Ranunculus 2013

[Roma]

Ranunculus asiaticus  -  I grew this from seed many years ago and it is still surviving, sometimes neglected for years.

[ranunculus]

Glorious, Roma.

[mark smyth]

I found seeds the other day that I never planted  Too late now to sow them?

[Alan_b]

Is ranunculus asiaticus too tender to grow outside in the garden?

[Darren]

Generally yes it is Alan. Here at least the combination of cold and wet would kill it off. It survives most winters in a bulb frame with the rain kept off it though.

I have a few young plants from a high altitude Turkish population (from Archibald seed) which I have yet to try outside. The selection 'Ken Aslet' is reputedly hardy but I've never tried it outside either - my suspicion is that poor weather would wreck the delicate flowers anyway.
Am I the only person keeping 'Ken Aslet' going now? I've given a few plants away so hope I'm not alone. My stock came from Kath Dryden over 15 years ago and it was awarded a PC when Kath exhibited it in around 2001.

[Tony Willis]

Darren

I still have the Ken Aslett from you growing well. I have always kept asiaticus frost free until last year when I tried it in an unheated greenhouse. The results were terrible and the plants suffered badly. This year they are frost free again and recovering. Mine apart from the ones you gave me are a selection from Crete and Cyprus

[Darren]

Thanks for confirming that you still have 'Ken Aslett' Tony. 

When I say the species survives most winters in the frame - it only survives but is not especially happy, which echoes your experience in the unheated glasshouse.

I don't think any have made it through this last winter in the frame but I am half convinced that the frame did not dry out properly in last year's appalling 'summer' and this may well account for the losses as I don't recall seeing any leaves in the autumn.

[ashley]

R. asiaticus  var. puniceus   JJA 0812504  Turkey, Siirt, E of Kozluk, 1000 m

The yellow must be a stray, but welcome

[Gerdk]

Fine plants and well cultivated obviously!

Do you give a little water during restingtime or are the roots totally dry then?

Gerd

[ashley]

Gerd, I don't water them at all during dormancy but the pots are in shade on the floor of the greenhouse so have some residual moisture. 
They 'wake' very gradually after a heavy watering in autumn, when I move them to full light in an airy position and water as needed. 
In spring they seem to enjoy quite heavy watering and some feeding.

[Gerdk]

Thank you, Ashley!

Gerd

[mark smyth]

Does anyone know if there is a white flowered Ranunculus acris?

Does anyone know of a source for R. bulbosa? yellow or cream?

[Alan_b]

Does anyone know if there is a white flowered Ranunculus acris?

Ranunculus acris 'Citrinus' is a pale cream colour.  I think that is as white as you can get - I can let you have some if you want it.

Edit: Expired link removed

There is a flore-pleno form of the ordinary Ranuncullus acris that is very nice.

Does anyone know of a source for R. bulbosa? yellow or cream?

I dug up a buttercup growing in my lawn last weekend that seemed to be growing from a bulb or something looking very like a bulb, although I would not have otherwise recognised it as different.  I'll try to get a photograph to show what I mean.

Edit:  Actually they looked very like the picture here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_bulbosus so I presume my identification was correct.   

[David Nicholson]

Ranunculus traunfellneri.

Cliff, you advised me to try it in a trough or a crevice but I had neither available so it's in a pot in a shady part of the greenhouse.  I'm assuming plenty of water whilst it's in flower but what happens when it's finished flowering please?

[ranunculus]

Hi David,
Growing nicely, but please don't pamper it.  Out of the greenhouse, out of the shade, into the elements as soon as possible ... it is getting a little bit drawn in such an enclosed environment.  Plenty of moisture until mid-summer and then leave it to it's own devices for the rest of the year.  Full exposure all winter and repot every couple of years.  Don't kill it with kindness.