When to plant crocuses - practical recommendations. Growing crocuses from seeds

How to plant crocuses

Crocus corms are placed in the soil close to each other, since they are small in size, and the flowers look richer in dense groups. But keep in mind that children grow corms, so optimal distance 3-5 cm between them. Planting crocuses in large groups makes it possible to get a charming flowering meadow-bed that will decorate your plot or garden in the spring. After wilting, annuals can be sown in place of the crocuses.

The depth of planting crocuses depends on the size of the corms. Small ones are buried 4-5 cm, and large corms will require a hole 10-12 cm deep. Do not immerse them too deeply: crocuses have retractive roots, which, after the plant wilts, pull the corm deeper into the soil.

Place for planting crocuses

The area where you will plant crocus flowers should be well lit and drained. A good outflow of water is especially important, because its stagnation leads to the bulbs getting sick and rotting.

Therefore, an area with light sandy loam soil is most suitable. If it is too dense, sprinkle coarse sand over the soil surface in an even layer and dig up the area - this will improve the condition of the soil.

The soil is fertilized in advance by adding compost or mineral fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus, but not nitrogen, since nitrogen is harmful to crocuses.

It is very important that the crocuses do not have a lack of light, so choose an open area not shaded by trees. In the shade, crocuses bloom poorly and can wither right in the buds.

It would be nice if the area on the leeward side is somehow protected from drafts and wind, otherwise from strong gusts delicate flowers bow, losing petals.

The process of forcing crocus corms in pots takes about 3.5 months or 15 weeks, so if you want to get crocuses for the New Year, they are planted in mid-September, and if for Valentine's Day, then in early October. And for a gift by March 8, crocuses need to be planted around November 15.

Before planting for forcing, the corms must be kept in the cold. That is, you can buy crocus bulbs in the summer and then store them for 1 week at normal summer temperatures (30-35 ° C), then 2 weeks in a colder room, and until August 10 - in a cellar or basement at a temperature of 17 ° C. And then until planting - in the refrigerator at a temperature of 9 ° C.

The crocus bulbs should then be planted in a pot with plenty of drainage. During forcing, the bulb is the only source of nutrition for the plant. Sand is used as soil for forcing.

Corms in pots are placed very closely to each other, because, like in a garden bed, they will not grow and form children. In addition, dense planting of bulbs in flowerpots gives a beautiful, dense, rich bouquet that is not a shame to present for any holiday.

Read about caring for crocuses after planting - both in the garden and at home.

Crocuses are small bulbs. It is these bulbs that are planted in open ground. The autumn option is best suited. By planting a crocus in the fall, you can watch it bloom in the spring.

The autumn flower is very unpretentious, even if planted in partial shade. But here's the thing about the spring look. It should best be planted in well-lit areas.

There should be maximum sun, but minimal shadow. The autumn species is planted from late July to mid-August. If the plant is planted too late, then for the first couple of years it will not bloom. There will be only leaves. But the buds themselves will appear only after 2 years.

The only problem with the flower is waterlogging. Often, due to constant humidity, it begins to rot. root system. Therefore, this should not be allowed.

Flowering ends in autumn. The leaves dry out and fall off. At this point, you can transplant the crocus to another place. You can do this right away or dig up the bulbs.

Leaving them boarding next year. Be sure to sort through the bulbs and throw away the unusable ones. They should be stored at temperatures up to 22 degrees. If the flower grows well in this place, then you don’t need to replant it. It will be enough to remove the limp and dry leaves on the stems.

Is it possible to plant in spring?

Crocuses can be planted in both spring and autumn. It depends on the plant variety. It is necessary to take into account that if the variety is autumn, then it should be planted only in the fall.

If the plant is spring, then planting is carried out in the spring. If the variety is planted incorrectly, it may simply not take root or even sprout.

