Drainage

Planting crocuses in autumn. How to grow crocuses in your backyard

An early flower, which pleases the eye with the first ray of spring sun, is proudly called crocus. This flower is widely known as saffron. Crocuses are planted in autumn. The right amount of fertilizer must first be applied to the soil, since given flower Prefers loose, fertile soil.

Crocuses: a brief description of the plant

This plant belongs to the Iris family. About 80 of its species and more than 300 varieties are known. Crocuses are divided into two large groups:

those that bloom in spring;
those that bloom in summer.

Their flowering period is very short - no more than 10 days.

The main features of the above flower:

resistance to unforeseen atmospheric phenomena;
tendency to rapid reproduction;
unpretentiousness in care.

In one place, these flowers can grow for 5 years.

Crocuses: planting in autumn. Landing dates

Planting these plants depends on their type. The timing of planting crocuses is as follows:

late spring or early summer (autumn flowering);
October-November (spring-flowering).

You just need to remember the main rule: this process is carried out only when the plants are in a period of absolute rest. Crocuses are planted before winter in the ground. Gardeners recommend buying crocus bulbs in August or September. At this time, the plant is at rest. If the autumn weather pleases with warmth, then the timing of planting crocus may move slightly until mid-November.

The above plants that bloom in autumn are bought in June or early August.

Planting crocuses in the fall in the ground is characterized by the following features:

the leaves of the plant wither and turn yellow;
they die over time;
the bulb remains weak, but alive.

In the first spring after the above planting, crocuses may not bloom at all.

Locations and soil for flowers

This plant needs well prepared soil. It is fertilized with compost and manure, in addition, it is well loosened. It is not good for a flower to have an excessive amount of moisture and stagnant water. Therefore, if crocuses are planted in the fall, a little sand must be added to the soil, especially clayey.

The best soil for this plant is, of course, sandy light soil. The site must be well-drained, as stagnant water causes the plant to rot.

So that the flowers are not small, it is important for them to choose a place that is well lit. It is important that the plants do not shade the trees. Although this plant grows well in partial shade.

Soil fertilization also needs to be taken seriously. It is important to remember: for crocuses, nitrogen is a great danger. So the best option for him are fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium. After all, the first trace element is necessary for the formation of crocus buds and the extension of the flowering period. The second micronutrient is important

Planting crocuses in the fall in the ground

It is necessary to plant or transplant these plants without flowers. If, nevertheless, flowering specimens were planted, then they will gain strength only after about two years.

Planting crocuses before winter is carried out by the following method: the bulb is lowered to a depth of 10 cm. The distance between these plants must be observed and be at least 4 cm.

The thickness of the soil layer above the planting material is at least twice the diameter of the bulb. This is when the ground is loose. But in the case of heavy soil, this indicator is only a single diameter of the planting material.

To prolong the flowering time of this plant, gardeners use a little trick: they plant crocus bulbs in separate holes at different depths. This will allow you to enjoy the beauty of crocus flowers for at least a week longer.

After planting, the land where the plants are planted is watered a little and slightly covered with coniferous litter. This will keep moisture longer, as well as protect plants from severe frosts in the event of a snowless winter.

Reproduction of crocuses by seeds

These plants reproduce with their "children" - these are daughter corms. They are formed from the kidneys, which sit in the sinus of the scales. When the old corm dies, new children begin to grow on their own, forming a kind of "nest". It turns out a group of related bulbs. The above method is the most effective method on the reproduction of plants such as crocus flowers. Planting and care in this case are done very carefully so as not to damage the bulbous material.

The corm grows every year and becomes larger. As a result, many so-called children are formed. When it becomes crowded for them, and they are already beginning to interfere with each other, they must be seated.

If conditions permit, it is important to plant the children of one bulb of a particular species in groups. This one blooms about 4 years after planting.

The second method of reproduction of crocuses is carried out by seeds. But this method is only suitable for spring flowering plants. Crocuses that bloom in autumn do not bear fruit regularly because early hard frosts prevent them from setting seeds.

