Planting and caring for crocuses

When choosing garden crops for planting in the country, novice gardeners often choose crocuses. These flowering plants are very easy to care for and have rich and vibrant buds. In this material you will get acquainted with the peculiarities of planting and growing crocuses, as well as learn about the intricacies of caring for these flowering plants.

Crocuses (or saffron) belong to the saffron genus and belong to the Iris family. These flowering plants have bulbous tubers and are perennial horticultural crops. External differences of crocuses: flattened bulbs with a diameter of up to 7 cm, an undeveloped short stem with green narrow shoots growing directly from the roots, 2 or 3 buds (depending on the variety) goblet or cup-shaped with a diameter of up to 5 cm.

At the moment, scientists have been able to identify about 80 individual varieties of crocuses, as well as more than 300 varietal crops of this plant. Below will be presented the botanical varieties and varieties of crocuses that are most often used by gardeners. All crocuses can be divided into just 3 distinct varieties depending on their flowering period.

• Early spring. This group includes all varieties of saffron, the flowering period of which occurs at the end of winter or the very first days of spring. The species is frost-resistant and usually grows up to 9 cm in height.
• Spring-flowering or large-flowered. Varieties from this group usually bloom 2-3 weeks after flowering early spring varieties. Such plants are distinguished by a large height of up to 15 cm and contrasting bright flowers of white, purple and blue.
• Autumn blooming. This includes all varieties of saffron, the flowering period of which falls on September-November. Coloring here can be very different - from white and yellow, to purple with stripes.

The very procedure for planting crocuses can be conditionally divided into several stages: the selection of the optimal timing for planting, the choice of planting material, the selection of a site for disembarkation, as well as the disembarkation procedure itself.

The timing for planting saffron is selected based on the characteristics of the flower variety, as well as the external weather conditions on the site. In late spring or early summer, it is usually the autumn-flowering crocuses that are planted. In this case, gardeners wait until the earth warms up a little and dries up from moisture. If the saffron is planted right during the melting of the snow, the bulbs of the plant are guaranteed to rot. The best time for spring planting is April, but if you plant crocuses in Siberia or the Urals, the timing will have to be slightly shifted to warmer summer seasons.

The fall season is considered the classic choice for planting spring saffron. In this case, you need to understand that the crocus bulbs must take root in the ground even before the onset of cold weather in order to painlessly endure the winter. For this, the flowers need at least one month with a consistently warm temperature. From this information, it can be assumed that it is better to plant such crocuses no later than the beginning or end of October.

The selection of quality bulbs for planting is a very important process that directly affects the appearance, quantity and health of the inflorescences in the future. The following are factors that will help you identify good and unsuitable saffron bulbs for planting.

• One of the main signs of healthy and viable bulbs is heavy weight and high density. If the bulbs are light, sluggish or flaky, then most likely they will not germinate.
• Another sign of a diseased bulb is the presence of dark spots on its surface. Typically, these localized lesions are so-called dry rot - a fungal disease that can be transmitted through soil or from rodents.
• Pay attention to the integrity of the seed - the bulbs should be free of wounds and traces of mechanical damage. If the wounds are fresh, they can be sprinkled with wood ash, which will protect the plant from decay.
• In the case of competent cultivation and storage of bulbs before planting, they should not have extra shoots, as well as sprouting roots.
• It is better to carry out exactly 2 checks of the planting material. One check must be carried out after collecting the bulbs from the site in order to immediately weed out sick and dry specimens, the second check is carried out before the planting procedure itself.

The choice of a place for planting crocuses in open ground is an equally important point when planting. The main factors for selecting a site for planting saffron will be indicated below.

• Most varieties and types of crocuses simply adore abundant natural light, which is why the most open areas are usually chosen for planting them. This situation is more true for autumn saffron varieties, since the sun in autumn is not hot enough to harm the flowers. As for spring crocuses, they can also be planted close to large shrubs or trees, since during their flowering the trees will still be "bare".
• Saffron strongly needs moisture during the period of active growth, however, moisture stagnation near this plant should not be allowed - there is a great chance of rotting of the bulbs. That is why crocuses are usually planted in elevated areas or in large beds, but not in lowlands, where moisture constantly accumulates after rains.
• As for the suitable soil for planting saffron, these plants thrive on neutral, light and fertile soil. Loams or sandy loams with a sufficient amount of nutrients are best suited here. To make the soil lighter, sand or gravel is added to the soil. To reduce the level of acidity of the soil, it is treated with lime.
• If pests in the form of rodents are observed on your site, which periodically destroy the tubers of garden plants or vegetables, crocuses should be planted away from the favorite places of such "guests". The most favorite areas of rodents are thickets of perennial plants.