Planting stages:

Dig a small hole. For a large onion, the hole is up to 12 cm deep. For small ones, up to 6 cm.
There must be drainage or sand in the ground. Then the ground will be looser and the air will be passable.
The bulbs are planted at least 3 cm apart from each other. This is enough if the gardener does not intend to replant the plant.
Lightly press the bulbs down and cover them with soil.
Water. Don't overdo it.
Wait until completely absorbed. Cover with soil. You can sprinkle river sand on top.
From fertilizers would be better suited potassium and phosphorus.
In hot weather, water frequently. But only if the soil is dry. If moisture is present, then don't.
By winter, crocuses are half covered with soil or covered with film. This is done so that the flower survives the winter and delights in the spring with its beautiful blooms.

Popular spring species:

Reticulate.
Golden.
Adam.
Narrow-leaved.
Two-flowered.

Popular autumn species:

Sowing.
Palace.
Sharoyan.
Banatsky.
Pretty.

How to land correctly

You don't have to be a great gardener and know everything about plants. The flower is unpretentious in care.

To plant a crocus correctly, you need to know a few rules:

If the soil is clayey, then you definitely need to add sand. You can also add fertilizers such as manure and compost.
Crocuses love soft, loose soil.
The soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged. The plant doesn't like this.
The landing site should be well lit by the sun. Then the flower will be large. If they grow in the shade, then they will be small.
Feed and fertilize periodically.
Fertilizers must contain phosphorus and potassium.

Small tubers of the plant are planted to a depth of 6 cm. But large ones are planted up to 12 cm deep. There is no need to plant very deeply. This is of no use. As the root system grows, it goes deep enough.

The soil should be light. Then the flower will feel comfortable.

Benefits of Crocus:

Unpretentious in care.
Early flowering. Unlike other colors.
Bright flowers stand out from others.
The flowers have a light, delicate scent.
Even a non-professional can plant them.
The bulbs can be stored for planting next year.
Crocuses reproduce on their own. With the help of seeds that they throw into the ground. Next, they form an onion. Which continues to grow.
Great for design.
They can be grown both in the garden and in a pot at home.

Feeding principles:

Organics in complementary foods are unacceptable.
Rotted manure, peat and other natural fertilizers.
Feed only in spring.
The fertilizer is scattered on the surface around the flowers.
Feeding after flowering. Potassium sulfate, phosphorus, and potassium sulfate work well.

FAQ

At what temperature should the bulbs be stored?

They are best preserved at 18-22 degrees. It is advisable that the room be ventilated.

What fertilizers are best to use?

Fertilizers must contain potassium and phosphorus. They stimulate the plant, nourish, strengthen the root system, and improve flowering.

At what depth should I plant crocuses?

It all depends on the size of the bulbs. Plant small ones to a depth of 5-6 cm. And large ones are already up to 12 cm. It is not recommended to bury them deeper. During growth, the root itself deepens.

Is it true that the crocus is not only beautiful flower, but also the main ingredient in cooking?

Yes this is true. It is well known in cooking. It is from it that the well-known seasoning, saffron, is extracted.

When is the best time to plant crocuses?

The optimal time is autumn. Autumn flowers are less whimsical. They are also unpretentious in terms of lighting. Partial shade can suit them. But spring crocuses are already more whimsical. They need more care. This is especially true for light.

Is it possible to feed crocus with organic fertilizers?

It is unacceptable. Organic fertilizers can damage the roots and plant growth itself. Instead of growing. The flower will slowly begin to die.

It’s spring, the snow begins to slowly melt and is replaced by fragile primroses. In my garden these are, of course, crocuses. They are the touching harbingers of warmth and the awakening of all living things.

My many years of experience in growing this crop indicate that when minimum costs effort, you will always get great results. This wonderful flower will revive your garden after a gloomy winter, filling it with rich colors and positivity. Crocuses will decorate alpine slide, flowerbed or lawn. They are also successfully grown at home.

Crocus or saffron is a herbaceous corm plant from the Iris family. There are approximately 80 varieties and over 300 varieties that bloom in both spring and autumn.