Sow this planting material in small pots or boxes. This will allow small seedlings not to get lost among large ones, and they will also be better protected from weeds. The pot must be covered with a black film and make sure that they do not dry out. If the leaves of the seedlings die off completely, they can be sprayed a little with Roundup. But care is important here so as not to make the soil too wet, as this can provoke rotting of seedlings. Seedlings bloom in about 5 years.

Crocus Care

Plants such as flowers do not require special complex observation of themselves; there are only a few rules:

once for several years they must be thinned out, since under favorable conditions each corm gives rise to up to 10 children annually and becomes larger;
the process of digging in spring-flowering plants is carried out in the summer after the yellowing of their leaves;
bulbs are dried and stored in the shade.

In addition, it should be noted that there are many diseases and pests in plants such as crocuses. Planting and care in the fall is carried out taking into account the following recommendations:

Before planting in open ground, it is advisable to hold the bulbs of the plant in a solution of potassium permanganate. This will prevent the development of fungal diseases in the planting material.
It is necessary to store crocus bulbs in the house, that is, away from rodents. These are the main enemies of the plant.

Also, to get good nests of corms, gardeners recommend planting them every year. This will give the kids more room to grow.

forcing crocuses

It is distillation that helps to achieve ultra-early flowering in crocuses. Only the healthiest bulbs are suitable for this purpose. Somewhere in September, gardeners recommend planting them in pots. The soil in the container should be slightly damp. The pots should be covered with a film, first make several holes in it for ventilation.

This container with planting material is placed in the basement or in any dark and cool place. In early January, the first shoots appear. After that, the pot is cleaned in a room with an air temperature of up to 15 degrees Celsius, where it is shaded with paper bags. It is also important not to forget to water the plant.

A week after this, gardeners are advised to remove the film from the pot. Bring them into warm room necessary when the first buds already appear. Flowering of crocuses depends on the temperature in the room: the lower it is, the longer they bloom.

Kicked out crocuses in the fall can be safely planted in open ground.

The best partners for crocuses

Gardeners note spectacular flowering and growth of these flowers close to the following plants:

mahonia;
boxwood;
yew;
galanthus;
helleborus;
primrose;
erythroniums;
erantis.

The use of crocuses

These plants are widely used for the following purposes:

to create beautiful landscape design site;
as a gift for the holidays (Valentine's Day, March 8);
as a seasoning in cooking;
as food coloring.

This plant is also widely used in alternative medicine. On the basis of crocus, special eye drops and general tonic tinctures are made, since saffron has antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties.

Planting crocuses in the fall in the ground provides an opportunity to enjoy the flowering of this plant already. in early spring. But so that these flowers do not disappoint you and grow really beautiful and spectacular, it is important to follow some simple recommendations for planting them.

Incredibly beautiful spring flowers – these are crocuses. They begin to bloom in early spring and delight those around them with their colors for up to ten days. After the flowers wither, the petals are still juicy and fresh, but by mid-June their turn comes withering. Next, crocuses have a dormant period. In this article we will tell you everything that you might be interested in about crocuses.

Crocus or saffron - description

Crocus, or as it is better known by another name, saffron, is a corm perennial. In the wild, it grows in the steppes, meadows, highlands and rare forests of the Caucasus, Crimea, Asia, the Middle East and southern Europe. Several endangered species of crocuses are listed in the Red Book. Crocus is a beautiful plant, but no matter how much you want it, it does not bloom for so long - only 7-10 days.

– this is the scientific name of a flower culture, but the Latin name, crocus, is still spreading in the literature on floriculture. This is a small flower up to 10 cm high with thin linear leaves that are wrapped down. The plant has a different color, but identical bell-shaped funnel-shaped flowers. When crocuses bloom, most species open their buds at the beginning of the spring period, while some - in the fall.

