Storing ranunculus tubers will be covered in Step 6 of Method 2 further down in the article.
You can determine if your soil is predominantly clay by squeezing a handful of moist soil in your palm. If it clumps together, you likely have a clay-heavy soil. You can improve soil drainage by mixing your soil with a generous amount of substances such as plant fibers (bark or grass clippings) or well-rotted manure. These ‘soil extras’ will help your ranunculus to grow.
You should plant smaller varieties so that they are about 2 inches (5. 1 cm) deep and 5 inches (12. 7 cm) apart from other tubers. Plant larger varieties, such as Ranunculus Tecolote, up to 12 inches (30. 5 cm) apart. You don’t need to soak them before planting. It’s best to plant in batches of up to a dozen for maximum effect. Plant as soon as the last frosts have ended, usually in the spring. Water the tubers and the ground around them after you have planted them. Watering them will help to settle the soil. Do not water until sprouts emerge.
‘Jumbos’ are the largest at around 3 inches (7. 6 cm) diameter and will produce 30-40 flowers. Smaller tubers of around 2 inches (5. 1 cm) diameter can produce a dozen or so.
Sow, or place, the seeds into pre-moistened compost that’s lightweight and suitable for seed sowing. Do not cover the seeds with soil. Keep the soil moist and out of direct sunlight. Maintain the seeds at a temperature of around 70 °F (21 °C) and a little cooler at night. The seeds should germinate, or grow into small plants, in around two to three weeks. Wait until the young plants have around half a dozen leaves before transplanting them into larger pots. Protect these young plants from frost and transfer them into outdoor soil in the following spring if so desired.
Remember container plants tend to dry out more easily than plants in the ground, so be mindful of watering over the growing season. Watering will be covered in Step 2 of Method 2. Keep in mind that ranunculus plants tend to make a large root system, so don’t crowd them too much in containers.
Consider planting the ranunculus in an area where your pets and livestock can’t reach them, such as a fenced off garden or in a pot (which is covered in Step 6, the previous step, of this section).
A general water-soluble plant feed or one that your rake into the soil is fine. This encourages the plant to produce flowers. You can purchase plant feed at your local gardening supply store.
Continue watering your plants once a week until fall comes around. In the fall, the ranunculus will die back, or go dormant, and will not need to be watered. Dormancy is covered more thoroughly in Step 5 of this section.
Combat slugs with slug pellets, which are sprinkled around your ranunculus. You can purchase these pellets at a garden supply store. A standard aphid spray or insecticidal soap should be applied if aphid attack occurs.
Use a sharp pair of scissors to snip off the dead heads as soon as they begin to look scruffy. Try to cut the flower at the base of the stem, which is located in amongst the foliage, or leaves.
Refrain from cutting the dead growth away before the first frost. You don’t need to water the plant while it is dormant; in fact, these plants do better if they are not watered while they are dormant in the winter.
Try to avoid bringing them into a heated space like your home as they tend to rot under these conditions.
A good clean cut using a sharp blade will help make the cut clean. Snip the stem at the base of the plant just about the crown and within the foliage. This avoids leaving exposed cut stems.