After selecting the planting material and choosing a place in the garden for planting crocuses you can start planting the roots themselves.

• Planting depth. When choosing this indicator, you need to take into account the type of soil on your site. For example, if the soil at the site of the saffron planting is light and permeable, then you can choose a standard depth of 2-3 bulb lengths - usually up to 9 cm. If the soil is heavy, then it is better to plant the bulbs a couple of centimeters higher. The depth also depends on the age of the bulb - if it is a large and adult root crop, then the standard depth is chosen, if young and small - up to 5 cm in light soil and up to 3 cm in heavy soil.
• Drainage. Gardeners prefer to plant crocuses in holes with a pre-arranged drainage layer made of gravel, composite or broken brick. This will wick moisture away from the plant bulbs.
• Distance. You need to understand that saffron belongs to horticultural crops that usually grow in small groups. As a rule, crocus bulbs are planted at a distance of no more than 5 cm from each other - this will leave room for the root system and young bulbs that form during the year.
• After landing. Already after planting the bulbs in the holes with drainage, the pits are filled with a prepared substrate from meadow soil and peat (in equal proportions), while the soil at the planting site is compacted and watered abundantly.
• A layer of mulch. If you plant a spring crocus variety in the fall, then so that the bulbs do not rot during the winter season, the landing site is covered with fallen leaves, needles or spruce branches - this will insulate the soil, protect the saffron from severe frosts and prevent weeds from growing nearby.

Situations often arise when crocuses need to be transplanted to another place due to an increase in the number of young bulbs in one hole. It is recommended to transplant spring saffron in autumn, autumn - in spring or summer. During transplantation, the mother crocus bush is dug out of the ground, cleared of soil and divided into independent bulbs, the planting process of which is no different from planting adult root crops.

If the process of dividing the tubers did not go without the formation of wounds and damage, all painful places must be treated with wood ash. Store-bought saffron should be immediately transplanted to a new location, while also observing your own rules. In this case, all the peduncles of the plant are cut off, and the plant, together with the earthy clod, is freed from the pot, separated (if necessary) and then planted according to the standard scheme.

Many gardeners prefer to grow crocuses in their summer cottages, since these flowering plants are undemanding to care for. The whole care procedure comes down to watering and fertilizing the soil near the saffron.

Unlike other horticultural crops, crocuses do not need increased watering during flowering periods. The flowering period of spring and autumn crocuses falls on autumn and spring - seasons during which the soil is maximally saturated with moisture, and the amount of rain is increased. Watering these plants is advised only when the trunk circle dries out during prolonged drought and during active growth. An important point during watering is to qualitatively loosen the soil in the near-stem circle near the crocuses. This will allow moisture to reach the roots faster and not stagnate on the ground.

As a top dressing for crocuses, you can choose both organic and mineral fertilizers. If we talk about mineral fertilizers, then to increase flowering and stimulate the growth of saffron, preparations with a high percentage of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen are used. It is advised to carry out such feeding no more than 2 times a year. In the first case, top dressing is carried out in winter, where fertilizer granules are scattered over the snow so that they are absorbed into the ground along with moisture during the snow melting period. The second top dressing is usually carried out after the flowering period, here fertilizers should consist precisely of potassium or phosphate.

As for organic fertilizers, then crocuses have a positive attitude towards all types of natural feeding on one condition - organic matter should not be fresh... There are many cases when crocuses were watered or fertilized with fresh manure or compost, after which the plants quickly dried up and withered. When using organic matter in fertilizing crocuses, you need to choose exclusively settled manure, humus or compost. In addition, organic matter is not directly introduced into the soil and does not mix with water for watering crocuses.