Flowers appear one, two or three from each bulb. Perianth - segmented in the form of a corolla. The segments fuse into a long tube that can reach 10 cm in some species. In the absence of a stem, the perianth performs its role and brings the flower to the surface. The segmented process consists of six parts, each of which is bent at the top. A fully opened bud can reach 8 cm in diameter.

Did you know?The name crocus comes from the Greek "kroke" - thread or fiber. Saffron is consonant with the Arabic "zeferan", which translates as yellow.

Choosing a place to plant crocuses

Not many people know that crocuses can be conditionally divided into autumn and spring, and therefore planting and caring for them in open field will differ. When choosing a place for them, keep in mind that species that are planted in the spring require more sunlight. Autumn crocuses, in turn, tolerate a little shading from coniferous shrubs. We would like to note that in the shade, many goblet-shaped saffron flowers do not fully open, but, for example, Sharoyan's autumn crocus blooms much worse under the sun than in shading.

Crocuses look very harmonious among the greenery of a grassy lawn, but you should refrain from choosing such a place. And that's why. Lawn grass requires regular mowing, and thus you can accidentally damage the foliage of saffron. As a result, the corm will not fully ripen.

From an aesthetic point of view, it is better to organize the cultivation of crocuses in the country in groups. In addition, the greatest naturalness is achieved if the bulbs are planted at different distances from each other, simulating a spontaneous natural cycle. To create a solid flower cover of crocuses, they need to be planted in a 3x3 cm grid. Per 1 sq. m should come out at least 50 bulbs.

Important! Before planting corms in open soil, pickle them in Fundazol or Maxim.

In such a case, as a public flower garden, the first crocus should be planted at the starting point of the edge - a fence, for example. Saffron goes well with summer bulbous plants or annuals. It is not recommended to plant it among perennial crops, because the period of their active development falls on digging and transplanting corms. Crocuses look spectacular in rock gardens. After they have faded, the bare ground can be covered with small creeping annuals.

Are crocuses demanding on soil

Due to the fact that crocuses are autumn and spring, shade- and light-loving, a reasonable question arises as to whether there are universal soils where all types of this plant are planted. In fact, there are no special requirements for soils. Any cultivated ones are suitable, but the most comfortable for development will be light and rich in humus. Saffrons love well-moistened, loose and generously fertilized soils with organic matter. But, like all bulbs, they can die from stagnant water.

If clay soils predominate on your site, then in order for crocuses to grow healthy and beautiful, care should begin with ennobling the soil. Peat and sand must be added to clay substrates and fertilized well. organic matter. For 1 sq. m the following materials are introduced: 20 kg of peat or humus, 100 g of bone meal and 50-70 g of fertilizer based on trace elements.

Important! Humus should not be introduced into cultivated soils; it is better to replace it with high-moor peat. Crocuses will not develop well and grow in an excess of nutrients, especially nitrogen.

When to plant crocuses

Most flower growers mistakenly believe that crocuses are exclusively spring-blooming plants, so they are surprised and say: “We only plant crocuses in autumn”. When buying planting material, be sure to consider one important fact: there are also autumn species that are planted in the spring. This characteristic plays a significant role, since the cycles of development of autumn and spring corms do not coincide. This is important point when taking into account and determining landing dates.

In qualified flower shops and at exhibitions, planting material for autumn-blooming crocuses is sold with the mark "Crocus autumn flowering". Spring-flowering ones can also be purchased in regular markets. Of course, in a flower shop you will be selected the highest quality varietal material, but, oddly enough, those crocuses take root better, the bulbs of which were bought in spontaneous markets, and growing them will not cause any special worries.

Did you know? Saffron was used as a medicine and incense in religious rituals. As a subtle spice that enriches the taste and color of food, saffron is used in cooking to this day.

In spring-flowering crocuses, the annual development cycle begins in March (there are some species that even have it in February) with the growth of the first leaves. For a more stable and rapid development of plants, you need to know how to feed crocuses in the spring. Fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium are suitable for them. They can be applied when the first sprouts appeared, then during the flowering period and at the end, when the flowers withered.