This miniature plant, not exceeding a height of 10 cm, producing at the time of flowering a bunch of narrow leaf plates and single goblet-shaped inflorescences. The color of the flowers can be any color, except, perhaps, red; striped and two-color varieties have been bred.

Flowering lasts two to three weeks. The bulbs are small, round or slightly flattened, covered with scales.

Choosing a place for crocuses

It is recommended to plant these flowers in an open, well-lit, easily warmed area. They will grow quite well under the openwork crown of trees that lose their crown for the winter, since during active development flowers, their foliage has not yet had time to develop and will not create shade.

You should not place them under coniferous species, as well as near various buildings - otherwise the development of crocuses is inhibited and flowering stops.

In their natural environment, crocuses grow in meadows, where they are constantly in interaction with other plants, so on your site they can be placed close to medium-height crops, such as peonies or ivy.

The level of soil moisture is very important for crocuses. So as not to lose planting material from rot, choose a dry place for planting with good drainage. Observe your area: those places where there is no stagnation of liquid after rain or melting snow, and the level groundwater tall enough and will be ideal for growing this crop.

Crocuses cannot be called too demanding on the quality of the soil. They can grow in dense, depleted soil with sufficient quantity fertilizing Of course, it is desirable that the soil is sufficiently loose and nutritious with good access to moisture and oxygen. Loamy soil type is considered optimal.

The only condition is the acidity level of the soil; it must be neutral. Planting in acidic soil should be combined with the addition of lime, wood ash, chalk or dolomite flour.

Subtleties of planting saffron

Cultivation of crocuses requires frequent replanting, approximately every 3-5 years. Over these few years, each bulb grows with a large number of children, and as a result, you are looking at a continuous lawn of saffrons. Therefore, they should be planted at a considerable distance from each other: there should be at least 8-10 cm between plants.

If your pets please you with flowering with the arrival of spring, then plant them in September. If the soil in the area is loose, then the depth of the hole should be equal to two diameters of the bulb. In heavy soil, the hole should be proportional to the bulb. In both options, a layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of the planting hole. They might be big river sand, gravel or pebbles. Before planting, the bulbs are carefully examined for damage and diseases, and the affected ones are destroyed. After planting is completed, the area is well watered.
If you prefer autumn varieties of saffron, then you need to plant them before mid-summer. In this case, you will be able to admire their flowering this September. The cultivation of this type of crocus is due to its specifics; there is no need to plant them if they have buds. The plant simply will not find the strength to take root and will die.

If you nevertheless planted a crocus with a set bud, and it withered, then urgently cut off the wilted foliage and peduncle. This will give the plant a chance to survive. Next season it will produce a bunch of leaves, but you won’t see flowering until a couple of years later, when the corm has gained strength.

Forcing crocus

You can enjoy the beauty of this flower even in winter. These flowers feel quite good in the apartment, especially the Dutch varieties with large inflorescences. Healthy, undamaged bulbs, preferably the same in diameter, are planted in wide, shallow pots of several pieces.

The substrate must be light, water- and breathable, with neutral acidity. A drainage layer is required at the bottom of the container.

After the inflorescences wither, caring for the bulbs continues; they are regularly watered and fed. Complexes of mineral substances intended for indoor use are used as fertilizers. flowering plants However, the concentration indicated on the label is halved.

Humidification is gradually reduced after the foliage of the flower begins to turn yellow. After final drying, the saffrons are dug up, cleared of soil and, wrapped in paper, placed in a cardboard box. Keep it in a dark, dry place until autumn approaches.

Caring for crocuses will not require you to do anything special effort, no time. It can be said that they do not require watering, unless in cases of drought or a completely snowless winter. The amount of moisture received by the crocus root system affects only its height, and they treat dry soil quite calmly.

In summer, hydration has more negative than positive effects. This is due to the dormant period, when they do not need excess moisture at all.

Mandatory procedures include loosening the soil, fertilizing and weed control.

