Crocus care in the garden. All about crocuses: planting and care at home

In winter, delicate primroses are able to create a holiday atmosphere in the room. Using special methods, you can achieve their flowering at a specific time, for example, on New Year. Crocuses are just such plants, but planting and caring for them at home require some knowledge and effort.

Crocus or saffron - flower description

Crocus or saffron- low perennial bulbous plant. Crocus buds are shaped like small tulips. The color of the flowers is varied: white, lilac, purple, yellow. Hybrid varieties may have petals of two colors. When the flower bud opens, three yellow or orange stamens can be seen inside. The leaves are very narrow, dark green with a white vein in the center. And in a flower bed in the garden, and as home flower Crocuses look very beautiful, you just need to choose the right variety.

Did you know? The name "crocus" comes from the Greek "thread", and "saffron" - from the Arabic "yellow".

Choosing a pot for crocuses

For planting crocuses at home, you need to choose the most suitable pot for the plants. The bulbs should not come into contact with the walls of the pot and with each other, so its size depends on the planned number of plants (usually five to ten). The best option is a wide bowl-shaped pot with low walls. Especially for forcing crocuses, there are rounded containers with holes for sprouts.

Important! To make crocuses look harmonious, it is better to plant bulbs of the same variety and similar size in one pot.

Soil selection for saffron

The soil for crocuses must be neutral, light and well-drained, because stagnant moisture leads to rotting of the bulbs. The ideal option there will be a shop flower substrate. You can also prepare an earth mixture from coarse sand, turf and leaf mixture in equal parts.

Which crocus bulbs to choose

For good growth and development of crocus, not only proper cultivation and care are important, but also high-quality planting material. You should choose bulbs without stains, rot and mechanical damage. If certain defects are still noticeable, they must be removed and the site of damage disinfected with ash or loose coal. You also need to clean the bulbs from scales and roots.

When buying bulbs in a store, you should pay attention to their size number. Often the material is sorted by circumference in centimeters according to international standard measurements of bulbous plants. For crocus bulbs with a circumference of 5 to 10 cm, the following numbering of bulb sizes is typical (with an indication of the diameter):

• 5/7 - 1.6-2.2 cm;
• 7/8- 2.2-2.5 cm;
• 8/9 - 2.5-2.8 cm;
• 9/10 - 2.8 cm-3.2 cm;

When growing crocuses in a pot, you can expect a single flower from a plant with a bulb size of 7/8, 2-3 flowers from a size 8/9, 3-4 flowers from a size 9/10.

Large Dutch hybrids labeled 10/+ produce 5-6 flowers. They are most suitable for home growing: well amenable to distillation and bloom in large flowers.

Important! The larger the crocus bulb, the more plant will produce flowers and will bloom longer.

Planting and propagation of crocuses

Bulbs are more often the material for planting, since it is more difficult to propagate crocuses by seeds and this method is practically not used in floriculture. Such a plant will bloom only after 4-5 years. Every year, the old corm dies off, and new bulbs grow in its place.

Before planting crocuses in a pot, the purchased planting material must be cooled.. Store-bought bulbs are usually already dried, they just need to be kept at room temperature for a few days and then placed in the refrigerator.

If the bulbs are taken from the site, the preparation process will be longer. After digging in June, the bulbs are dried and sorted. At first, they need to be stored at a high temperature, gradually reducing it (from 34 to 20 degrees). After 2 weeks, lowering the temperature, set the mode at 17 degrees. Under such conditions, the material is stored until the second half of August, after which the cooling process begins. in dry and dark room at a temperature of 4-9 degrees or in the refrigerator, the bulbs in thick paper are stored for about a month.

Important! Experienced flower growers use the "planting in a sand shirt" planting method. Soil and a layer of sand are placed in the container, bulbs are planted and covered with a second layer of sand. So the roots are in nutrient soil, and the bulbs are protected from decay.

Planting is done 70-90 days before the scheduled flowering date. A drainage layer should be laid at the bottom of the pot. The bulbs are placed in the prepared soil completely or leaving a small "tail". The pot with seedlings is removed for 2 months in a dark, cool (5-8 degrees) place for germination.

Growing crocuses in a pot

Crocuses at home are grown by distillation.

When the sprouts are strong enough and have reached a height of 3-5 cm, the pot should be taken out into the light and the temperature should be 10-15 degrees. AT favorable conditions saffron will bloom in two weeks.

Did you know? Forcing is the process of bringing a bulbous plant out of dormancy for flowering at an unusual time, performed under the influence of physical factors- temperature, humidity, light.

