Crocuses (commonly called crocuses) are beautiful little flowers that bloom in early spring as the weather gets milder. They are known to bring joy and hope after the long and dreary winter. With the right planning and planting crocuses in your garden carefully, you can ensure they survive the winter frosts. At that point, all you need to do is take care of the plants to keep them healthy during spring flowering.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Garden
Step 1. Schedule sowing in the fall, 6-8 weeks before the frosts arrive
Plant crocus bulbs when the soil temperature stays constantly below 15.5 ° C in the fall. In Italy, you will need to plant them in October or November.
- The National Meteorological Service can help you predict when the first frost will arrive in your area.
- If you wish, you can purchase a soil thermometer on the internet or at a local nursery.
Step 2. Purchase crocus bulbs from a nursery
Buy quality bulbs at a local store or from a reputable online service. Bulbs you can find in non-specialty stores will often be second-rate and may not bloom at all.
- Choose your favorite color for crocuses to make your garden unique. These flowers are usually purple, but there are different varieties and shades of color.
- Ask the nursery staff for advice on the variety of crocus that best suits your garden style.
Step 3. The most suitable spot for planting crocuses should be given at least 3-6 hours of direct lighting
Choose an area where full or partial sunlight arrives. The spots that always remain in the shade will be too cold for the bulbs to bloom.
Usually, the area north of the buildings, which is heavily shaded, is the worst place to plant crocuses. Try burying the bulbs in an area that faces east or west
Step 4. Choose a spot where the soil drains well
Avoid planting bulbs where drainage is poor or where the soil is often soggy. That way, crocuses could rot instead of growing well.
- Test the soil where you plan to plant crocuses to check for drainage. Dig a 30-45cm hole in the area you are considering. Fill it with water.
- If the water is absorbed in less than 10 minutes, the soil has excellent drainage. However, if the water takes more than an hour to soak the soil, drainage is poor.
- It is difficult to change the natural drainage characteristics of the soil, because sun exposure and inclination play important roles. If necessary, you can plant crocuses in pots outdoors to avoid drainage problems.
Part 2 of 3: Plant the Crocuses
Step 1. Add organic material to the topsoil layer (within 30cm depth)
Collect organic material from your garden, such as chopped leaves, compost or peat, or buy it at a local nursery. Before planting crocuses, use a scoop to loosen the soil, up to 30cm deep, then add the organic material with your hands.
- In this way, you will enrich the soil, favoring the growth of crocuses.
- The amount of organic material you need varies by the size of the garden. Usually, the soil should consist of 5-10% organic material.
Step 2. Dig a hole of 7.5-10 cm
Deposits inside a crocus bulb, with the pointed part upwards. Fill the hole with soil, then compact the surface so that the plant is completely covered.
Step 3. Water the bulbs you just planted with a watering can or garden hose
Do this until the soil is moist to the touch, but stop before it becomes completely saturated with water. Since you have planted crocuses in a well-drained area, the water will be absorbed quickly.
If the autumn day is warm and the temperature exceeds 26.5 ° C, it is better to water the plant a little more than too little
Step 4. Plant the crocus bulbs 10 cm apart
Bury them close together, but not less than 10cm apart. These plants look best in groups of at least 10 because they produce small flowers.
- By planting taller flowers behind crocuses, you can create a nice visual contrast in your garden. Tulips are ideal plants in this case, thanks to their conformation.
- Plant many crocus bulbs together to create a beautiful and unique "carpet" effect.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Crocuses
Step 1. Apply fertilizer by calculating the average length of spring
Fertilize crocuses with a balanced product that you can purchase at a local nursery. If spring lasts less than a month in your area, you should do it in early fall, right after planting. If, on the other hand, spring is long and temperate, you can apply fertilizer in the spring.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine the amount of fertilizer and how to apply it.
- By asking the staff of a local nursery, you can get advice on how to fertilize these flowers.
Step 2. Water the crocuses regularly after fall
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and water the flower bulbs to moisten the soil as the weather gets drier over the course of the fall. However, always avoid over-wetting the soil.
- Depending on the rainfall in your area, you should water the crocuses once or twice a week.
- Once crocuses have bloomed in spring, you will only need to water them when the soil is dry to the touch.
Step 3. Cover crocus bulbs with mulch during the winter
Purchase some mulch at a local nursery and cover the flowers you planted before the next frost. Use a natural mulch that is not too compact and apply a layer of at least 10 cm thick over the bulbs, so that the soil retains moisture and heat.
- This way, the bulbs remain insulated when the temperature drops.
- Bark flakes, leaves, straw and grass clippings are ideal materials for this type of mulch.
Step 4. Remove the mulch from the flowers in late February
Throw or compost mulch so the crocuses can start growing out of the ground. These flowers bloom in early spring and usually emerge from the ground in late February or early March, depending on the local climate.
Step 5. Cover the crocuses if snow returns after flowering
Use plastic bottles cut in half to protect the buds of these flowers from harsh weather.
Remove the covers once the weather has improved. This way, the flowers will continue to receive the sun and rain they need
Step 6. Prune crocus plants to keep them healthy from year to year
Cut off any dried leaves and flowers when they start to wilt. Crocuses are perennial flowers and will return to lush and healthy without having to replant them early in the next growing season.
Step 7. Divide plants every 3-5 years after flowering
Dig up the bulbs every 3-5 years to harvest new bulbs from the original ones. Smaller ones will form on the original bulbs. Remove and replant them as you did with the original seedlings, so that you get more lush flowers.
Discard or compose the original bulbs
Step 8. Spray any insects you notice a mixture of water, liquid dish soap, and cayenne pepper
For every 500ml of water, add 1 teaspoon of soap and 1 teaspoon (2.6g) of cayenne pepper. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution directly to the insects.
Advice
- Avoid storing crocus bulbs for a long time before planting them. Try to plant them within a week or two of purchasing. They have a tendency to rot and mold when exposed to air and moisture for some time.
- If your garden is home to burrowing rodents, such as mice and moles, plant crocus bulbs inside metal cages to keep those animals away.