So you contribute proper formation corm and feed it enough. A little later, in the month of April, flowers appear and bloom. When crocuses bloom, the buds open alternately for two to three weeks. After flowering, the leaves continue to grow until the seeds ripen. By the end of June they dry up.

All these processes occur solely due to the nutrients in the corm that have been accumulated over the past year. When the bulb is depleted, it dies off. Crocuses form a new bulb on top of the old one when the flowering time has already passed. She will become a substitute. She has the beginnings of buds for the renewal of flowers and leaves.

Over the next period of growth and death of the leaves, the bulb will already accumulate the necessary energy. Somewhere by mid-June, the corm will go into dormancy mode, and by autumn it will act again: it will grow roots and continue the process of accumulating food. Further, the process of bud formation and the resumption of harvesting of future parts of the plant will be completely completed.

Do not prematurely remove the leaves and do not transplant the plant during the growing season, so as not to puzzle over why the crocuses did not bloom in the spring. This disrupts the life rhythm of the crocus and entails a delay in development. The bulbs themselves do not die from this and eventually recover, blooming again. But rehabilitation can take up to two years, and during this time you can forget about the planting material and accidentally dig it up.

Obviously, the growth of the plant is directly related to the maturation of the bulb, and this implies that the crocus must maintain the integrity of its leaves until it wilts. Therefore, you need to help the flower in every possible way, removing the boxes with seeds that weaken the corm, and planting the material before the end of the dormant period. The best time to plant spring saffron is September, because after a while, small roots will appear on the bulbs, which are easily injured.

The life cycles of crocus blooming in spring are similar to the periods of colchicum. They are often confused. In order to avoid errors, you should know that saffron bulbs are much smaller - up to 2.5 cm and three stamens in a flower, when colchicum has twice as many of them. Most of the autumn crocuses begin their life cycle from flowering.

During this period, leaves grow and a replacement corm is born. Some produce leaves with a seed box and complete the formation of a new bulb by the spring, when the species described earlier begin to bloom. Crocuses that bloom in late autumn leave for the winter without finishing flowering. As a result, seeds are not formed. But this does not weaken the plant and should not be cause for concern.

In autumn-flowering crocuses, the dormant period begins a month earlier than in spring ones, therefore, the peak of corm activity occurs in August. Therefore, for the normal development of autumn crocuses in the same year, they must be planted in the period from late July to mid-August. But why don't crocuses bloom, which are purchased in a good store and planted in properly fertilized soil? The acquisition of already flowering crocuses or delays in planting dates will adversely affect the formation of future plant organs.

Late-planted crocuses in the first two years only grow leaves and do not bloom. Transplanted saffrons with leaves and flowers quickly wither and enter a two-year recovery period. Crocuses that have successfully passed through the life cycle are very weakened and should receive appropriate care after flowering. This will energize them for the next year.

Did you know? The spice of saffron in ancient times was not only worth 15 times more than black pepper, but even gold. For 450 g of spice, you could buy an Arabian horse. Today, this spice is also not cheap.

Planting and propagation of crocuses

Propagation of crocuses involves two methods: seeds and daughter corms. It's not a complicated process at all.

Sowing crocus seeds

Growing crocuses from seeds is practiced much less frequently than from corms. This practice is inherent in flower growers who want to propagate a certain valuable plant species, so planting material is taken in large volumes.

Most botanical crocuses do not have problems with seed formation, but only in autumn the fruiting cycle can go astray due to the onset of early frosts. Planting material is well preserved, but in the case of autumn-blooming species, it is better to sow only collected seeds for overwintering.

Since stratified material germinates better, perfectly healthy and stronger crocuses can be grown from these seeds. Future crocuses harvested with seeds give very small seedlings, and since the weeds are “not dormant”, it is initially better to plant them in containers or boxes. Until the first sprouts appear, containers with seeds should be covered with a light-protective film or spunbond. In the second case, watering can be omitted. Seedlings will begin to bloom in 3-4 years.