During the entire growth period, crocuses are fed twice, while the addition of fresh organic matter is contraindicated for them, since this kind of fertilizer can cause infection with various diseases. It is allowed to add well-rotted manure or peat.

They use exclusively mineral preparations with a high content of potassium and phosphorus; nitrogen should be contained in minimal quantities. This is due to the fact that this element provokes intensive growth of the leaf apparatus, which is fraught with infection by fungi. This is especially true in rainy weather.

The first feeding is carried out early in the spring, the dry complex is scattered directly on the snow cover nutrients. The procedure is repeated a second time 2-3 weeks after the start of flowering.

In the latter case, potassium is especially valuable for crocuses, as it contributes to the formation of high-quality planting material. When the foliage of the flowers turns yellow, they are left alone.

Transplantation and propagation of crocuses

As noted above, it is not at all necessary to dig up crocuses every year. This must be done once every 3-5 years in mid-summer during the hibernation phase. This is explained by the fact that the mother’s bulb not only increases significantly, but also acquires many children.

Depending on the variety, one plant produces 1-10 daughter bulbs per year. As a result, there is a shortage of space, which primarily affects the inflorescences - their size is significantly reduced.

Spring crocuses are dug in July-September, and autumn ones - from early summer to August. The excavated material is sorted, slightly dried and cleaned of excess scales and roots. All patients are removed, and mechanical damage is treated with ash or crushed coal. Keep the bulbs in a dry, cool place.

Daughter bulbs separated for propagation are planted on the site in the same way as adults. They will bloom in three to four years.

Spring-flowering crocuses are also propagated by seed, but in this case they bloom only in the fifth year, so it is rarely used by gardeners. Crocuses that bloom in autumn most often do not have time to produce fully ripened seeds, so this method is not relevant for them.

Timing for digging up crocuses and storage details

Crocuses, delighting with their blooms in the spring, have a year countdown life cycle starts at last days winter or on the eve of spring, and from July they go into hibernation. In the fall, they wake up again to quickly accumulate nutritional reserves. A root system and a renewal point are formed. For this reason, crocus foliage should be preserved during this period. Therefore, crocuses should be dug and planted during the dormant period (this is the second half of June - the end of August).
The life cycle of autumn crocus begins in August. Flowering is replaced by the formation of leaf apparatus and a replacement bulb. Their hibernation period occurs faster than their spring counterparts by 4 weeks. These bulbs are dug from the very beginning of June until mid-August.

Crocuses removed from the ground are dried in shady place, cleaned of soil and dead parts. Then they are placed in one layer in boxes (boxes) and kept in a dark, dry and regularly ventilated place at 22 degrees Celsius until August.

The future is being formed now flower buds. From the first days of August, the content degree is reduced to 20, and after seven days - to 15.

After winter cold at the dacha or in a city apartment, beautiful crocus flowers give a lot of positive emotions. If you are partial to this plant, then you need to know the rules for planting and caring for it. These harbingers of spring can grow not only in open ground, but also at home on the windowsill. From the article you will learn how to make a crocus bloom at home on New Year's Day or Valentine's Day.

About the plant

These flowers belong to the iris family, they are grown almost all over the world. The bulb of this crop is perfectly adapted for wintering in open ground, so that with the first rays of the sun it can emerge from its confinement in the form beautiful flower. It does not bloom for long, withers after a few days, the leaves of this early plant are able to survive until the middle of the first month of summer, then a period of rest begins. During this period, gardeners dig up bulbs for culling and planting in a new location.

This culture, in addition to its aesthetic purpose, has culinary value. The stigmas of the flower are used by culinary specialists as a spice. It is called saffron. How to care for crocuses?

