

Outdoor crocuses are easy to care for. Periodically, you will need to weed the flower rows, getting rid of weed... The soil (especially after rain) must be loosened to root system plants got access to air.

Like any decorative flowers, crocuses need feeding. However, it is not recommended to fertilize saffron with organic mixtures. It is better to purchase granular mineral supplements enriched with potassium and phosphorus. Nitrogen fertilizers should be applied with caution, in small doses, as they can provoke the growth of fungus on the plant bulbs.

Top dressing should be applied in at least 2 stages: first, fertilize the soil before planting crocuses, and then during the period of their increased growth.

Below are photos of crocuses in the open field:

Two ways of planting crocuses - video

When the touching flowers of crocuses flare up on the canopy of bright fallen leaves like small precursors of spring, it seems as if time has flown back. It is difficult to find a more delicate autumn flowering plant. Crocuses that open their flowers at the end of the gardening season are the closest relatives of everyone's spring favorites. They are grown practically according to the same rules as ordinary crocuses, but the flowering of these plants does not occur after a long winter, but before it begins.

Saffron, or beautiful Crocus (Crocus speciosus). © Meneerke bloem

Getting to know the autumn crocuses

Crocuses, or saffron, are the favorite of primroses. They are easy to grow and even easier to care for. But out of 15 groups, including almost 40 species of crocuses that are actively used in gardening, far from all are spring flowering plants.

Large group of crocuses in bloom in autumn, at the very end of the season. Autumn crocuses bloom after the beginning of the leaf fall, and this spectacle - the contrast of a typically spring miniature flower and a garden withering for the winter - cannot leave you indifferent. Such species bloom as briefly as spring species, but much more spectacularly.

Like spring species, autumn crocuses are suitable for cultivation and as garden plant, and in a pot and even indoor culture. True, in the last rank, their flowering periods are shifted and depend on when the bulb is planted, and not on the natural cycle. It is better to use them:

• "Wild" spots under shrubs and trees;
• as touching accents in small groups scattered around the garden;
• in the borders and in the foreground, along the edge of the ridges;
• near reservoirs and other water bodies;
• to decorate the lawn;
• as a seasonal accent on alpine slides or rockeries.

The best types of autumn crocuses:

1. Single yellow crocus Sharoyan, the color of which is dazzling saffron. It has wide leaves and a large, graceful flower that looks like a small sun. This crocus blooms in September and October.

2. Crocus hill (or valley) it will not exceed 12 cm in height, but long, up to 6 cm petals with a milky base color and purple stripes-strokes are decorated with charming orange stains in the throat.

3. Crocus Banat with beautiful linear autumn leaves up to 15 cm long and blooming for a month, during which each bulb releases 1-2 flowers to the height of the leaves. Its flowers are very large, showy, a bit like irises, with almost five centimeter long perianth lobes, yellow-lilac anthers and cold lilac color.

Saffron, or Banat Crocus. © Jim Murrain

4. Crocus cute with almost round perianth lobes, a surprisingly lush bunch of stamens and a beautiful play of color - dark purple on large veins and lighter, watercolor on the petals themselves. Its leaves bloom only after flowering, prolonged, exciting both September and October.

5. Crocus Pallas, whose flowers seem to be outlandish stars. This is a plant with narrow leaves that bloom only in spring, the flowers of which appear in the second half of September and even though they reach a height of only 5 cm, they are very effective. Reaching almost 5 cm in diameter, they are distinguished by a lily-shaped and very light, shining white-lilac color with a beautiful bunch of stamens.

6. Crocus beautiful- one of the largest autumn-colored crocuses. Its leaves develop in spring and reach a length of 30 cm. But the real "show" begins in September, when the corms release flowers up to 7 cm in diameter, white or lilac, with surprisingly touching longitudinal veins, watercolor stains, perfect shape wide, pointed at the edge of the petals and symmetrical structure. Everything is fine in this crocus - both bright orange columns with yellow specks of dust in the center, and translucent textures of mother-of-pearl petals. Crocus speciosus has a huge number of intense and dark blue, light blue, lilac varieties. Among them, the most popular are:

• variety "Oksinan" with a deep purple, ultramarine tint, color of wide perianths and gracefully pointed ends of the petals;
• grade "Albus" with an original cream tube and snow-white petals;
• variety "Cassiope" with amazing contrasting veins on the most delicate blue flowers;
• variety "Aitchisonu" with large, more than 7 cm in diameter, lilac flowers;
• variety "Conqueror" with azure blue huge flowers;
• variety "Artabir" with a sky-blue color, accentuated by dark veins.

Conditions comfortable for autumn crocuses

Autumn crocuses are much more flexible in terms of their lighting requirements. Crocus Sharoyan and the valley loves shade or partial shade, but for the rest of the species it is better to provide diffused lighting, sunny and bright places, or at least a partial shade location. For autumn crocuses, a growing strategy with a sunny location in spring and autumn and shaded in summer is suitable.

Shafran Sharoyan, or Crocus Sharoyan (Crocus scharojanii). © Desvil

Crocuses do not like winds and drafts, so protected areas are chosen for them. The thing is that flowers of these plants are sensitive to cold autumn winds, and the more protection they are provided with by their “neighbors”, the better.