Giving crocuses some post-flowering care at home can extend their lifespan. The second time after forcing, the plants usually do not bloom, and the bulbs are thrown away, but if they are planted in open ground, “kids” form on them. For re-growing crocus, a perfectly preserved bulb is needed. To do this, you need to feed the soil with top dressing and regularly water the plant until the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Then the bulb needs to be taken out, cleaned from the ground and stored in a dark, dry place for further planting in the fall.

Watering crocuses

Crocus does not like excessive moisture and is resistant to drought, so the plant should be watered moderately, 2-3 times a week when the topsoil dries out. During flowering, the plant should be watered through the pan, removing excess liquid half an hour after watering.

Fertilizer and top dressing

During planting, the plant does not need to be fertilized. For the development and flowering of crocuses, potash and phosphorus fertilizers are most useful. Top dressing is done when shoots appear (in a ratio of 2: 1), during the formation of buds and after flowering (in equal parts). The use of nitrogen fertilizers is not recommended.

Care for long flowering

To find out why crocuses stopped blooming, you need to analyze the conditions of their maintenance. Do not forget that saffron is a spring primrose, and it may not like the temperature (20 degrees and above) or too bright room lighting. To prolong the flowering of home crocus, you need to hide it from direct sunlight or bright lamp light and maintain a cool temperature (14-16 degrees, even below 0 at night). AT right conditions decorativeness of some varieties lasts up to three weeks.

Did you know? One of the most expensive spices in the world is saffron.– is made from dried stigmas of saffron flowers. To get a kilogram of spice, you need to collect the stigmas of 200 thousand flowers. Superiority in the world production of spices (90%) belongs to Iran.

Potential Growing Problems

Spring-blooming and autumn-blooming crocuses do not have the same development cycles and, accordingly, planting time: spring ones should be planted in September, and autumn ones in summer. When buying planting material, be sure to pay attention to the flowering time of crocus. Spring crocuses are usually used for distillation.

In flower beds and flower beds, crocuses look great. These amazing, bright and colorful flowers are planted in small groups. With the onset of spring, timid sprouts first peep out of the ground. They quickly turn into large buds, the diameter of which often reaches 4-5 cm. These are hybrid varieties. Crocus - a flower that grows not only in gardens, but also in the wild, is 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, which differ in 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 (flower photos are presented in the article) of the purple Ruby Giant variety or at the bright yellow Lagest Yellow, blue Blue Pearl and cream Beauty Cream, you begin to understand that each of the presented species is worthy of being paid attention to.

When do crocuses bloom

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

Autumn crocuses bloom from September to November. Therefore, they need to be planted in the ground in June - August. The flowering period of spring crocuses falls on 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 breeding new varieties. But thanks to the bulbs, you can grow the most beautiful hybrids right on personal plot.

Of course, the decorativeness of the crocus is of great importance. Therefore, flowers with two shades of color and large buds remain the most popular. Reds, purples, yellows, whites, blues, with stripes of different shades, creams - their variety is simply dizzy! Pay attention to the crocus (a photo of flowers is available 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 in flower pots, and in open ground. When choosing bulbs, carefully inspect them for damage. Healthy and large in diameter planting material when planting gives 2-6 buds. If the bulb grows more than 10 cm in circumference, the number of flowers reaches a maximum (5-6 pieces). How smaller size 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. The ideal bulb is necessarily dense and heavy enough, there should be no roots and shoots.

Preparing a place to land

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. sunbeams. Acidic soil is of little use for crocuses, and sandy loam is what you need. Under such conditions, excess moisture constantly comes out, it does not stagnate, and the plant feels good during the flowering period.

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

Crocus reproduction

Those who have experience working on a personal plot are well aware that any plant grows over time. The crocus is no exception. The flower that you planted 3-4 years ago probably released hereditary bulbs. Now they are cramped, and each requires separate place in a bright flower bed.

Wait for the beginning of summer (and crocuses are dug in June), carefully remove the bulbs. Now each nodule can grow separately. True, you can not immediately transplant. For a certain time, the bulbs are kept in special conditions so that a bud forms inside, from which a crocus flower will later appear. Planting such a tuber is carried out only after preparation, which we will discuss later. Follow the advice exactly, and new bright buds will soon appear on your flower bed.

Crocus flowers: planting and care

Regardless of whether you use tubers from your garden or purchased bulbs, they need to go through a preparation stage. Starting from mid-summer, the planting material of this plant goes on sale. Recall that tubers are dug 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 purchase (or digging), spread the tubers outdoors, avoiding direct sunlight. Bulbs should be well ventilated, dry. Then a week or two tubers can be stored in a closed pantry (cellar). After that, the onions 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 flower bed. Flowers, which are planted in compliance with all the rules, 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 soils, the tuber is positioned differently. Multiply the height of the bulb by 2 and this will be the required depth.