Crocuses: growing and care in open ground

In order for these charming flowers to grow lush and beautiful, you need to know how to care for them, propagate them, and plant them. When grown in open ground There are rules for these colors:

Caring for crocuses, as can be seen from the above, is not very difficult. If you are not planning to transplant to a new place, then after flowering it is enough to just remove dead ground parts. If the plant lives in harsh climatic conditions, it is necessary to cover the bulbs with a layer of leaves or dry grass for the winter. Transplantation is carried out as follows: in the middle of summer, the plants are dug up, sorted and taken for storage in a well-ventilated place with a positive temperature of 18 - 20 degrees, where they remain until planting.

Crocuses can be grown together with other bulbous plants. Tulips, daffodils and other bulbous plants can coexist with them in the same flower bed. As they bloom in different time, then your front garden will always be in bloom. To do this, they are planted in the fall in accordance with the placement plan on the site.

Bulb selection

For flowers to grow beautiful, you need choose bulbs carefully. It is better if the material for the plant is a specially bred variety; it is sold in flower shops. Among the most adapted to the cold conditions of our country are Dutch hybrids. They withstand sudden temperature changes and delight with excellent flowering.

When choosing bulbs, you should be guided by one thing: simple rule: if the planting material is large, then large flowers will form; one bush will produce many of them. The bags of Dutch hybrids are marked 10+, this is how bulbs with a circumference of more than ten centimeters are designated. From this material a powerful bush is formed, which will produce 5-6 large buds. Bulbs with an index of 8-9 cm produce 2-3 flowers. Such selected planting material is capable of reproducing flowers with a diameter of up to 7 cm, while the stem will be up to 20 cm long.

Growing in pots

These flowers are widely grown at home due to the fact that the plant is able to bloom for a certain holiday. Prepare flowering for the New Year, Valentine's Day or March 8th. A special method of forcing plants is used.

To grow crocuses you need wide and not very deep container. Be sure to make some big ones at the bottom drainage holes to remove excess water. Suitable as drainage broken brick or the remains of tiles, it is placed at the bottom of the pot. Place a tray under the container to collect moisture. The substrate for crocus requires sandy or sandy loam. It is not necessary to add fertilizer to the soil. To create a dense bouquet, plant the bulbs close to each other. In order to prepare flowers for the appointed time, you need to know when to plant them. Planting takes place 16 weeks before the holiday.

After planting, we send the pot to a cool and dark place for several days. Crocuses are grown at temperatures from 5 to 9 degrees. Usually a cellar is used for these purposes, since it constant temperature and humidity. You should constantly monitor the sprouts, which should not appear earlier than 10 weeks from the moment of planting. If they appear, it means that to prevent the plant from blooming before the appointed date, the temperature in the room must be lowered.

14 weeks after planting, we move the pot into the house. You can’t immediately put the flower in a warm place; high temperature We prepare gradually. First we put it in cold room, then warmer, lastly we put it on the windowsill itself warm room. After some time, flowers will appear that will delight with their beauty for only 10 days.

Types of crocuses

All varieties of crops conditionally divided into several groups:

Botanical or flowering in early spring.
Large-flowered or blooming in spring.
Blooming in autumn.

The first group includes crocuses that can produce flowers after the last snow has melted. This period, depending on the region, ranges from February to April. The plant is not very tall, reaches 8 cm, the flowers are beautiful. The botanical buds are not very large, but there are a lot of them and the bushes turn out lush. These flowers have a very strong and pleasant aroma.

This group boasts the following varieties:

Large-flowered or spring-blooming bloom after the first group after 10 days. They are distinguished larger buds. The widely known large Dutch hybrids were obtained from these varieties by crossing. In our country, these plants bloom around mid-April, it all depends on the weather. Sometimes it happens that they bloom even in conditions of lying snow in dark places. This group has a wide range of colors - from light whites and yellows to dark purples.

This group includes such popular varieties as:

Autumn-blooming crocuses show their beauty in late September or early October. Those that were planted a year earlier shed their leaves in the summer and form buds in the fall. Among the most popular varieties This group contains the beautiful crocus. It grows unpretentiously, reaches 20 cm, blooms before everyone else- in mid-September. The beautiful crocus has a wide palette of colors - from white to purple.