The place of planting of autumn crocuses must be selected so that during the dormant period they do not suffer from getting wet, they grow dry and warm. That is why you need to choose either elevated, well-drained places (for example, on alpine slides and rockeries). Another option is to lay the drainage during disembarkation.

Pay attention to the soil. For crocuses, choose light, loamy soils that allow water to pass through well. The only exceptions are Dutch varieties and hybrids that can tolerate even heavy soil. Be sure to make sure that the soil is not acidic or alkaline: crocuses love neutral soils. But they are not so demanding on fertility: the richest soils and rather scarce soils are suitable for crocuses.

Features of planting autumn crocuses

Before planting crocuses, the area for them must be prepared. Mix sand or fine gravel into the soil to improve drainage, and add mature manure, leafy soil to poor soil. Autumn crocuses will also respond gratefully to the application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (instead of nitrophosphate, it is better to use superphosphate and potassium nitrate). It is better not to use peat or to extinguish it with lime. On those sites where there is a high risk of getting wet, make raised ridges or lay drainage at a depth of 30-40 cm.

Saffron, or Crocus valley (hill) (Crocus vallicola). © oldtulips

Autumn-flowering crocuses require a slightly different approach to planting: if spring crocuses are planted in August-September, then autumn-flowering crocuses need to be bought before flowering, which traditionally begins in September. Best timing for them - from June to the end of the first decade of August. Do not buy flowering bulbs - they will be weakened and take several years to recover.

Before planting, inspect the bulbs again: they should be heavy, with dense shells, not crumpled and soft, with a clearly visible renewal bud (small tubercle). Autumn blooming crocuses should soon "wake up", and if the buds are unnoticeable on them, it is better not to plant them at all or put them in a pot and watch for signs of growth.

Autumn crocuses are planted only in groups of 5 or more, placing the plants at a distance of 5-6 cm between the plants. Crocus bulbs are planted at a traditional depth equal to twice the height of the bulbs themselves (5 to 15 cm). On heavy soil, leave a distance equal to the height of the bulb from the top of the bulb to the edge of the soil. It is not necessary to strictly follow the centimeters: crocuses, unlike many bulbous ones, form retracting roots and young bulbs themselves will settle in the soil at a comfortable depth. After planting, mulch the soil with sand to keep out slugs. Be sure to mark the landing site with sticks or other markers.

Autumn blooming crocus care

These small plants, offering to enjoy the spring bloom during atypical seasons, are easy to grow. Crocuses do not need watering, except for the coincidence of winters with little snow and extreme droughts in spring, when during the period of active foliage growth of autumn crocuses, it is necessary to replenish the moisture requirement of the bulbs and water the crocuses at least several times. Plants do not need watering in autumn.

Saffron Pallas, or Crocus Pallas (Crocus pallasii). © Dimìtar Nàydenov

During the entire phase of active development at the beginning of the season, crocuses need potassium and phosphorus. They can be fed once. in early spring... Be careful when adding nitrogen for autumn crocuses: the vigorous growth of greenery can be detrimental to flowering at the end of the season. Crocus fertilizers are not applied in autumn.

Digging and replanting autumn crocuses

Crocuses can be transplanted and transferred to a new place at the same time as planting - from June to August for autumn flowering species. Autumn crocuses (if you do not plan to increase the number of plants and propagate crocuses, donate them to friends-neighbors or sell them), do not replant more often for 3-5 years. Wait for signs of overflowing "nests" and only then plant the bulbs. So the flowering will be more beautiful, and the bulbs will be stronger.

After digging, the bulbs must be dried at room temperature in a well-ventilated place for 2-3 months. After drying, old roots and exfoliated, bad scales are removed from them, sprinkling all damage with wood ash. It is better to discard bulbs with traces of rot right away.

Saffron, or Crocus pretty, just as pretty, 'Zephyr' variety (Crocus pulchellus). © Meneerke bloem

Preparation for wintering

Crocuses are frost-hardy bulbs and do not need any preparation for wintering.

Diseases and pests

Autumn crocuses are considered more “robust” plants than spring-flowering species. They most often suffer from rot caused by excessive soil moisture, but are less likely to be affected by other diseases. In new varieties, dry rot is common, manifesting at the beginning in small specks, then merging into whole foci. Rotted bulbs must be thrown away and destroyed immediately. Rodents love to eat with them, therefore, when close to the nests and increased activity on the site, it is better to plant the bulbs in special nets.

Reproduction of autumn crocuses

Autumn crocus species are easier to reproduce than spring ones: they form up to 7 daughter corms annually. Autumn crocuses form "nests" - a group of related bulbs, which, after the death of the old bulb and the formation of a new one, become independent plants. It is them that are best used to increase the collection of crocuses, because only this method preserves the varietal characteristics of plants. When digging and transplanting, daughter plants are simply separated and used as independent ones. Since they bloom for 3-4 years, usually already in next year most of the separated bulbs will delight with flowering.

