This plant belongs to the onion primroses, and for many it is a symbol of warm spring. Delicate crocus flowers, planting and care in the open ground behind which does not require much effort, grow well in the garden, beautifully bloom and easily reproduce.
Growing crocuses in open ground
The main rule, how to grow crocuses in the open - they must certainly grow on a sunny site. In the shadow of the house, the plant will not feel well, the high risk that it does not bloom at all. But under the tree, where the sun's rays easily penetrate in the spring, you can safely plant crocuses.
Choosing a place, many people are interested in the quality of the soil - is it important for the flower to make the soil exceptionally soft and black earth? This is preferable, because in such a land there are many more nutrients, but crocus in the open can feel good in clay soil, and stony. The question of illumination is more important.
Like most bulbous plants, crocus in the open ground does not tolerate waterlogging the soil. In early spring, in a land moistened with melted snow, on a sunny garden this plant is very comfortable, and it does not need additional watering. If the soil is clayey, care for crocus is to fertilize the plant with compost for normal growth.
When to plant crocuses in open ground?
There are two options when you can plant crocuses - spring and autumn, depending on the variety. Spring varieties are planted in open ground in March, they include the following:
- reticulate;
- golden;
- Adam;
- narrow-leaved;
- two-flowered.
Autumn varieties of crocuses are planted in October, they include:
- seeding;
- Palace;
- Sharoyan;
- banat;
- pretty.
Planting crocuses in the spring in the open ground
If the plant is spring, it should be planted in the open ground in the early spring, literally, as soon as the soil becomes soft and snow comes down. For spring varieties, it is extremely difficult to choose a successful landing site in the open ground - in March the soil is almost always wet, and it is difficult to foresee where stagnation of water can form. It is better to choose areas of the garden that are on a slight elevation.
Planting crocuses in the spring into the soil is carried out as follows:
- We make a hole. Its depth depends on the size of the bulb - about 10 cm for the large one, about 5 cm for the large one. For small flowers it is better to leave a distance of about 10 cm between flowers, this will make it possible to grow a real "crocus carpet".
- We lay the bulb, lightly press and sprinkle the earth.
- If the soil is not completely wet, you can pour a little. But more often it is not necessary.
- Above, the landing site can be sprinkled with river sand.
As soon as the crocuses come up, if the planting has been successful, it is difficult to foresee, because it depends on the quality of the soil and the depth of the holes, and care in the open field is not of the last importance. Seeing the shoots, it is important to carefully examine them - if you see spots on individual plants, discard them without regret - they are infected with the virus. If you do not remove sick bushes, you risk infecting all the others.
Crocus is a perennial plant, and you do not have to dig it out at the end of the season and again plant it in the open ground next spring - it will hibernate in the earth without additional care, spring will rise again in the spring, and the bush will become more lush. Digging out the crocus is recommended every 5 years.
Crocus planting in autumn in the ground
Autumn varieties of crocus are planted in the open ground depending on the temperature, it is important to do this until frost. In the northern regions, the ideal time for planting flowers is October, in southern areas you can wait and November. It does not matter, autumn or spring crocuses, planting and care in the open ground is almost nothing.
The only important point - immediately after you plant a flower, it should be watered abundantly, if the soil was dry. The distance between crocuses is better to do a little more - the autumn varieties of crocuses quickly overgrown with babies, and if you plant them too tightly, you will soon have to plant them.
Winter crocuses in the earth without problems, they do not need care, most varieties are resistant to severe frosts, they should not be fertilized during wintering. If strong rains began on the background of a cold snap, it is important to protect the crocuses, covering them with film or making a canopy. When crocuses are planted in the fall - another issue that worries novice florists. The first shoots begin to appear with warming, in some areas this is March, in others April.
Crocus flower - outdoor care
Crocus is a very unpretentious flower, and caring for it does not require much attention. Immediately after germination, it is important to ensure that there are no weeds near it - they obscure the plant and do not allow drying out of the ground, which is harmful to the flower. Care for crocus at this stage is to remove the emerging weeds as soon as possible.
From the same moment and until the end of the flowering period, the plant needs fertilizers, especially if the soil is clayey. Ideal top dressing will be ready-mixed for flowering bulbous. Watering the plant should be regular, if the weather is sunny, and the soil has time to dry up. Remember that the excess moisture for these flowers is fatal, and if the land is wet, watering it will do him harm.
Once every few years, you need to dig out the crocus from the ground. During this time, they become overgrown with babies, nutrients in the soil may not be enough, plants can become crowded. Crocus should be removed from the earth in July, further it is important to sort out them, leaving only healthy and strong bulbs. Wintering tubers should be in a closed dark room with low humidity at a temperature of 18 ° C to 22 ° C. The container should be ventilated so that mold does not appear, ideally a wooden box or plastic with holes.