Crocuses are planted in pots, open ground and for distillation. They differ in a wide palette of colors; there are lilac, yellow, lilac, etc. They decorate the garden with flowering for two or more weeks. But not everyone knows how to care for flowers, so more on that below.
General Culture Information
Saffron, or crocus - a representative of the Iris family. Belongs to the genus of perennial tuberous bulbous plants. In height reaches up to 15 cm.
The size of the bulb can be up to 3 cm in diameter. One, less often 2-3 flowers grow from it. By color, they are divided into two groups:
- yellow-flowered - from yellow to orange;
- blue-flowered - from light lilac to dark purple.
Outdoor Crocus Care Activities
Saffron leaves are linear and basal, covered with scales from below. Present during and after flowering.
The seeds of the plant are angular in shape and small in size, the fruit is a three-nest box.
Origin history
In the East, crocuses began to grow even before our era. They were mentioned in the writings of Hippocrates, Solomon and Homer. Introduced to Europe during the Crusades. First they began to cultivate in the countries of the western Mediterranean.
For your information! The first decorative species appeared in the botanical gardens of Europe in the XVI century. Spring, narrow-leaved and yellow crocuses laid the foundation for a large number of varieties.
The leading position in terms of commercial success was taken by Dutch hybrids. The formation lasted several centuries. The countdown for modern commercial varieties is from the beginning of the twentieth century.
Benefit
Saffron is used in cosmetology. It is part of balms, creams and gels. You can prepare your own care products at home. The plant nourishes, rejuvenates and improves the structure of the skin.
The healing properties of crocus:
- calms the nervous system;
- helps to get rid of a headache;
- the best remedy for worms;
- improves brain activity;
- prevents cancer cells from spreading;
- is a strong antioxidant;
- improves liver function;
- effective for ICD;
- has a positive effect on male sexual function.
Note! Dried stigmas of saffron seed were used as a spice BC to this day. To give a special taste, color and aroma, it is added to pilaf, fish and meat dishes.
Features of crocus care in the garden
It is not difficult to take care of the plant, it is unpretentious, but the rules of agricultural technology must be observed.
Soil selection
Crocuses prefer areas with light and well-drained soil. Sandy loam is suitable, as it absorbs moisture well during the melting snow. Do not grow in land with high acidity.
Types of crocuses growing in open ground
If the soil does not pass water well, drainage is necessary. During digging, small expanded clay or coarse sand is added.
Watering and humidity
Crocuses need moisture if winter was without snow and it did not rain in spring. Water the soil as it dries after the appearance of sprouts. Before each event, loosening is carried out so that the water dries it well. Pouring liquid should be without affecting the leaves.
Stagnant water will harm the bulbs. The amount of moisture produced affects the height of the plants.
Important! Spraying is not necessary.
Top dressing
Crocuses need mineral fertilizers, especially phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen, by contrast, is harmful. Their excess in wet weather can cause fungal diseases.
In early spring, complex mineral fertilizers are added at the rate of 30 g per 1 m². The following is produced during the flowering period with fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content. If you make nutrients in the fall during planting in the wells, you do not need to feed after the winter.
Planting and caring for crocuses do not take much time. The main thing is to prevent stagnation of water and to make fertilizers on time.
Crocus species
Most spring varieties bloom in April.
Description of crocus species:
- spring. The flowers in the form of a funnel-shaped bell are short in white or lilac. The duration of flowering is three weeks in mid-April - early May;
- Tomasini. In open form, it looks like a star. The color of the petals is lilac or pink, but a white rim may be present. The beginning of the flowering period is April, duration up to 20 days;
- two-flowered. It differs in forms depending on the variety. Flowers can be purple, milky, orange, blue, and some have spots on the petals. Flowering lasts three weeks;
- sowing season. The corm is spherical in shape with a diameter of 2.5 cm. Large flowers are white, pale purple and yellow. It blooms up to 20 days in late August - mid-September.
Many autumnal species bloom in September.