Banat saffron, or Banat crocus (Crocus banaticus). © Jim Murrain

Crocuses can also be propagated by seeds, but this method does not allow preserving the characteristics of varietal crocuses, and the fruiting of autumn species is an irregular phenomenon and depends on the vagaries of the weather. Seeds of autumn crocuses are harvested in the spring, after natural stratification, sowing in the same year in summer or autumn. Sowing is best done in boxes or pots, covered with non-woven fabric or black foam. Plants from the first year are grown cyclically, but they bloom only 4-5 years after sowing.

Crocus is one of the most beautiful primroses from the Iris family. But if planted in the spring, you can get a second bloom in the fall. The process of growing crocuses outdoors and maintaining them is quite simple. The first bright flowers will appear on the flowerbed as soon as the snow melts. At this time, it blooms massively from 2 weeks to a month. There are also autumn varieties.

Description of the plant

Crocus or saffron is a perennial bulbous plant belonging to the Iris family. The stem of the plant is not developed. Leaves are straight, dark green located at the very roots. They can appear both during and after flowering. The root is a corm up to 3 centimeters in size. It has a flattened shape, surrounded by flat scales.

Crocus flowers

Flowers in a cup are only single, large, they are surrounded by membranous scales. They have a bright color: from deep purple to bright yellow, cream or white. Seeds are small, angular in shape. Collected in three-celled fruits in the form of boxes.

Crocuses can bloom not only in early spring, but also in autumn. It depends on the specific type of plant.

Types and varieties

All types of crocuses can be divided into two main groups:

• spring flowering;
• autumn flowering.

The most popular types that bloom in spring are:

• spring. Plants up to 17 centimeters in height, have bright purple or white flowers. One or two flowers can develop from one corm. The flowering period is up to 3 weeks;

Spring

• golden. The plant is up to 20 centimeters high, blooms in April. The leaves are very narrow and long. The flowers are bright golden. Blooms for 3 weeks, until early May;
• two-flowered. Has the most varied shape and color of flowers. The pharynx of flowers can be white or yellow. The color of the petals can be bright white or variegated. It can be white with purple stripes or lilac with brown spots;
• Thomasini. Not only flowers, but also leaves have an unusual color. They take on a delicate lilac-pink hue. The star-shaped flowers are bright white. Up to 3 flowers develop from one corm.

Autumn varieties include:

• beautiful. The plant reaches a height of 30 centimeters. The variegated flowers have a beautiful lilac color with purple veins. There are also varieties with blue, white, bright purple or pale blue color.

Beautiful

• Banat. The plant was named after the Banat region, located in Romania. Beautiful light lilac flowers have bright yellow anthers. Plant height ranges from 12 to 14 centimeters;
• pretty. The plant is 7 to 10 centimeters high. The flowers have a beautiful lilac color with dark stripes.

The most popular varieties:

• Nanette. Spring variety with creamy yellow flowers. There are purple stripes on the outside of the inflorescences;

• Blue Bonnet. Spring-flowering variety with beautiful pale blue flowers;
• Laylek Beauty. A spring-flowering variety with wide-open inflorescences. Their coloration combines a lilac shade on the outside and a bright blue on the inside.
• And Gee Bowells. A spring-flowering variety that has a fairly large flowers bright yellow;
• Albus. Autumn variety with a pronounced white shade of flowers;
• Oksinan. An autumn flowering variety with a variegated color of flowers. Inflorescences combine shades of lilac and blue with a dark perianth;
• Artabir. Autumn variety with sky-blue flowers and dark bracts.

Dutch hybrid varieties... They have especially large and beautiful flowers. It can be:

• Albion. Hybrid variety with white goblet flowers;
• Jubilee. Hybrid cultivar with goblet flowers lilac with a violet-purple tint.
• Kathleen Parlow. A hybrid variety that allows you to decorate a flower bed with bowl-shaped flowers white.

Best combined in landscape design both spring-flowering and autumn-flowering varieties.

Many hybrid varieties can continue to bloom in the spring until the end of May.

Growing time

The timing of planting crocuses in open ground directly depends on the flowering time of a particular variety. This could be:

1. Spring varieties are planted in open ground in August or September. Plants overwintered in the open field will bloom, depending on the variety, in early April or May.
2. Autumn varieties. Disembarkation takes place in May - June. Beautiful flowers will appear on flower beds in September or October.

The most famous spring varieties of crocuses are some of the most beautiful primroses.

Landing in open ground

Crocus is enough unpretentious plant. Before and during flowering, plant maintenance is minimal. Almost any soil is suitable for cultivation, but it grows best on light loam. It is undesirable to plant it on acidic or swampy soils. Grows very well in open, sunny areas.

Planting bulbs

To get healthy and strong plants, you need to choose the right planting material. Corms should be:

• free of external defects (dark spots, traces of mold);
• mechanical damage;
• traces of rot.

Before planting, corms must be freed from external film scales and old roots.

Autumn crocus varieties are sometimes sold in flower shops or nurseries with old flowers. Such a plant rarely takes root. It is best to purchase corms that have not yet bloomed. Before landing the poor nutrients the soil should be fertilized with manure or compost and dug up.

After that:

1. Dig holes up to 10 centimeters deep;
2. Drainage from expanded clay or sand is placed at the bottom of the hole;
3. Corms are placed in the holes and wrapped in earth.