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

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

top dressing

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

It is forbidden to apply fresh organics as fertilizers, since this only causes the appearance of diseases. The first top dressing is carried out in the spring, when there is intensive growth. It is enough to scatter directly on the ground (or on the snow) right amount mineral fertilizers.

Wintering in the ground

It is 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 get their own 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 ground where the crocus grows. The flower should release the first sprouts. And only after that it is possible to cultivate the soil. It is believed that even frosts down to -5 ° C are not terrible 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 fixed date. You only need to create the necessary conditions and follow the procedure. We’ll make a reservation right away that you shouldn’t try to create a multi-colored “miracle” in one pot by mixing all possible varieties. The effect will be opposite, since different hybrids have different timing and duration of flowering.

Bulbs are purchased 3 months before the expected date. Choose a low but wide container that needs to be filled with light soil with neutral acidity. If there is ordinary soil, it is quite possible to mix it with sand. So the soil will pass water, which is necessary to create optimal conditions. Expanded clay can be poured at the bottom. Bulbs are often planted directly in a layer of sand, poured on a layer of soil - so the roots get the right nutrition, in addition, there is protection from excess moisture stagnation. Make sure that the tubers do not touch each other and are not near the wall of the pot.

Keep the container in 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 bit. Now the plant requires a lot of light and an increase in temperature to + 12 ° ... + 16 ° С.
Crocus flowers appear in 10-15 days and delight the eye for 2-2.5 weeks. You can extend this moment a little if you take flowers to a cool room at night, where the temperature is set at + 2 ° ... + 5 ° С. When moistening the soil, make sure that upper layer managed to dry out a bit. Crocuses are drought tolerant and excess moisture destructive for them.

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

In early spring, as soon as the snow melts, the crocus blossoms - a flower, the second name of which is saffron.

This bulbous plant of the Iridaceae family is native to the tropics, but also feels great in more severe 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 special skills and abilities.

Features of growing crocuses in their 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, it is difficult for urban residents to get out to the dacha in order to catch the flowering of saffron. Crocuses, planting and caring for in the open field, which will not require much effort, are an unpretentious and disease-resistant crop.

In the early spring, the plant does not need the care of flower growers. However, a number of features of agricultural technology will have to be observed, otherwise flowering can not wait.

Saffron prefers sunny places, if possible protected from cold winds. Growing crocuses comes down to a good choice of landing site.

The more illuminated the 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 tolerate heavier soils. The main thing is that there is no stagnation of moisture.

Reproduction of crocuses

The culture propagates most often by daughter bulbs. They are formed from dormant buds, which are found in the axils of the scales that cover the bulbs of crocuses.

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 in a season.

Seeds can also be used to grow crocuses outdoors. But this method is much more laborious.

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 at the same time a large number bulbs.

Flowers from plants grown seed way, you can wait only after 4 - 5 years.

Rules for planting crocuses in the open field

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 autumn is also acceptable 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 buried in the soil to a depth of 12 cm;
• medium onions deepen by 4 - 6 cm;
• small onions - 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 quickly thicken).

Crocus bulbs have the ability to penetrate the soil on their own, forming retractable roots. Therefore, it is not necessary to strictly observe the depth of embedding.

Seed material (from seeds prepared in early summer) is sown directly into the ground in autumn. During the winter months, the seeds undergo a natural stratification, in the spring their germination will be better.

forcing crocuses

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

It is necessary to choose bulbs of the same variety and approximately the same size, because 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 earlier 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 and each other.

Then pots with crocuses should be stored in a room with a temperature of +5 ... + 8 ° C. It can 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 coating can be removed and the crocuses can be placed on the windowsill in a warm room. How better lighting the larger the flowers.

If the room is too warm, then the crocuses will quickly fade. To prolong flowering, the temperature should not be higher than + 15 ... + 20 ° C.

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

How to care for crocuses

Caring for these bulbs consists in a good choice of planting site, timely weeding, loosening, regular watering and periodic top dressing.

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 the planting and transplanting of crocuses is carried out in soil that is too heavy and poorly absorbing water, then the earth 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 stagnant moisture has an extremely negative effect on plants.

It is advisable to enclose the area with a low fence or a decorative curb 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 top dressing

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

However, if the bulbs are not dug up, then the soil is gradually depleted, and mineral potassium-phosphorus supplements 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.