Planting crocus bulbs

It is not necessary to dig up corms every winter. It is necessary to do this every three years during the summer dormant period of crocuses in order to separate the mother bulb from the daughter tubers that have grown during this time. There can be up to ten of them, and they begin to interfere with each other.

As a result, saffron flowers are significantly reduced in size. In this case, the separation of the daughter bulbs, their transplantation and further care of the crocuses are done as follows. To collect planting material in the form of corms, the mother plant can be dug up more often than once every three years. It is better to disturb autumn-blooming saffrons from June to August, spring-blooming - from July to September. Planting material must be removed from the ground, dried, defective scales and dead roots removed.

You should also carefully examine the bulbs for diseases. Leave only healthy material. Mechanical damage must be healed with ash or crushed coal. Until planting in the ground, they should be stored in a dry and cool place.

Care of crocuses in the open field

How to grow crocuses strong and healthy after planting, we will tell further. But know that you will not spend much effort and a lot of time.

Watering crocuses

There is no need to water saffron regularly, besides, it is very painful to tolerate moisture stagnation. Crocuses need a lot of water during the spring and autumn flowering periods. But nature helps us there too: in one case, the snow melts and gives water, in the other, autumn rains. Additional watering is organized if the winter was not snowy, and the autumn was not rainy enough. But even with insufficient moisture, crocuses successfully pass the vegetative period. Only in height they will become smaller. In summer, during periods of calm, crocuses do not need water, they prefer to rest in a dry environment.

Fertilizer and top dressing

The basis for growing all plants in the garden is top dressing, therefore, thinking about how to grow healthy and beautiful crocuses in your garden, you need to prepare a complex of mineral fertilizers. Feeding crocuses has some of its own nuances. Fresh organic fertilizers are not allowed. They call various diseases. Peat, fully decomposed manure and other mineral fertilizers will be preferred.

In early spring, during the period of active growth, you need to scatter fertilizers on melting snow. With the beginning of the vegetative period, urea can be introduced. Later, an excess of nitrogen will cause a sharp growth of leaves, which will provoke the appearance of unwanted fungal diseases in wet weather. After half a month, fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium should be introduced to the landing site. They will contribute to better flowering and the formation of strong and healthy corms.

Care after flowering

Like many bulbs, these flowers lose their leaves by mid-summer, so you need to take special care of crocuses in your country house after they bloom. If you do not have plans to transplant the plant to a new place, then you can get by with the removal of wilted foliage. If it was decided to dig up crocuses, then the best time is July.

The procedure is as follows:

Remove inflorescences that have faded so that the plant does not put extra effort into trying to form seeds.
Gradually reduce the amount of watering. So the outflow of all nutrients will gradually go to the corm
When the leaves turn completely yellow, the bulb needs to be dug up and dried a little at room temperature.
Next, peel off the scales and discard diseased and damaged daughter tubers.
Bulbs should be stored in a well ventilated area at a temperature within 20 °C.

Crocus transplant

Due to the abundant formation of daughter bulbs in crocuses, they need to be seated. Otherwise, a large nest of processes is formed. They become crowded, they are deformed, the flowers become smaller, and the plant loses its aesthetic appeal.

Bulbs need to be dug up after the leaves have completely died off in mid-July - early August. Store until transplanting in a warm, well-ventilated area. It is necessary to plant in flower beds in August or September at a distance equal to two or three corm diameters from each other. The hole must be dug to a depth equal to three bulbs in height.

The removed corms must be cleaned of earth, dead roots and scales, and then spread out in a single layer in a box or box. The smallest can be decomposed, for example, into candy boxes. Until August, planting material should be stored at a temperature of +22 ° C and not lower, since it is under this regime that flower buds are laid. In August, the temperature should be lowered to +20 °C. A week later - up to +15 ° С. But such conditions are difficult to create at home, and they are ideal, because only in specialized farms can you adjust the thermal regime. In our usual conditions, crocus bulbs should be placed in a dark, dry place with the possibility good ventilation and room temperature.