No less popular among autumn crocuses The following varieties are used:

The long-flowered variety blooms from early November.
Holofloral is different beautiful flowers purple color.
Pale ocher. Forms small creamy inflorescences.

If you wish to New Year to get a wonderful holiday bouquet, then plant the bulbs in early October. Then for the winter holidays good care you will get excellent crocuses blooming on the windowsill.

Crocus flowers

Crocuses: cultivation and care. This flower plant belongs to the corms and belongs to the Iris family. WITH Greek language translated as "thread". Possibly due to the thin, thread-like leaves of the plant. Perhaps because of the stigmas of flowers of certain varieties, from which the world famous spice saffron is obtained. If you decide to grow crocuses, growing and caring for them will not take much time and effort. But already in early spring the garden will be filled with colorful islands of delicate, amazing, beautiful flowers.

This plant grows wild in European forests, Mediterranean meadows, steppes of the Middle East and Asia. There are eighty species of crocuses, which are classified into fifteen groups. Among them there are both spring-flowering and autumn-flowering. As for varieties, more than three hundred of them have been bred today.

The plant is short and does not grow more than twenty centimeters. The bulbs with which crocus propagates have a classic round or slightly flattened shape and never reach more than three centimeters in diameter. The top covering of the bulb is scaly. At the bottom there is a bunch of fibrous roots.

By the way. The crocus does not produce shoots. During the flowering period or immediately after its end, it produces narrow line-like sheet plates, connected into a bundle. The bases of the plates are shrouded in filmy scales.

Crocus flowers look like small bells or glasses. They are solitary, up to five centimeters in diameter when opened. They open on a tubular peduncle without leaves.

The color can be as varied as possible, including all tones of yellow, lilac, purple, blue, orange, cream and white. There is a monochromatic color, and there is a two-color, streaked, spotted one.

Planting crocuses: step-by-step instructions

This unpretentious flower plant is grown by planting bulbs directly in open ground.

By the way. There is also an option for winter potting at home, which will be discussed later.

When to plant? This question is the most important. The answer depends on the type of crocus being grown. Species that bloom in spring are planted in autumn. Those that bloom by autumn are planted in summer.

Step one - choosing a site

Usually the sunniest area is selected for this plant. Why does this happen, despite the fact that crocuses can easily grow in partial shade (in wildlife do they grow in the forest like snowdrops)? It’s just that these flowers are the first to bloom in the garden on the spring soil that has barely thawed from the snow. They appear even earlier than grass, and fully perform the decorative function of primroses.

If you plant them in a place warmed by the sun, they will bloom even earlier. And since crocuses tolerate the sun normally, and direct rays do not shorten the flowering period, the most illuminated area is selected, which will get lion's share spring sunshine.

By the way. This applies not only to spring-flowering varieties. Autumn flowers also need warmth and light. When the sun's heat is weaker and does not shine as brightly as in summer, it is better to choose an area with maximum sunny period for flowers.

Step two - soil structure

It is very important that the soil for crocuses is not heavy. Looseness, lightness, but at the same time richness nutritional components- these are the parameters of the soil that suits these flowers best.

Advice. Crocuses need drainage. In order not to build drainage system in open ground under a flowerbed with crocuses, it is enough to add fine gravel or coarse sand to this area of soil when digging.

It is best to saturate the soil with organic matter:

Manure or compost rotted in the fall will provide food for early flowers.
Peat will bring the structure to perfection.
Wood ash will correct clay soil.
Lime will make the soil less acidic, because crocus bulbs do not develop well in soil with excess acidity.

Step three - preparatory work with bulbs

Before planting, the bulbs are removed from storage and carefully inspected. During inspection, injured specimens are removed, shriveled or, on the contrary, rotten, with flaws, damaged by insects or rodents.