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

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

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

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

Watering

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

They do not need to be watered, because the culture is quite drought-resistant. In the future, watering is done only when the topsoil dries up and as needed.

Why don't crocuses bloom?

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

1. Long-term cultivation of crocuses in one place. Corms grow too large, shrink, they become crowded, and they stop blooming.
2. Before the time, the foliage was pruned after flowering, or the bulbs were dug up until the leaves were completely dry. The plant does not have time to gain enough nutrients.
3. The bulbs are too deep planted or have gone deep into the ground themselves (if they are not transplanted for a long time), and they do not have enough strength to bloom.
4. Depleted soil.

Diseases and pests

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

All affected material must be destroyed, and in order to prevent corms, they 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 the click beetle).

To collect pests, traps are arranged from bunches of wet grass, hay or straw, covered with boards, spread out over the site.

After a few days, the traps with crawling larvae are burned. With excessive moisture, slugs may appear on the culture, which are simply harvested by hand.

Often hares, mice and other rodents encroach on crocus bulbs.

Care of crocuses after flowering

Crocuses fade quickly, but the leaves remain green for some time. Flower stalks can be cut as soon as the flowers fade, if no seed collection is planned.

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, then this process will be disrupted.

If this is not yet required, then the flowers are left in the ground without any care. Dig up crocuses after flowering is also necessary if it is planned to plant in the fall in another place.

The bulbs are removed from the ground, dried in a shady place, cleaned of the remnants of the earth, scales and old roots.

Sick, damaged specimens are discarded. Healthy bulbs are stored until autumn at a temperature of + 18 ... + 22 ° C in a regularly ventilated room.

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, as they have a different vegetative cycle and the sleep period begins earlier.

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

wintering crocuses

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

In regions with more severe climatic conditions they are advised to cover with spruce branches, branches or dry leaves.

The best varieties of crocuses

There are many varieties and varieties of crocus. Hybrids with large flowers are especially popular.

Some of them will be discussed below:

1. Albus. Snow-white flower up to 7 cm in diameter, with a creamy center. Blooms in September - October.
2. Artabir. A plant up to 18 cm high, with large (about 12 cm) flowers of a sky-blue hue. Flowering autumn.
3. Pickwick. The flowers are about 4 - 6 cm in size, light purple with purple stripes, with large yellow stamens. Blooms late in spring.
4. Grand Mater. The flowers are goblet-shaped, up to 4 cm in size, the petals of a rich dark purple color are 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. Spring Flower lemon or light yellow, oval petals on the outside are dotted with thin stripes of a dark brown hue.
7. Blue Pearl. Medium-sized (about 2 cm) delicate white-bluish flowers with a yellow center. Blooms early in spring.

Crocus saffron itself, from the stamens of which the spice is made, is called sowing (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 are still fresh, but in the middle of the first summer month they also wither - these plants have a dormant period.

With the onset of dormancy, corms can be dug up, but this is not necessary, as crocuses can grow in one place for up to five years. But many flower growers still prefer to dig up corms to sort them out and discard diseased and damaged ones. Sorted corms can later be planted in a new location.

When planting crocuses, you should follow a few rules for care

The soil in which it is planned to plant the plants should be fertile and light enough. It should be remembered that crocuses do not tolerate waterlogging. Therefore, if the soil in the flower bed is clay, you need to add sand and fertilizers to it - compost and manure.

Crocuses are photophilous plants, so they need to be planted in open, well-lit areas. Subject to this condition, the flowers will be large and beautiful. Plants can develop normally even with a little shading, but in this case the flowers will be smaller.

If you want the flower bed to be decorated flowering plants as long as possible, plant other spring flowers next to crocuses - tulips, daffodils, hazel grouse, bergenia. 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 normally moistened. Sprouts emerging from corms need to be watered. And then water as needed. The soil between waterings should dry out a little.

The soil on which crocuses grow must be fertile enough. If you have planted corms in well-prepared soil, then during flowering they can not be fed with fertilizers. If the plants have been growing in the same flower bed for more than a year, it is necessary to fertilize the soil.

Choose fertilizers that are high in potassium and phosphorus. Phosphorus is needed for bud formation and flowering to last longer, while potassium helps keep corms large and healthy. Fertilizers need to be applied three times.

The first time, when sprouts appear, the second - when the buds begin to tie, and the third - after the end of flowering and the complete wilting of the flowers. During the first feeding of potassium, twice as much as phosphorus should be applied, and during the second and third, potassium and phosphorus should be taken in equal amounts.