Did you know? To obtain 1 kg of saffron spice, you need to collect about 600,000 stigmas from freshly blossomed crocus flowers. Hence the expression "expensive as saffron." A very reasonable statement.

The seasonal rhythm of crocuses

Spring crocus flowers can start blooming in mid-March or mid-April, provided that you grow them with all the nuances. But the timing of this event can vary significantly depending on the melting of snow and warming of the soil cover. Cases of the beginning of flowering of spring crocuses have been recorded even at the end of February.

Autumn species are more stable and constant in this case. The quality of the vegetative period depends directly on the conditions in which the recovery bud was formed last season - this applies to spring-blooming or this summer - autumn-blooming saffron.

Why don't crocuses bloom?

Many amateur gardeners and flower growers are perplexed why crocuses do not bloom when everything seems to be done correctly, but in fact there is no flower and there are only leaves. Let's deal with this problem together and decide for what reasons this is happening?

First, what can negatively affect flowering is the thickening of plantings. The daughter bulbs become so crowded that the mother tuber is able to push out of the ground only new feathers of young green leaves. The bulbs interfere with each other, so there can be no talk of flowering. The way out is obvious - to plant crocuses and give more space to new tubers.

The second reason may lie in too deep planting of onions. They just don't have the energy to bloom. They spent all their strength on punching sheets through the ground. Often, bulbous plants that are planted in sandy soil involuntarily deepen into a loose substrate.

You can correct the situation by transplanting the corms to a depth of up to 7 cm. In heavy clay soils, deepen the bulbs by no more than 5 cm.

The final reason why crocuses do not bloom in your garden, is the lack of fertilization of the soil. The main thing is to apply mineral-based preparations in a timely manner and in the required quantities. Firstly, this is done at planting: fertilizer is applied directly into the hole. Saffrons that grow in one place long years pull all the nutrients out of the soil. Such flowers must be fed in the spring, watering with a solution of mineral fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are also suitable, the best of which is compost applied to the planting hole.

Did you know? Fraudsters got the hang of forging saffron. In Iran, in the Middle Ages, hands were cut off for this. In Germany, they were buried alive or burned at the stake. In France, everything was much more humane - just a fine of 60 kg of silver.

Diseases and pests of crocuses

No matter how hard you try to take care of your garden, grow crocuses or other bulbous crops, but sometimes something goes wrong. The plant either stops at one stage of development, or loses its aesthetic appearance, or dies altogether.

The reason for this are diseases and pests:

Viruses. The first sign of their appearance on saffron is white spots on deformed leaves. They stretch and twist at the tips. They are carried by sucking insects such as aphids, mites or thrips. The affected plant by default becomes a distributor of infection, and it must be destroyed immediately. But do not worry if the disease has mowed down a rare species of crocus in your area. Viruses do not reach the seeds, and the plant can be revived by reseeding. Let it take some time, but you will return your flower favorites.
Fungi. Activated in warm and damp weather. As a rule, they affect the corm of the plant. It loses its density, shrinks, and spots of unnatural color form under the scales. Such an onion must be destroyed, and the other daughters should be dried in a cool place. Before planting, they must be soaked in a weak manganese solution or a 0.2% solution of Fundazol.
Chlorosis. With this disease, the leaves begin to turn yellow, which is not caused by a lack of any nutrients in the soil, but by mechanical damage to the tuber, poor drainage, or inappropriate growing conditions.
Mice and moles. They damage the corms, breaking through passages under them and even taking them entirely to their homes or nibbling the roots. If the plant grows poorly, blooms poorly, then we can judge that the onions have rotted. In this case, they need to be dug up and the rotten parts removed. Treat the cut points with ash and leave in the open air for several hours to dry. In order not to attract mice, it is necessary to remove all deadwood and grass within a radius of three meters from the landings, because mice nest there. They will not run further than three meters from the nest.