If, during planting, at the same time, fertilizing from rotted peat is applied, the plants will be stronger. They will definitely reward with bright and long-lasting flowering.

Crocus belongs to drought-resistant plants, but does not like excessive moisture... Water after planting in moderation.

Crocuses require care only during the growing season. It includes:

• top dressing. Spring varieties can be fed with mineral fertilizers, for example, urea. They can be cut right in the snow in March, after which they themselves will be absorbed with melt water. For this I use peat, manure and nitrogenous fertilizers. The first feeding is carried out during the period of "pecking" of the shoots. The second feeding is carried out during the flowering period, and the third before the dormant period;

Urea

• watering. Crocuses need it only if there was little snow in winter. Fall varieties should be watered moderately throughout the summer.
• transfer. Crocuses must be transplanted every 4 to 5 years. This prevents chopping not only of the flowers, but also of the bulbs.

During the dormant period following flowering, crocuses do not require constant care.

Crocuses after flowering

After the spring flowering period has ended, you need to properly prepare them for the dormant period. For this:

1. Cut off dried inflorescences;
2. When the leaves are dry, they are also cut off. After that, the bulbs are dug out for autumn planting in the ground.

Autumn-flowering crocus varieties do not have to be dug up and replanted every year.

If the corms are not needed as planting material, they are left to winter in the ground. To do this, it is enough to mulch them with peat or dry leaves.

Storing the bulbs

The bulbs are sorted and dried before storage. The process of preparing planting material includes:

1. Cleaning. Corms are thoroughly cleaned of pieces of soil, old roots and scales;
2. Sorting. Corms damaged by pests or weakened are discarded.
3. Drying. Prepared corms are laid out for drying in boxes at a temperature not lower than 22 C.

Dried onions are stored in a dry and dark place.

At home, crocus bulbs are stored at room temperature, in a room with good ventilation.

For more details on growing crocuses, see the video.

Conclusion

Crocus, or saffron, is a perennial bulbous plant that can grow in one place for 3 to 5 years. There are more than 15 types of crocuses, which can be roughly divided into 2 groups: spring-flowering and autumn-flowering. Crocuses are quite unpretentious to growing conditions. They are frost and drought resistant. At the same time, the plant does not like strong humidity.

Crocus is small and fragile, but very beautiful flower... That is why you need to know how to properly implement planting and care in the open field after them. Crocuses are also called saffron. Most often they bloom in spring, but there are already many species that bloom in autumn. These are very popular flowers, gardeners and hobbyists often want to grow them. at home. Due to its diversity and non-trivial appearance, crocuses in the garden frequent guests, they delight the eye from early spring to late autumn.

Bulb selection and planting site

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Most often, saffron blooms in a temperate climatic zone, although there are varieties that feel comfortable in other areas. Before deciding on a planting site, you need to select healthy crocus bulbs. To crocuses in the garden grew beautiful, you need to choose healthy material and find the right place on the site.

What viable and healthy bulbs should be:

• There should be no extra shoots and roots.
• Healthy bulbs should be firm and firm. When they are soft and loose, they will most likely not germinate.
• If dark spots appear on the bulbs, then they are affected by rot.
• Mechanical defects also indicate the unsuitability of the material.

Once the material is selected, it must be processed before planting. For disinfection, you need to remove the excess skin from the bulbs and hold them in potassium permanganate or sprinkle with wood ash.

Important! Crocuses are very fond of sunlight... It is necessary to plant them in spacious flower beds, since flowers will occupy the entire site in a short time. Crocuses should not be planted under densely crowned trees.

Crocuses must be planted in a well-fed, non-acidic, slightly moistened soil, which must first be thoroughly loosened. If the soil in the garden does not meet the requirements for crocuses, it can be made suitable using a few simple methods. In order to get rid of excessive moisture, you can use drainage from river sand, gravel or crushed stone. Adding a mixture of peat and lime, ash or rotted manure to the soil will help neutralize acidity.

Watch the video! Two ways to plant crocuses in the soil

When to plant saffron

When is it necessary to plant crocuses outdoors? It depends on the type of plant chosen for planting. They come in spring and autumn.

Spring flowering is:

• Spring crocus. Low flowers, up to 17 cm, have lilac or white buds. Bred as decorative flower from the 16th century.
• Two-flowered. Motley and interesting view... The flower is often bluish in color, and the surface of some of the leaves is brown. Or, the flowers themselves can be white and decorated with purple stripes.
• Golden. The plant is about 20 cm tall, blooms in all shades of yellow. The surface of the petals is glossy, sometimes with brown stripes.

Important! Species that bloom in spring are planted outdoors in autumn. Optimal term planting - late September - early October. If the timing is shifted, the flower may suffer.

When planted ahead of schedule, the crocus can begin to bloom before the first frost and then it will die. If the bulbs are planted later than this period, the ground will already be too cold, the flowers will not have time to take root and strengthen well, so they will die in winter.