Rules for planting crocuses

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

Large corms are planted at 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 transplant crocuses in the next few years, then you can planted at a distance of 3 cm.

Rules for the care of corms

In the middle of summer, when the crocuses have already completely faded and the leaves wither, it's time to take care of the corms. If you do not want to transplant crocuses to another place, then you can not dig them up. It is enough to carefully remove wilted flowers and leaves. Usually crocus corms tolerate winter frosts normally, but in those regions where the winter months are quite severe, flower beds are covered with branches or leaves.

If you want crocuses to grow in some other place next year, then in July they need to be dug up and sorted out - leave the large and healthy ones, and discard the sick and damaged ones. Store corms at a temperature of 18 to 22 ˚С in rooms that are well ventilated. Crocuses can also be grown in apartments on windowsills. But in such conditions, the rules for caring for these plants are completely different.

It is interesting

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

Crocus (Crocus) or saffron is a herbaceous bulbous perennial of the Iris family (Iridaceae). The natural habitats of crocus are rare forests, steppes and meadows in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This delicate, exquisite flower blooms in early spring, just after the snowdrops. But there are species that delight with their buds in September, October. Growing crocuses does not require special skills, does not cause trouble. We will tell you how to care for crocuses in the garden to enjoy the graceful flowers in spring and autumn.

Species features

An unpretentious bulbous primrose, which is widely used in garden design.

The name crocus is more common among flower growers, although in the scientific literature the plant is called saffron. Crocus is a low-growing plant, the average height of which is 10 cm. Its stems do not form, and narrow, linear-shaped leaves grow directly from the ground.

Flowers are goblet, 2 to 5 cm in diameter, arranged singly on short pedicels. The color of the flowers is different: yellow, orange, cream, and white, purple and lilac, blue and violet. There is also saffron with two-tone or spotted flowers. Crocuses bloom for about 2-3 weeks.

In total, about 80 species and 300 varieties belong to the genus crocus, which are divided into 15 groups. One of them includes varieties that bloom in autumn, the other 14 groups include varieties that blooming 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.

Outdoor cultivation

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

Choice of 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 with a lack of light will not be so plentiful, and the size of the buds is small.

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

Can saffron be planted next to other flowers? Undoubtedly. Crocus planted with tulips, daffodils and other bulbs will provide a beautiful flower bed from early spring to 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 along with peonies, daffodils and other flowers.

The soil

Saffron soil prefers light and dry, loose, 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 flower growers know how to plant crocuses. The planting depth should be equal to two bulbs if the flowers will grow on light soil. Planting crocuses in heavy soil is carried out to a depth equal to one bulb. Between the bulbs, an interval of 7-10 cm is usually left. And for those who do not plan to transplant crocuses for 3-4 years, you can plant flowers closer - at a distance of 3 cm. After planting, the soil is watered.

The time to plant crocuses depends on when the flowers appear. Spring crocuses should be planted in the fall. And plants that bloom in autumn should be planted in June.

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

Should I dig and when?

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

If a flower transplant is not planned, they are not dug up, but only dried buds and leaves are cut off. In the southern regions with a warm climate, the bulbs withstand the winter cold. In areas with severe weather conditions soil with 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 site, they are removed from the ground. When to dig up crocuses depends on the flowering time. For spring plants the best time is july, august, september. Bulbs of varieties that bloom in autumn are removed from the soil from June to August.

bulb storage

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

According to the rules, the bulbs are stored until August at a temperature above 22 ° C, 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, bulbs are stored in a dry, dark and well-ventilated place at room temperature.

Crocus care in the garden

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

Watering

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

Fertilization

Planting crocuses in fertile soil will provide plants with normal nutrition. But if the soil is poor, or the flowers grow in one place for more than one year, they need to be fertilized with potassium-phosphorus mineral supplements. Phosphorus provides abundant bud formation and increases the flowering period. And potassium is needed to maintain the health of the bulbs. As for nitrogen supplements, their excess causes fungal diseases.

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

During the season, top dressing is applied to the soil three times:

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

At the first application of potassium fertilizers, they take half as much as phosphorus, with subsequent top dressing, equal ratios of fertilizers are applied.

Distillation landing

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

It is necessary to outline the estimated date of flowering, 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 pass moisture and air well, 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 lower 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 under the sun on the windowsill. They will bloom soon.

With a dense arrangement of bulbs 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 subject to disease and insect attack.

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

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

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

With the wrong content of crocuses at home, plants can get sick:

• gray rot;
• fusarium;
• sclerocial 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 fungicidal solution.

reproduction

Flowers are most easily propagated by bulblets that form on the parent corm. They are separated and seated one by one.