Usually crocuses are kept for at least 4 years in one permanent place, after which you can notice a clear increase in the number of young bulbs and shoots in one planting place. In the case of the formation of a large number of young root crops, the digging of the plant is mandatory. If not done, your saffron will have more greenery and fewer buds every year. It is advised to dig up saffron after the flowering period, during the dormant period, or after the foliage of the flower has dried and yellowed. For spring crocuses, May or early June is chosen, for autumn crocuses - the end of autumn. The digging procedure itself must be carried out very carefully so as not to damage the rhizomes.

With the help of a disinfected knife or pruner, the young bulbs are separated from the maternal saffron root crop. Rotten, dry or severely damaged fruits are thrown away, and good ones are cleaned from the ground, sorted by size and placed in cardboard or wooden containers for later storage. Before planting bulbs in open ground, they should be stored in a dry, shaded and well-lit room with a temperature of up to 20 degrees.

The process of growing crocuses at home is called forcing - it involves the creation of artificial conditions for the course of the winter season. Usually forcing is used for wintering crocus varieties that are unable to painlessly endure winters, or in order to adjust the flowering time of the plant to a certain date. The main points to look out for when distilling saffron in an apartment are below.

• Large, mature bulbs are best suited for growing saffron at home. Make sure that there is no damage to the surface of the bulbs.
• Before planting the planting material in the container, the bulbs should be kept for about a month in a dry and ventilated room, the temperature in which should gradually decrease. Some gardeners recommend placing crocus tubers in the refrigerator - this is the most effective way to regulate the temperature.
• Before choosing the date for planting the bulbs in the ground, keep in mind that crocuses will be able to bloom no earlier than 3 months after the planting itself in the container.
• For planting plants, wide, but shallow containers with bottom holes for moisture removal and a good drainage layer are suitable. As a soil for planting, standard types of soil for growing garden plants are suitable.
• The bulbs must be planted at a distance of at least 3 cm from each other - do not allow the fruit to touch.
• Unlike planting in open ground, at home, the tops of the bulbs are not buried, but remain on the surface of the earth.
• A pot or container with crocuses is placed in a cool place - usually they are placed on the balcony, where they are stored on the windowsill.

Sometimes gardeners do not use bulbs, but seeds for growing crocuses indoors. This method of propagation of saffron is characteristic only for some varieties. Crocus seeds are harvested after the flower capsule has dried. The planting process itself is carried out in mid-spring or early autumn.

• Before planting seed material, the soil must be disinfected and treated with growth stimulants, then watered. In addition, the soil for planting should be loose and light.
• The seeds are spread evenly over the soil and then lightly pressed against it. After that, the container with seeds is covered with a film or transparent glass and placed in the refrigerator for 2-2.5 weeks.
• 2.5 weeks after storing the seeds in the refrigerator, the seeds along with the container are planted in the garden and covered with agrofibre until the first shoots. As soon as they appear, be sure to water from a sprayer.

Most saffron varieties have remarkable immunity that protects the plant from many diseases. In rare cases, crocuses are infected with fungi or viruses in the form of chlorosis, fusarium, and gray or dry rot. Most of these diseases can be transmitted to the plant through the soil, some fungi appear from high levels of moisture, and a variety of rot is often transmitted by pests and rodents.

In the fight against fungal diseases, standard fungicides help in most. If the bulb of the plant has rotted or signs of gray rot are observed on it, it is better to dig up such a root crop and discard it. Remember, the fungus spreads very quickly to neighboring plants, so signs of the disease should be noticed as early as possible.

Bright and full of saffron buds will be the perfect decoration for any garden. In terms of flowering period, these plants are simply unique - depending on the variety, crocuses can bloom in the earliest spring or very late autumn, when other garden crops have already finished flowering or have not yet begun to bloom... Saffron refers specifically to low-growing plants, and therefore it is usually used to decorate alpine slides, curbs or garden paths. Often, gardeners buy several varieties of saffron at once to create colorful and colorful flower beds. As for compatibility with other flowers and plants, crocuses look best with peonies, roses, tulips, asters and carnations. Be sure to look for plants with an identical flowering period.

Planting crocuses in the spring in the video below.