Next, the seed must undergo two treatments. Disinfection - to do this, just soak them for an hour and a half in a medium-intensity solution of potassium permanganate or a fungicide solution. Awakening the growth point - for this, after disinfection, the bulbs are immersed in a biostimulator solution for an hour.

Then they need to be dried and can be planted in prepared soil in a permanent place.

Step four - disembarkation

The most crucial period is disembarkation seed material. If planted during September, flowering will occur in early spring (spring species). If planted in June, the plants will bloom at the end of the season - in September (autumn species).

The prepared bulbs are planted in loose soil at two depths. On average in terms of lightness and looseness - one and a half depths. In heavy, compacted soil - to a depth equal to the vertical height of the bulb.

Advice. The distance between plants should be maintained at least ten centimeters. Crocuses reproduce by self-seeding. Each bulb produces from seven to ten children. If you plant them densely, after a few years the crocuses will be too crowded in the flowerbed.

After planting, abundant watering is immediately carried out. This is especially true in autumn time after a dry summer.

Home growing crocuses

This method is popular among gardeners because it is unusual and gives an original result. It is called forcing, and is carried out only using bulbous plants.

Crocuses are most suitable for forcing. With its help, they can be made to bloom at almost any desired time. But it is more interesting to achieve flowering in winter.

By the way. If you start the forcing procedure in September, you can time the flowering to coincide with the New Year. If forcing is done towards the end of autumn, the flowers will bloom by March 8th.

This process is exciting and like a miracle. Like snowdrops from a fairy tale, which, contrary to the laws of nature, bloomed in December, crocuses bloom on the windowsill of a window covered with snow.

Adult, ripe bulbs that are healthy and free of visible damage are selected for forcing. The process is divided into several stages.

Stage one - stratification

Cold stratification is the first condition for successful forcing of cold-resistant flowers - spring crocuses. Before forcing, the bulbs are sent to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, with a storage temperature no higher than +5°C, semi-darkness is desirable. There, the bulbs are stratified for at least two months (stratification can be extended to four months if flowering needs to be delayed).

By the way. Some gardeners plant the bulbs directly in a pot and then, together with the container, send them for stratification. This method is only bad because there is not always so much space in the refrigerator. And take them out in winter open balcony, which means putting you in danger of freezing.

Video - crocus care at home

Stage two - landing

After stratification, the bulbs are planted in pots (if the process has already taken place in pots, they are simply taken out of the refrigerator and the conditions for their maintenance change). Potting soil should contain leaf humus and river sand in large quantities. Long-acting fertilizer granules are added to the soil in advance, or fertilizer in sticks is placed at the bottom of the container.

Important! Crocus bulbs are tightly “settled” in a pot, several at a time. An indispensable condition is that they should “sit” quite closely, but should not come into contact with each other or with the walls of the pot.

The plantings are covered with a layer of fertile soil so that their “heads” do not peek out of the ground. The top of the soil in the pot is mulched with moss or fine gravel, not reaching the edge of the pot two centimeters. Then the plantings are watered.

Video - planting crocuses

Stage three - growth

Plantings are transferred to a place with a cool temperature of +10...12°C and twilight. There they remain until roots emerge from the bottom of the pot and sprouts appear in the soil. This means that the bulbs have taken root and are growing. You can take them to a sunny place and increase the temperature to +20°C (gradually). In the future, they are watered and waiting for flowering.

By the way. If it is necessary to adjust the timing of flowering, this can be done by moving containers with bulbs. Coolness and lack of lighting slow down the forcing process, and sunlight and heat - speed up.

Stage four - completion of the cycle

After flowers fade or are cut, crocuses should be allowed to complete their growing cycle on their own. When the leaves turn completely yellow and wither, you can plant the plants in open ground garden (spring). There, those on which flowers were left will “rest” for two years before blooming again. Those from which the flowers were cut will bloom the next year.

Caring for crocuses in open ground

Growing crocuses in the garden is very easy. They require minimal care. The most labor-intensive part, perhaps, is digging and new landing bulbs But you don't need to do it every year.