You can also grow flowers from seeds. But it is more difficult to do this, 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 in flower shop or greenhouse.

Purchase Features

In order for the plant to grow strong and delight with its flowers, it is important to buy high-quality planting material, carefully inspect the bulbs before purchasing. They must be healthy, large, without damage. Commercially available Dutch varieties with large bulbs are labeled + 10 on the packaging bag. They produce 5-6 large flowers. Smaller bulbs give 3-4, and very small ones - 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 Alpine rollercoaster, they can decorate flower beds, borders, lawns. The flowers are beautiful on their own, and go well with other bulbs. And in the conditions of an apartment, you can grow crocuses for the holiday, and admire the beautiful graceful flowers for the New Year or March 8.

Crocus (Crocus) or saffron is a herbaceous bulbous perennial of the Iris family (Iridaceae). The natural habitats of crocus are rare forests, steppes and meadows in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This delicate, exquisite flower blooms in early spring, just after the snowdrops. But there are species that delight with their buds in September, October. Growing crocuses does not require special skills, does not cause trouble. We will tell you how to care for crocuses in the garden to enjoy the graceful flowers in spring and autumn.

An unpretentious bulbous primrose, which is widely used in garden design.

The name crocus is more common among flower growers, although in the scientific literature the plant is called saffron. Crocus is a low-growing plant, the average height of which is 10 cm. Its stems do not form, and narrow, linear-shaped leaves grow directly from the ground.

Flowers are goblet, 2 to 5 cm in diameter, arranged singly on short pedicels. The color of the flowers is different: yellow, orange, cream, and white, purple and lilac, blue and violet. There is also saffron with two-tone or spotted flowers. Crocuses bloom for about 2-3 weeks.

In total, about 80 species and 300 varieties belong to the genus crocus, which are divided into 15 groups. One of them includes varieties that bloom in autumn, the other 14 groups - 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.

Outdoor cultivation

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

Choice of 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 with a lack of light will not be so plentiful, and the size of the buds is small.

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

Can saffron be planted next to other flowers? Undoubtedly. Crocus planted with tulips, daffodils and other bulbs will provide a beautiful flower bed from early spring to 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 along with peonies, daffodils and other flowers.

The soil

Saffron soil prefers light and dry, loose, 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 flower growers know how to plant crocuses. The planting depth should be equal to two bulbs if the flowers will grow on light soil. Planting crocuses in heavy soil is carried out to a depth equal to one bulb. Between the bulbs, an interval of 7-10 cm is usually left. And for those who do not plan to transplant crocuses for 3-4 years, you can plant flowers closer - at a distance of 3 cm. After planting, the soil is watered.

The time to plant crocuses depends on when the flowers appear. Spring crocuses should be planted in the fall. And plants that bloom in autumn should be planted in June.

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

Should I dig and when?

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

If a flower transplant is not planned, they are not dug up, but only dried buds and leaves are cut off. In the southern regions with a warm climate, the bulbs withstand the winter cold. In areas with severe weather conditions, the soil with 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 site, they are removed from the ground. When to dig up crocuses depends on the flowering time. For spring plants, the best time is July, August, September. Bulbs of varieties that bloom in autumn are removed from the soil from June to August.

bulb storage

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

According to the rules, the bulbs are stored until August at a temperature above 22 ° C, 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, bulbs are stored in a dry, dark and well-ventilated place at room temperature.

Crocus care in the garden

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

Watering

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

Fertilization

Planting crocuses in fertile soil will provide plants with normal nutrition. But if the soil is poor, or the flowers grow in one place for more than one year, they need to be fertilized with potassium-phosphorus mineral supplements. Phosphorus provides abundant bud formation and increases the flowering period. And potassium is needed to maintain the health of the bulbs. As for nitrogen supplements, their excess causes fungal diseases.

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

During the season, top dressing is applied to the soil three times:

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

At the first application of potassium fertilizers, they take half as much as phosphorus, with subsequent top dressing, equal ratios of fertilizers are applied.

Distillation landing

Some flower growers grow crocuses at home in winter by forcing. In this case, the indoor flower requires other conditions of detention. Most often, large-flowered Dutch hybrids are grown by distillation.

It is necessary to outline the estimated date of flowering, 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 pass moisture and air well, 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 lower 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 under the sun on the windowsill. They will bloom soon.

With a dense arrangement of bulbs 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 subject to disease and insect attack.