When touching crocus flowers flash like little spring harbingers on the canopy of bright fallen leaves, it seems as if time has flowed back. It is difficult to find a more delicate autumn-flowering plant. Opening their flowers at the end of the garden season, crocuses are the closest relatives of universal spring favorites. They are grown according to almost the same rules as ordinary crocuses, only the flowering of these plants does not occur after a long winter, but before it begins.

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

Getting to know autumn crocuses better

Crocuses, or saffrons, are a favorite among primroses. They are easy to grow and even easier to care for. But of the 15 groups, which include almost 40 species of crocuses actively used in horticulture, not all are spring flowering plants.

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

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

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

The best types of autumn crocuses

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

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

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

Saffron, or Banat Crocus. © Jim Murrain

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

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

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

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

Conditions comfortable for autumn crocuses

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

Sharoyan's saffron, or Sharoyan's crocus (Crocus scharojanii). © Desvil

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

The landing site for autumn crocuses must be selected so that during the dormant period they do not suffer from getting wet, they grow in dryness and warmth. That is why you need to choose either elevated, well-drained places (for example, on alpine slides and rockeries). Another option is to lay drainage when disembarking.

Pay attention to the soil too. For crocuses, choose light, loamy soils that allow water to pass through well. The only exception is the Dutch varieties and hybrids, which tolerate even heavy soil. Make sure the soil is neither acidic nor alkaline: crocuses love neutral soils. But they are not so demanding on fertility: the richest soils and rather poor soils are suitable for crocuses.

Features of planting autumn crocuses

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

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

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

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

Autumn crocuses are planted only in groups of 5 or more, placing plants at a distance of 5-6 cm between plants. Crocus bulbs are planted at a traditional depth equal to twice the height of the bulbs themselves (from 5 to 15 cm). On heavy soil, leave a distance equal to the height of the bulb from the top of the bulb to the edge of the soil.

It is not necessary to strictly monitor the centimeters: crocuses, unlike many bulbs, form retracting roots and young bulbs themselves will settle down in the soil at a comfortable depth. After planting, mulch the soil with sand to keep out slugs. Be sure to mark the landing site with sticks or other markers.

Caring for crocuses that bloom in autumn

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

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

Digging and transplanting autumn crocuses

Crocuses can be transplanted and transferred to a new place at the same time when they are planted - from June to August for autumn-flowering species. Autumn crocuses (unless you plan to increase the number of plants and propagate crocuses, give them to neighbor friends or sell them), do not replant more than 3-5 years. Wait for signs of overflow of the "nests" and only then plant the bulbs. So the flowering will be more beautiful, and the bulbs - stronger.

After digging, the bulbs must be dried at room temperature in a well-ventilated place for 2-3 months. After drying, they remove old roots and exfoliated, bad scales, sprinkling all damage with wood ash. Bulbs with traces of rot should be discarded immediately.

Preparing for the winter

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

Diseases and pests

Autumn crocuses are considered to be more "reliable" plants than spring flowering species. They most often suffer from rot caused by excessive soil moisture, but are less commonly affected by other diseases. In new varieties, dry rot is common, which manifests itself in the beginning in small spots, then merging into whole foci. Bulbs affected by rot should be immediately discarded and destroyed. Rodents love to feast on them, therefore, with proximity to nests and increased activity on the site, it is better to plant bulbs in special nets.

Reproduction of autumn crocuses

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

Crocus seeds can also be propagated, but this method does not allow preserving the characteristics of varietal crocuses, and the fruiting of autumn species is an irregular phenomenon and depends on the vagaries of the weather. Seeds of autumn crocuses are collected in spring, after natural stratification, sowing in the same year in summer or autumn. It is best to sow in boxes or pots, covering nonwoven fabric or black foam. Plants from the first year are grown cyclically, but they bloom only 4-5 years after sowing.