Autumn crocuses- this is:

• The crocus is beautiful. Quite tall and large plant, reaches a height of 30 cm. Its buds are blue, lilac or white with purple veins.
• Crocus is pretty. Frost-resistant subspecies. The lavender flowers are covered with dark stripes and look very impressive.
• Crocus Banat. It has unusual leaves with a silvery shade and bright lilac buds.

Important! Since these types of crocuses bloom in the fall, they are planted in open ground at the end of May or in the first half of July.

Care basics

Saffron does not like strong watering and moisture. If the season in which the flowers are planted is abundant in precipitation, then special watering is not required. Crocuses should be watered when the ground dries up not only on the surface, but also in depth. Otherwise, the plant bulbs will simply rot.

Look after it is quite easy to buy saffron, the main thing is to fulfill the basic requirements:

1. Weed regularly between flower rows.
2. Loosen the soil periodically so that the root system can breathe better.
3. Feed, but do not use organic mixtures. A good fertilizer will be mineral dressing containing potassium and phosphorus. Funds that contain nitrogen must be applied with caution, since sometimes a fungus appears from its excess on the bulbs.

You need to feed two times:

1. Fertilize the soil before planting the bulbs;
2. The second feeding is carried out during the period of active growth.

Crocus pests and diseases

Viruses. If white spots appear on saffron leaves and they become deformed, this is the first sign of a virus infection. In this case, it is necessary to destroy the already infected plant so that it does not carry the virus to healthy flowers. The place where the affected plant grew is treated with potassium permanganate.

Fungus. They become active in warm and damp weather. The bulbs begin to soften and wrinkle. Strange spots often appear on them. The onion, which is already affected by the fungus, is destroyed, and the daughter ones are dried in a cool place. Before planting, it is necessary to soak the bulbs in manganese or in a 0.2% solution of Fundazol.

Chlorosis. The main sign of damage is yellowing of the leaves. This is often due to improper planting, drainage, lack of any nutrients in the soil, or damage to the bulb.

Mice and moles. They can damage the tubers when they break through their underground passages or even drag the bulbs into their burrows, because they often use them for food. Here, only cleaning dead wood within a radius of 3 m from the crocus planting site will help, so that they have nowhere to place their nests. The mouse does not go further than 3 meters from the nest.

Caterpillars of scoop butterflies. Insects gnaw at the roots and make holes in the bulbs, looking for a place to pupate. These bulbs, along with the caterpillars, must be dug up and destroyed.

Slugs. You can get rid of them with a special solution. As a prophylaxis against slugs, when planting saffron in the ground, a "cocoon" of sand is made around the bulb.

Correct storage

After the flower has faded, the leaves are cut from it. There is no particular need to dig up saffron every year for the winter. You can leave the bulbs in the ground, but they must be covered with spruce branches. If the bulbs are dug up for the winter, then they must be carefully sorted out, the bad ones must be discarded, the rest must be cleaned of dead scales. Unsuitable specimens are destroyed, and bulbs with minor damage are treated with brilliant green or sprinkled with ash. Having processed them in this way, the bulbs are put in the shade for 7 days to dry. The next step is sorting. They are divided by size and laid out in containers that have ventilation holes. Stored home crocuses until the next landing.

Watch the video! How to plant crocuses

Planting too deep slows down the development of the crocus, but promotes the formation of large bulbs. Sometimes young plants form retracting roots and deepen themselves.

The planting depth regulates the growth of crocus nests: when the corm is deepened by 5 cm, you can get up to 10 children, with deeper embedding there will be fewer children, but the crocus bloom will last longer and you will need to divide the nest less often - once every 4-5 years.

In the photo: Yellow crocuses are a beautiful variety.

How to plant crocuses in autumn

Make the holes of the desired depth at a distance of 6-10 cm from each other, but if you want to create a thicker mat, the distance between the bulbs can be 3-5 cm.However, it should be borne in mind that the corms are quickly overgrown with children and with such a dense arrangement of bulbs in the ground you will soon have to plant crocuses. After planting, crocuses are watered, but only if you planted them in dry soil.

Crocus care after planting

Crocus care outdoors in autumn

For the warm days remaining before winter, the corms should have time to acquire roots. Crocuses do not need fertilizers in the fall, they will only need them in the spring. Watering crocuses is carried out when the soil on the site becomes dry, and after watering the soil is carefully loosened. If weeds appear, remove them, and if heavy rains begin against the background of a cold snap, try to protect the crocus planting from excess moisture by covering it with a film.

Crocus care in winter

Many species and varieties of plants are cold-resistant, but some crocuses freeze without shelter in winter. To prevent this from happening, after the first frost, loosen the soil on the site and mulch it with a layer of peat, dry fallen leaves, or cover it with spruce branches.

In the photo: Blooming spring crocuses

Transplanting crocus to another place in the fall

Crocuses can grow in one place for 5-6 years, but it is better to plant them once every 3-4 years. Each faded bulb will give 2, and sometimes 4 bulbs and 5-10 babies for the next season, and if they are not transplanted at least once every 3-4 years, the site will soon overgrow and the crocuses will turn into a weed. When transplanting, crocuses are propagated. When to replant crocuses - in spring or autumn? Transplanting crocuses in autumn, like planting crocuses in autumn, is carried out at the same time - from September to November.

