A new variety that was bred three years ago and is now entering the market. Blooms are huge! Stems are solid (not hollow) and therefore easy to cut, less prone to disease and able to support the full blooms on long 2-2.5 ft stems.
Ranunculus Romance™ Loubeyres® is a beautiful variety with lovely and large purple flowers. In the early stages, the flower bud can be a bit white, but as the buds mature, they change to beautiful purple and end up becoming very large flowers.
These exquisite, rose-like flowers display layer upon layer of silky petals in bright colors. Ranunculus are a staple in any flower shop or wedding bouquet. In regions with mild winters, buttercups can be planted in autumn for an early bloom in April. In colder regions, they can be planted in spring to ensure an early summer bloom.
The Ranunculus Romance™ series has been created by the Japanese breeder Aya Engei from AYA ENGEI Co., Ltd. It has very large flowers, sitting atop long and strong stems. It is known to have a good vase life.
These corms should be planted in the fall for early spring blooms.
Plant overview
- Plantation time: Autumn
- Flowering period: January to April, depending on location
- Crop time: 8 - 12 weeks growing, 10 weeks flowering (depends on location)
- Crop temperature: cold cultivation, free from frost
- Plants per m²16 (4 rows per bed)
- Average flower diameter: 4 cm
- Hardiness: not winter hardy and need to be planted in a place that is protected from frost and freezing temperatures
- Exposure: part sun, half-shade
- Soil: light, rich, well-drained, neutral pH
- Use: bedding, porches and patios, window boxes, lawn borders, cut flowers
- USDA Zones: 8 - 10 as perennials, annuals everywhere
- Use: bedding, porches and patios, window boxes, lawn borders, cut flowers
- Total height at maturity: 20 cm - 30 cm
Pre-sprouting
Give your ranunculus flowers a head start by pre-sprouting them. Start with a seed tray that has a flat bottom on it. Fill the tray halfway with potting soil. Make sure it is moist and not too dry. Then, take your soaked ranunculus corns and spread them out over the soil.
Finally, cover them with more soil and leave them for 10 to 14 days. The tray should be in a cool place. As you wait, add a bit more soil to ensure it stays moist but not overly wet. After this, you should see small rootlets which resemble white hairs. Once they appear, it is time to transplant them into your garden.
Regular planting and care
Start with a well-draining potting soil with plenty of organic matter. Soak the corms for half a day before planting.
Plant the claws pointing downwards at a depth of 5 cm from the surface of the soil, spacing them 15 to 20 cm apart, depending on the desired effect. They can be planted both in containers or in the garden, so you can enjoy their blooms indoors and out.
During the growing season, water regularly in hot and dry weather, letting the substrate dry between waterings. Add a special flowering plant fertilizer every two weeks during the flowering period. Cut off spent flowers after blooming to induce the formation of new flowers. Do not cut the foliage.
In cold regions, dig up the corms in autumn and store them throughout the winter in sawdust, protected from frost, in a cool, dark place. In other regions and in well-drained soil, they can be left in the ground.
Autumn & winter care
Autumn-started ranunculus corms generally will reach a taller height than spring-sewn ranunculus. When planted in the fall, they'll bloom from the end of March through April, usually finishing around the beginning of May.
In areas with mild winter temperatures (USDA zone 7 & above), you can plant your ranunculus corms in autumn and overwinter outdoors with protection from a low tunnel or frost cloth. In colder areas (USDA zone 6B & below), ranunculus must be grown in a minimally heated hoop house or planted out at the end of winter/early spring.
Ranunculus will need frost protection throughout the winter as they cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. They can be grown in a sunny place or in half-shade in a situation sheltered from heavy frost (resists up to -7 °C).
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