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

Selection of planting material and landing site

Saffrons are distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Eurasia and feel good in temperate climates. But, before moving on to the issue of planting and caring for crocuses in the open field, you need to select healthy plant bulbs and highlight right place for planting flowers in your garden.

How to choose viable saffron bulbs:

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

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

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

Planting time for crocuses in the garden

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

Spring flowering plants include:

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

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

Autumn flowering subspecies of saffron include:

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

How to care for saffron?

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

Outdoor crocus care is fairly easy. Periodically, it will be necessary to weed the flower rows, getting rid of weeds. The soil (especially after rain) must be loosened in order to root system plants have access to air.

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

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

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

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

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

spring crocuses;
autumn crocuses.

Distinctive characteristics of colors are:

frost resistance, fearlessness to temperature extremes and climatic changes;
fleeting growth of bulbous children;
unpretentiousness of the plant.

Varietal differences

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

We determine the landing time

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

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

Choosing bulbs and a seat

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

there should be no regrown roots;
no mechanical damage should be observed;
the corm should have a dense texture without soft gaps;
surface scales are not wet, integral, cover the entire tuber;
at the slightest hint of decay, either refuses to buy or discards damaged nodules in order to avoid the spread of infection;

Please note that onions should be stored in paper bags (not polyethylene). After buying, do not put them in the refrigerator before planting, otherwise, sensing heat, they will begin to actively germinate. The cold storage mode signals the approach of spring and activation. It is necessary to plant crocuses on sunny lawns or along the edges of flower beds, where there is always enough light and there is no shading from other crops. Some manage to grow them on the windowsill.

However, home heat does not contribute to the development of buds, because they have flowering in a cool climate. It is best to plant bulbs in sandy, light soils containing organic matter in the form of compost or rotted manure. Someone prefers to cut off the top layer of turf on the lawn, and plant bulbs on the opened area. But this method is not suitable for everyone, and beginners can apply it as trial version. Do not plant a plant in the place of accumulation of snow or under snowdrifts.

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

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

The composition of the soil plays an important role in the life of crocuses. For example, nitrogen is contraindicated for them, and phosphorus and potassium will create good foundation for growth and flowering. If the soil is heavy and clayey, then it needs to be lightened with sand. To do this, 10/12 days before planting, we dig up the landing site for 1 bayonet of an ordinary shovel, gradually adding sand. To plant crocuses, heavy soil is drained. In this case, mineral additives are not added.

Landing process step by step

Those who first started practicing snowdrop cultivation face such difficulty that they cannot wait for flowering for a long time. One of the reasons may be the untimely transplantation of bulbs during flowering. This approach knocks the plant out of the rut. Let's describe the landing in stages:

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

Expert advice! “Since the snowdrop bloom period is short, you can extend the landscape bloom a bit by applying two tricks. Can be dropped off different types crocuses in a checkerboard pattern. Then they will bloom at different times. Another way is to arrange landings at different depths. Those that are planted deeper will bloom later.”

Reproduction of planting material and forcing

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

Therefore, for 4-5 years, they dig the place of growth of crocuses for further reproduction. If snowdrops were planted in containers, they are easily removed from the ground. Nests are divided by hand and sorted by size. Large ones are planted for flowering in a flower bed. small in separate place are gaining strength.

What is extrusion for?

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

Only large and healthy onions are selected.
In mid-September, they are placed in a container or pot that is slightly moistened. They are located close to each other.
The pot is covered with polyethylene with small holes or spunbond for airtightness.
We take the pot or container to the underground or cellar.
After the appearance of sprouts (December, January), we set up plantings where the temperature varies within +15 degrees. We put in partial shade or cover with a newspaper, while watering the nodules with water.
With the advent of buds, we bring our distillation into the house and observe beautiful flowering without snow melting.

Complementary care and disease prevention

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

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

The first feeding goes in the phase of the appearance of the first sprouts. It contains potassium and phosphorus in the doses indicated in the instructions. The second top dressing with potassium phosphorus fertilizer is done during budding. The third top dressing with the same composition is carried out after flowering.