Ranunculus and Anemone de caen
CharleyD
Posts: 440
I desperately wanted ranunculus and anemone de caen in my garden this spring and planted bulbs last October/November. But, there doesn't seem to be much sign of either so far. I'm assuming they've been drowned or I suspect in the case of the ranunculus, eaten by rabbits. I need to put my dwarf rhodendrums in containers because our soil is too acidic for them so my question is .... is there a short cut way of planting ranunculus and anemone de caen now, as in February and so plant them in place of the rhodendrums?
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Yes you can plant them now they are in some shops. I saw them in my local Wilkinsons last weekend. It's too wet to plant my corms now so I have planted in pots in a cold frame for planting out later in spring. This has worked for me in previous years.
Ok, sounds like I have the perfect excuse to buy a cold frame
So I can buy corms now, put them in pots in my new cold frame and plant them out when the weather gets better? Do you plant them really close together to save space at this point? Sorry for my ignorance ... does the cold frame act as a mini greenhouse?
I tend to put 3-5 corms in 4-5 inch pots and then later plant them out as if one plant without separating the plants. This seem to do well.
If you get a cold frame make it a big one as once you have one you will also have an excuse to fill it up. A cold frame is useful for putting plants in that need a little protection but not special care. The protection could be from frost or from getting too wet. It's a half way house between greenhouse and outside. Loads available to buy or you could build your own. Go on go shopping you know you want to!
Charley, you say your soil is too acidic for your rhododendrons, but they do prefer acid soil - are you sure you need to dig them up?
Brilliant, thanks Flower girlie. You're a star. I can feel a big shop coming on ... I'll just wait until these storms have passed.
I hope I'll be able to help others on here when I'm a bit more experienced. I've had so much help on these forums and everyone's really friendly.
Have I got that mixed up? Do hydrangeas and rhodedendrons like the opposite soil to each other? Hydrangeas are growing really well but my rhodedendrons are a bit slow and pathetic so far.
Get yourself a soil testing kit, Charley. They don't cost much and what they do cost you'll likely save very quickly by being able to avoid buying unsuitable plants.
Some gardens even have a range of different acid/alkali (pH) values, so you can choose plants to suit particular areas.
Hi BobThe Gardener. Yes, I've got a testing kit now but unfortunately didn't when I ordered the rhodedendrons, which were about the first shrubs I ordered. Ha ha, if anyone would have told me a year ago even, that I would be out testing our soil for pH values, I would have laughed them out of sight
... now all I've got to do is remember what the kit told me!!!