Implementation of watering

Important! Although the height of peduncles directly depends on the amount of moisture received by the bulbs, crocus is a drought-resistant plant that does not tolerate soggy soils.

Loosening

From the period of bulb germination until the end of flowering, the soil under the flowers must be periodically loosened. The bulbs need an air flow, which, in the absence of loosening, will be blocked by the soil crust formed on the surface.

Careful removal of weeds is also necessary. They take food away from the bulbs. And, in the absence of leaves, which in many varieties appear only after the flowers, will significantly reduce the decorative value of the plantings.

Feeding

Growing crocuses need to be fed well and a lot. They love organic matter, which needs to be applied twice during the growing season. This can only be rotted material, but not fresh manure.

Not smaller flowers They also need minerals. They especially need phosphorus and potassium components. Therefore, the combined mineral complex can also be applied at least twice per season.

Advice. Nitrogen fertilizers should be used with caution. If the humidity is high (rainy season), excess nitrogen will cause fungal diseases.

The first feeding of spring flowers is carried out “in the snow” with a complex of minerals. Autumn plants begin to be fertilized first with organic matter two weeks after planting.

When the plants fade, the leaves turn yellow, caring for them stops until they are dug up, if the time has come to replant them

Excavation and storage rules

There is no need to replant crocus bulbs every year. This is done maximum once every 4-5 years. Spring flowers are dug up at the end of summer - during the dormant period, which occurs in August. Autumn - four weeks earlier.

Specimens of the spring species are dug up when flowering is over, the leaves begin to wither and turn yellow.

Advice. During flowering, even if you do not cut the flowers to put in a vase, it is advisable to remove the flower head of crocuses 3-4 days after the flower opens. Only the seed capsule is cut off, the stem and leaves remain on the plant. When cutting bouquets, part of the stem should also be left.

There is no need to water the bulbs for several days before digging, just like digging up crocuses after rain. The procedure is carried out in dry weather.

Immediately after digging, it is enough to sort them by variety (if necessary), put them in boxes and send them to a ventilated place without direct sunlight.

After a few days, when the planting material has dried, you can clean and disassemble. The bulbs are cleaned of roots, soil, dried out loose scales, and placed in a box in one layer.

They are stored at a temperature of +23°C and a humidity of 70-80%. For the first three weeks of storage, it is important to maintain the temperature and humidity at the specified level. At this time, the rudiments of roots, leaves and flower shoots are formed. Further, until disembarkation, storage occurs at a temperature of +15° and a humidity of 60-70%.

Getting rid of pests and diseases

An important part of care is measures to rid flowers of diseases and pests. In crocuses, pests can damage not only the above-ground part, but also the bulbs. They are especially loved by voles, slugs and wireworms.

To prevent pests from infesting the area, you need to follow sanitation and plant agricultural practices. They put poison for rodents. The slugs are collected and destroyed. Wireworms are set up in traps under piles of rotten grass, where they gather.

Among the diseases, the bulbs can be affected by fusarium. In this case, it is necessary to remove the infected specimens and treat the area, and transplant the flowers to another place.

Popular varieties of crocuses

From more than three hundred varieties it is not easy to choose a favorite. But there are several dozen of the most popular ones that are grown most often.

Table 1. Spring varieties of crocuses and their description.

Variety name	Description
	The height of the leaves is up to 17 cm. The leaf is green with a vertical white stripe in the center. The flowers are large, in different shades of purple or white.
	The narrow, monochromatic green leaf grows 20 centimeters in length. The flowers are elongated, intense yellow. WITH back side covered with brownish streaks or longitudinal veins.
	The height of the bush is 15 cm. The flowers are star-shaped when open. The inside is white, the border and petals on the outside are pale lilac-lilac. Most early variety, blooms first.
	Elongated petals of graceful shape are placed on peduncles protruding above the leaves. The leaves are short - 12 cm longer. The color is lilac-blue. On the outside, some petals have dark purple longitudinal stripes.