Corms are dug up in the middle of summer when the crocuses are dormant. The signal that it is time to remove them from the ground is the yellowing of the leaves of the plant. The corms are cleaned, sorted out, removing damaged or diseased ones, dried in the air in the shade for a week. Then you need to divide the nests: only those babies that easily move away from the corms are separated. All planting material is soaked for half an hour in dark pink potassium permanganate solution, then dried and placed in a cool dry place for storage.

When September comes, crocus corms are planted in pre-prepared soil in the order described in our article.

Photo: Growing crocuses in the garden

How to store crocuses before planting in the fall

How and where to store crocus corms before planting in the ground? Indeed, from the moment they are removed from the soil until the autumn planting, three months should pass. Disinfected with potassium permanganate and dried corms are laid out in one layer in a wooden box and stored in a room with a temperature of at least 22 ºC until August. From the beginning of August, it is advisable to lower the temperature of the content to 20 ºC, and closer to September - to 15 ºC.

It is in such conditions that Dutch professionals store crocus corms, but since it is difficult for amateur gardeners to organize such conditions, planting material is stored until autumn at room temperature.

Autumn-flowering corms are planted in the garden in August, and spring-flowering crocuses - from September.

Crocuses are one of the most popular bulbous primroses among flower growers; they are among the first to bloom in spring. To enjoy such an early flowering, you need to plant flowers in the fall with a thief.

Autumn planting time for crocus bulbs

Almost all bulbs are planted at the same time. Crocuses can be planted a little later than tulips and hyacinths. When comfortable weather is established, the bulbs will take no more than a month to root.

Primrose crocus bulbs are planted from early September to late October. For a more accurate landing time, specific weather conditions and region are important. The main principle is to plant the bulbs a month before the onset of real frosts, when the soil freezing depth is more than 10 cm.

Table: approximate dates for planting crocus bulbs in different regions

Video: planting crocuses

There is also a group of crocuses that bloom at the end of the season - in September and even October. There are few such varieties: Albus, Valikola, Oksonian. They are planted at the end of summer.

Crocuses blooming in autumn seem to have confused the season

Living in the North-West, I am not in a hurry to plant crocuses. It mainly occurs at the beginning of October. Planting the bulbs too early can lead to the loss of flowers if they not only have time to take root, but their sprouts will hatch out.

Crocuses planted at the wrong time may not endure winters and please with their bright spring flowering. Keeping a planting diary every year can help to find a better time to plant.

Crocuses (saffron) are flowers that are distinguished by their beauty and unpretentiousness. Their color is different, but they always delight the eye of a summer resident, since they are combined with any environment and look mesmerizing. Crocuses are often used to decorate alpine slides. To enjoy luxurious flowering in the spring, you need to plant the bulbs correctly - as a rule, this is done in the fall.

Features of autumn planting of crocuses

Crocuses live in one place for several years; bulbs should not be dug out annually. The question of whether to plant these flowers in spring or autumn is very simple to solve. Most crocus varieties bloom in early spring and should of course be planted in the fall. But there is also an autumn variety, such varieties bloom in late summer or early autumn. They are planted in the spring or early summer.

Crocus with delicate flowers Albus varieties bloom in late September or early October, it is planted in spring

Thus, when buying planting material, you need to find out which variety this variety belongs to. There are much fewer autumn flowering ones, for example, Albus, Valikola, Oksonian. Spring-blooming crocuses are much more common, which is not surprising: after all, it is in spring, when it is still gray and not even greenery around, that the eye wants delicate flowers.

When the ground is still damp after winter, and the grass is just beginning to appear, spring flowers are especially desirable.

It is unrealistic to plant spring-blooming crocuses in spring, they should be planted in the fall, at about the same time as tulips or daffodils, and better - later. Before frost, the bulbs should take root and get stronger.

How to plant crocuses in autumn

Planting crocuses for an experienced summer resident is not difficult, and a novice florist can do it quite well.

Landing dates

The timing of crocus planting in autumn depends on the region and the weather of the current year. They do not need a lot of time to settle down in a new place: 2-3 weeks are enough. You do not need heat either, but moist soil is required. But too early landing can be disastrous: if the bulbs not only germinate, but the sprouts appear outward, when frost sets in, plants can be lost.

Therefore, focusing on long-term weather observations, they try to plant the bulbs 2-3 weeks before stable frosts, that is, when daytime temperatures are no higher than + 6 ... + 8 о С, and weak frosts are already observed at night. In the middle lane, and in particular in the Moscow region, such weather does not come earlier than October, and in other years only by the end of this month. And even in Siberia and the Urals, before September, it is not worth planting bulbs.

Site preparation

Crocuses love slightly damp soil, but do not tolerate stagnant water. Therefore, sandy loams and light loams are suitable for them, and heavy soils must be corrected by adding sand. Crocuses should be planted in a well-lit place, otherwise the flowers will be small and inconspicuous. If the site is excessively flooded with rain or stagnant on it melt water, the bed must be raised.

Crocuses also work well in higher areas: they are a traditional component of alpine slides.