The danger to plants is the larva of the click beetle (wireworm), which feeds on bulbs. Flower growers figured out what to do with this pest. They advise at the end of April or the beginning of May to lay out wet hay or straw in the area with crocuses, cover them with boards. The larvae will definitely move into traps, which then need to be burned. Slugs can also attack plants (they will have to be collected manually), and mice and other rodents still like to eat 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. It can be carried by mice, aphids, thrips. Affected flowers should be immediately dug up and burned. Disinfect the soil with a hot concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.

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

With the wrong content of crocuses at home, plants can get sick:

• gray rot;
• fusarium;
• sclerocial 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 fungicidal solution.

reproduction

Flowers are most easily propagated by bulblets that form on the parent corm. They are separated and seated one by one.

You can also grow flowers from seeds. But it is more difficult to do this, 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 is to buy plant bulbs in a flower shop or greenhouse.

Purchase Features

In order for the plant to grow strong and delight with its flowers, it is important to buy high-quality planting material, carefully inspect the bulbs before purchasing. They must be healthy, large, without damage. Commercially available Dutch varieties with large bulbs are labeled + 10 on the packaging bag. They produce 5-6 large flowers. Smaller bulbs give 3-4, and very small ones - 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 decorate flower beds, borders, lawns. The flowers are beautiful on their own, and go well with other bulbs. And in the conditions of an apartment, you can grow crocuses for the holiday, and admire the beautiful graceful flowers for the New Year or March 8.

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

Varieties

More often than others, hybrids with large flowers, which differ in 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 (flower photos are presented in the article) of the purple Ruby Giant variety or at the bright yellow Lagest Yellow, blue Blue Pearl and cream Beauty Cream, you begin to understand that each of the presented species is worthy of being paid attention to.

When do crocuses bloom

The plant belongs to the Iris family.

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

Autumn crocuses bloom from September to November. Therefore, they need to be planted in the ground in June - August. The flowering period of spring crocuses falls on 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 breeding new varieties. But thanks to the bulbs, you can grow the most beautiful hybrids right on your backyard.

Of course, the decorativeness of the crocus is of great importance. Therefore, flowers with two shades of color and large buds remain the most popular. Reds, purples, yellows, whites, blues, with stripes of different shades, creams - their variety makes your head spin! Pay attention to the crocus (there is a photo of flowers 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 in diameter planting material when planting gives 2-6 buds. If the bulb grows 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. The ideal bulb is necessarily dense and heavy enough, there should be no roots and shoots.

Preparing a place to land

Any plant chooses optimal conditions for growth and reproduction. For example, crocus develops better when there is a lot of light. Choose a site for planting that is well lit by sunlight. Acidic soil is of little use for crocuses, and sandy loam is what you need. Under such conditions, excess moisture constantly comes out, it does not stagnate, and the plant feels good during the flowering period.

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

Crocus reproduction

Those who have experience working on a personal plot are well aware that any plant grows over time. The crocus is no exception. The flower that you planted 3-4 years ago probably released hereditary bulbs. Now they are cramped, and each requires a separate place in a bright flower bed.

Wait for the beginning of summer (and crocuses are dug in June), carefully remove the bulbs. Now each nodule can grow separately. True, you can not immediately transplant. For a certain time, the bulbs are kept under special conditions so that a bud is formed inside, from which a crocus flower will later appear. Planting such a tuber is carried out only after preparation, which we will discuss later. Follow the advice exactly, and new bright buds will soon appear on your flower bed.

Crocus flowers: planting and care

Regardless of whether you use tubers from your garden or purchased bulbs, they need to go through a preparation stage. Starting from mid-summer, the planting material of this plant goes on sale. Recall that tubers are dug 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 purchase (or digging), spread the tubers outdoors, avoiding direct sunlight. Bulbs should be well ventilated, dry. Then a week or two tubers can be stored in a closed pantry (cellar). After that, the onions 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 flower bed. Flowers, which are planted in compliance with all the rules, 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 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 dying off of the flowering part begins, and the plant enters the dormant phase. In the spring, after the snow melts, the soil is sufficiently moistened. But if the winter was without snow, and the spring is dry, then the crocuses are watered a little. The lack of moisture will not cause the bulb to die off, however, the bud may be smaller than necessary for this variety.

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

top dressing

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

It is forbidden to apply fresh organics as fertilizers, since this only causes the appearance of diseases. The first top dressing is carried out in the spring, when there is intensive growth. It is enough to sprinkle the right amount of mineral fertilizers directly on the ground (or on the snow).

