This is my third year growing Italian Ranunculus; in my garden, they started to open a week or so ago. The first year I planted them right in the garden near the end of April (they like to get started when the temperatures are cool, and don’t mind a touch of frost), around the same time I plant peas and greens. They did all right. Last year and this year I started them in a tray at the end of March, in my cool basement , bringing them up under lights when the green leaves broke through. I brought them to a raised bed and this year, wanting the maximize my raised bed space, inter-planted them amongst garlic that had been planted last fall. My thought was since Ranunculus go dormant mid summer, it may be at about the same time I harvest the garlic, so roots won’t be disturbed.
I cut a half dozen stems yesterday to join Cathy at Rambling in the Garden as she, and gardeners around the world, display a vase of cut flowers on Mondays. I thought they looked perfect without any contrasting colours or forms so here they are, in a small green vase. Have a great week everyone!
County Gardening 