At the end of summer, a plot for planting crocuses is dug up with the addition of the usual doses of fertilizers: buckets of humus or compost and a handful of wood ash per 1 m 2. In the case of acidic soils, the amount of ash can be increased or a couple of handfuls of hydrated lime can be added: the optimal environment for crocuses is neutral or slightly acidic.

Read also about what you can plant at the end of summer, in our article -

Preparation of planting material

It is important to choose the right bulbs and disinfect them before planting. They should be hard, slightly springy when pressed, covered with dry scales. Mechanical damage and spotting are not allowed, there should be no sprouted shoots, as well as regrown roots.

Crocus bulbs resemble those of other early bulbous flowers.

Before planting, the bulbs are etched for 30 minutes in a pink solution of potassium permanganate or treated with fungicides (Fundazol, Skor, etc., according to the instructions).

No growth stimulants are used in the fall!

Landing scheme

As a rule, crocuses are planted so that when they bloom, they form a solid group, without significant gaps. These can be schemes 5 x 4 cm, 4 x 4 cm and any similar ones. With a more rare planting, the flowers do not look so impressive.

Planting depth depends on the size of the bulb and is equal to three times the height. But on very dense soils, crocuses are planted a little smaller. Since the flowering time also depends on the size of the bulb, they try to calibrate and plant bulbs of about the same size next to each other.

Landing

Planting prepared bulbs in loose soil itself looks simple.

1. A trench of the required depth and width is dug, a drainage layer of 2-3 cm is poured on its bottom - coarse river sand.

   The trench is not needed very deep, 10-12 cm

2. Onions are laid out on the sand at a selected interval (usually 3–6 cm).

   

If planting is done on time, the bulbs will overwinter well and flowers will appear in the spring. The whole simple planting process can be seen in the video.

Video: autumn planting of crocuses

Crocuses blooming in spring are always planted in autumn. The landing technique is simple, but right choice term and site has great importance... Too sooner or later, planted bulbs may not overwinter, and those planted in a flooded area often rot.

Spring has come, the snow has melted. Gardeners are waiting for the first greenery. Perhaps, none of the passers-by will be able to remain indifferent, noticing small colored snowdrops in the form of crocuses on the flower bed. How crocuses are planted in the fall in the ground for spring flowering and in the summer for autumn colors, we will now tell you. We will also discuss planting dates in different regions of Russia and the level of seed deepening in different soils.

What florist does not dream of constantly blooming garden from early spring to late autumn? What kind of crops he does not plant his garden for aesthetic diversity. Therefore, he prefers to plant crocuses not only as harbingers of warmth in spring, but also as the last colors of autumn on the eve of winter.

This flower from the iris family has about 300 varieties. In another way, this plant is referred to as saffron. But this is not the saffron from which the expensive seasoning is made. Some people use yellow stamens as a condiment on their table. With a short, approximately 10-day flowering period and a short peduncle, this culture is divided into two main types:

1. spring crocuses;
2. autumn crocuses.

Distinctive characteristics of flowers are:

• frost resistance, fearlessness to temperature extremes and climatic changes;
• the rapid growth of bulbous babies;
• unpretentiousness of the plant.

Varietal differences

As you may have guessed, before you start planting crocuses, you need to find out which group your cultivar belongs to. First, let's talk about spring flowering species suitable for middle lane Russia: Spring crocuses are planted in the fall so that the onions germinate and be fed useful substances... Here is a list of the autumn-blooming babies most suitable for growing in the Moscow region and the Leningrad region: The list is small, since in our area gardeners have enough other troubles in the summer. And autumn-flowering culture requires early summer planting.

Determine the landing date

Planting crocuses in the ground in the fall has its own characteristics in terms of timing. After all, autumn in different regions of Russia passes in different ways, and is also divided into early and late, rainy and dry. Let's take as a basis the fact that the culture can withstand frosts down to -5 degrees. Thanks to the essential oils and waxy leaves, protected from the cold, this plant loves to be cool, so early autumn is not suitable for sowing corms. In the Moscow region, the most suitable month for planting is October. If October turned out to be warm, then we plant at the end of the month. Sometimes climate change is pushing for planting in November, because in the warmth the corm is dormant and does not develop. For us, the development of nodules in the ground is important for the survival and regrowth of roots.

In the Leningrad Region, the autumn planting period can be shifted to the end of September, the beginning of October. The climate there is a little colder and a lot of humidity. When to plant crocuses in the fall in the Urals, the soil temperature will tell you. If it has cooled down to +10 degrees, then the planting time has come. This usually happens no later than September. Siberia is distinguished by the harshness of winters, so crocuses can be planted in August. We will focus on the end of August, the beginning of September and measure the temperature of the earth. This climate requires thick mulching seat, as well as in the Urals.

Choosing bulbs and planting

After you have decided on the choice of the variety and the approximate planting time, let's pay attention to the state of the planting material. What distinguishes quality bulbs:

1. there should be no overgrown roots;
2. mechanical damage should not be observed;
3. the corm should have a dense texture without soft gaps;
4. superficial scales are not wet, complete, cover the entire tuber;
5. at the slightest hint of decay, either refuses to purchase, or discarded damaged nodules in order to avoid the spread of infection;

Please note that the onions must be stored in paper bags(not polyethylene). After purchase, do not place them in the refrigerator before planting, otherwise, upon sensing the heat, they will begin to actively germinate. Cold mode storage signals the approach of spring and revitalization. Crocuses should be planted on sunny lawns or along the edges of flower beds, where there is always enough light and there is no shade from other crops. Some people manage to grow them on the windowsill.