Wintering in the ground

It is 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 get their own 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 ground where the crocus grows. The flower should release the first sprouts. And only after that it is possible to cultivate the soil. It is believed that even frosts down to -5 ° C are not terrible 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 fixed date. You just need to create the necessary conditions and follow the procedure. We’ll make a reservation right away that you shouldn’t try to create a multi-colored “miracle” in one pot by mixing all possible varieties. The effect will be opposite, since different hybrids have different timing and duration of flowering.

Bulbs are purchased 3 months before the expected date. Choose a low but wide container that needs to be filled with light soil with neutral acidity. If there is ordinary soil, it is quite possible to mix it with sand. So the soil will pass water, which is necessary to create optimal conditions. Expanded clay can be poured at the bottom. Bulbs are often planted directly in a layer of sand, poured on a layer of soil - so the roots get the right nutrition, in addition, there is protection from excess moisture stagnation. Make sure that the tubers do not touch each other and are not near the wall of the pot.

It is necessary to store the container in a dark place at a temperature of + 4 ° ... + 10 ° С for 8-10 weeks. The appearance of sprouts 4-6 cm high indicates that the time has come for flowering. Conditions change a bit. Now the plant requires a lot of light and an increase in temperature to + 12 ° ... + 16 ° С.

Crocus flowers appear in 10-15 days and delight the eye for 2-2.5 weeks. You can extend this moment a little if you take flowers to a cool room at night, where the temperature is set at + 2 ° ... + 5 ° С. When moistening the soil, make sure that the top layer has time to dry a little. Crocuses are resistant to drought, and excess moisture is detrimental to them.

When the flowering period is over, the tubers can be dug up and allowed to rest for a while. In a couple of months, the bulbs will be ready to bloom again.

If you want to surprise your guests for the New Year, consider purchasing bulbs in September or early October. And then by the winter holidays you will have a great occasion to present amazingly beautifully blooming crocuses on the windowsill!

Crocuses are very ancient history, in which seasonings, dyes and countries from East to West intertwined with a wonderful pattern. You can delve into it when you complete the planting of these spring flowers in your area. Let's talk about this process! By the way, there are both spring-flowering and autumn varieties, respectively, and the time of their planting may be different.

Planting crocuses in the spring is actually not very possible, because spring varieties they manage to bloom long before the start of any work on the site, and autumn species are best planted in the summer. But it is not necessary to dig up the bulbs of these plants annually, it is enough to do this once every five years. Most varieties belong to, which also needs to be considered when planting.

Crocuses love light soil, so if you have heavy clay soils in your area, you should add a fair amount of compost with ash. Choosing a landing site is a very important step, because you need to take into account the peculiarity of crocuses to wake up with the first rays of the sun. Them bright flowers appear on thawed patches, which means that it is precisely the places where the snow melts first that you need to find. It makes sense to equip just in such areas, which will begin precisely with the flowering of saffron. Many mistakenly plant these flowers in places where snow accumulates, for example, near paths.

But it is from the paths that we try to scatter snow on the ground around them, and this snow stays until spring, holding back the growth of flowers.

In addition, in places where snow melts, water stagnation can form, which is very undesirable for these plants. Having picked up or prepared the right soil, crocus corms should be planted in the fall after leaf fall to a depth equal to their doubled height. Usually this distance is not less than 5 cm to the surface. If you are planting these flowers for the first time, it is enough to keep a distance of 10 cm, because over time the carpet of crocuses will grow and compact itself - in good conditions each corm is capable of producing annual growth. It is in tight groups that crocuses look best.

Dig up the bulbs of these plants should be no more than once every five years. Spring-flowering varieties are dug up after the leaves turn yellow, their bulbs are dried and kept in a cool shade until autumn. In late autumn, they should be planted back on the plots. It should be noted that saffron corms are very fond of all kinds of rodents, for example, squirrels easily find the places of their recent planting. If you live near a forest, planting the bulbs in mesh baskets is an urgent precaution.

Keep an eye on the buds during germination - if you notice spots on individual plants, they should be dug up and destroyed, as they are infected with insect-borne viruses. By destroying diseased plants, you will avoid further infection of neighboring corms. By the way, viruses are not able to penetrate the seeds, so if the entire variety is infected, you can restore it by planting seeds. However, it should be noted that new bulbs will bloom only after three years.

On the fertile soils there is practically no need to fertilize crocuses. If you notice some stunting, feed the plants with superphosphate and potassium sulfate the next year before growth begins. After flowering is completed, fertilizing with phosphorus and potash fertilizers will not interfere. Saffron practically does not need nitrogen, and its excess will cause excessive leaf growth, which in turn can lead to fungal diseases.