However, the warmth of the house is not conducive to the development of buds, because they are laid to bloom in cool climates. It is best to plant bulbs in light sandy loam soils containing organic matter in the form of compost or rotted manure. Someone prefers to cut off the top layer of turf on the lawn, and plant bulbs on the open area. But this method is not suitable for everyone, and beginners can use it as a trial option. You should not plant the plant in a place of accumulation of snow or under snowdrifts.

Note! "Planting material does not tolerate high humidity or fluid stagnation ".

If the place for crocuses is oversaturated with water, then it should be drained. You can use drainage, or you can start transplanting a plant on the slope of a flower bed, lawn or alpine slide, where moisture quickly seeps out and leaves.

The composition of the soil plays an important role in the life of crocuses. For example, nitrogen is contraindicated for them, and phosphorus and potassium will create good foundation for growth and flowering. If the soil is heavy and clayey, then it must be lightened with sand. To do this, 10/12 days before planting, we dig up the landing site for 1 bayonet of an ordinary shovel, gradually adding sand. To plant crocuses, the heavy soil is drained. In this case, no mineral additives are added.

Planting process step by step

Those who first began to practice the cultivation of snowdrops are faced with such difficulty that they cannot wait for flowering for a long time. One of the reasons may be untimely transplanting of bulbs during flowering. This approach knocks the plant out of a rut. Let's describe the landing in stages:

1. after digging with the introduction of potash and phosphorus additives, we break up the lumps and loosen the soil;
2. we make grooves with a pointed loosening groove with an intermediate distance of 6 cm. Or we place the planting material in a checkerboard pattern, as you like. Since the bulbs quickly grow overgrown with children and form a thickening, then optimal distance 6 cm will allow you not to plant nests from three to five years;
3. visit the corms into the soil with the root bottom down, with the sharp part up;
4. the depth depends on the composition of the soil and the diameter of the bulbs. The larger the onion, the deeper the planting. In light soil, they are deepened by 10 cm, in heavy soil by 8 cm. When planting children, the distance decreases to 4 cm in sandy loam and 3 cm in loam. To make it easier to dig out overgrown nests, use plastic mesh in the form of containers and deepen them into the ground;
5. we fall asleep with a nutrient mixture or fertilized soil mixed with rotted manure;
6. pour water if the autumn is dry;
7. capricious varieties sensitive to recurrent frosts can be protected by mulching them with spruce branches or peat.

Expert advice! “Since the flowering period of snowdrops is short, you can slightly extend the landscape bloom by using two tricks. Can be dropped off different types crocuses in a checkerboard pattern. Then they will bloom in different time... Another way is to position the plantings at different depths. Those that are planted deeper will bloom later. "

Reproduction of planting material and forcing

When the flowering season ends, the crocuses begin to grow. How does this happen? Between upper layers husks, the so-called buds are born, which later become daughter bulbs. When the main bulb dies off, the babies begin to grow and form a bulb nest. This process lasts 4–5 years.

Therefore, for 4–5 years, the place where the crocuses grow is dug up for further reproduction. If snowdrops were planted in containers, then they are easily removed from the ground. The nests are separated by hand and sorted by size. Large ones are planted for flowering in a flower bed. Small ones are gaining strength in a separate place.

What is distillation for?

Someone wants to speed up the appearance of buds for an approaching event and for this purpose makes forcing. How does this happen?

1. Only large and healthy onions are selected.
2. In mid-September, they are placed in the slightly damp soil of a container or pot. Placed close to each other.
3. The pot is covered with polyethylene with small holes or spunbond for airtightness.
4. We take the pot or container to the basement or cellar.
5. After the sprouts appear (December, January), we expose the plantings to where the temperature varies within +15 degrees. We put in partial shade or cover with a newspaper, while pouring water on the nodules.
6. With the appearance of buds, we bring our forcing into the house and observe a beautiful flowering without the snow melting.

Complementary care and disease prevention

As mentioned earlier, planting and caring for bulbs is directly related to digging up once every 4–5 years. After all, each corm gives life to 10 more children. Then she is reborn and dies off. Although crocuses are unpretentious and resistant to diseases, sometimes incidents occur with them. During storage, they may be affected by rot or other fungal disease... Therefore, the nodules are disinfected before planting in June or October. A weak solution of potassium permanganate or the drug "Maxim - summer resident", "Maxim - M" is diluted, and the planting material is soaked in it for about 30 minutes. This is followed by drying and planting in the ground.

Note! "The planting of spring crocuses is accompanied by top dressing at different stages of plant development."

The first feeding takes place in the phase of the appearance of the first shoots. It contains potassium and phosphorus in the doses indicated in the instructions. The second feeding with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer is done during budding. The third feeding with the same composition is carried out after flowering.