Description of popular species:
- banat. Lilac or pale lilac flowers funnel-shaped with yellow anthers. The beginning of flowering in September lasts more than a month;
- pretty. Light purple flowers are arranged in 5-10 pieces. on a plant, reach a height of up to 10 cm, their diameter is 6-8 cm. Flowering occurs in September-October;
- Sharoyan. The flowers are yellow, goblet. The peak of flowering is September-October.
Features of autumn and spring planting
When crocuses are planted in open ground - in summer or in autumn, depends on the variety. If they bloom in spring, corms are planted in the ground in September.
If the variety does not tolerate moisture, make high beds. Pre-planting material is selected and unsuitable specimens are removed. The gap between the seedlings should be 7-10 cm. If it is not maintained, in 3-5 years a large number of children will appear without a transplant, and the area will be completely filled.
When to plant crocuses blooming in autumn? It is better to do this before the middle of the summer season.
Important! Plants with typed or opened buds are difficult to take root, their planting is irrelevant.
If the bud wilted after being placed in the soil, the flower stalk and wilted leaves are removed. The bush will start new ones next year, but will bloom in only two.
Planting crocuses with seeds
Using this method, flowering can be observed several years after sowing. It will be possible to collect seeds only from spring varieties, since autumn ones do not have time to ripen.
Seed preparation
Planting stock is being prepared. There are three processing methods:
- soak for half an hour in a growth stimulator;
- disinfect in a weakly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate;
- to stratify. It is necessary for spring planting; in winter, seedlings undergo this process in the garden in a natural way. Seeds are placed in a container with sand and put in the refrigerator for three weeks.
Soil preparation
For autumn sowing, the plot is prepared in September. Dig the soil, add peat, which will make it water-absorbing and breathable, which is necessary for the germination of seedlings. So that it becomes porous and lumps do not form, sand is introduced.
Landing
When it is best to plant crocuses in the garden, this is in mid-September. Primroses and their seeds are characterized by high winter hardiness. Sowing is carried out in the prepared soil to a depth of 1 cm, maintaining a gap between seedlings of 4-5 cm. They will bloom in the third year.
Digging the soil before planting crocuses
When to transplant crocuses
It is better to do this from September to November. In one place, flowers grow 5-6 years. It is advisable to plant them once every 3-4 years. Corms are dug up during dormancy in the middle of the summer season after yellowing of leaves. They are cleaned, selected sick and damaged units, then dried for a week in the shade. The children are separated, disinfected for 30 minutes. in a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate and left until disembarkation in a cool, dry place.
Bulb planting
Before planting in open ground for preventive purposes, future seedlings are treated with potassium permanganate, growth stimulant or fungicides (vitarosomes, maxim, etc.). The solution is prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions.
What is the best way to plant crocuses? In special containers, then they will not spill over the site. A distance of 3-5 cm is maintained between the planting material. Bulbs are buried in the soil at three heights: small ones - 5-6 cm, large units - 10 cm.
Note! If the winter is cold, the place with seedlings is covered with foliage or spruce branches.
Process features
How to plant crocuses on the site, so this is in a place lit by the sun. In the shade, the flowers may be small or not appear at all.
Due to the lack of nutrients, peat and leaf humus are added to the sandy soil for digging (5 kg per 1 m²). Peat, 0.5 kg of lime per 1 m² and rotted manure are added to clay soil.
Important! In addition, 40 g of superphosphate are added per 1 m², but only a month after lime.
It is enough to dig sandy and loamy soil to the depth of the bayonet bayonet.
Kids landing
A faded bulb can produce up to 10 children. Independent units neatly divide and plant the nest. They are embedded in the earth at different depths: shallow - 4-5 cm, larger - 10-12 cm. If they grow in the same place for several years, a gap of 6-10 cm should be maintained between the plants, if 3-5 years are dug up.
Crocus corm with kids
For your information! With a lack of space, flowers will grow small, and flowering will not be plentiful. A transplant will solve this problem.
Crocus Growing Problems
Plants infect fungal and viral diseases. In the first case, pathogens:
- rot;
- rust;
- mosaic;
- chlorosis.
In the second case, the sources of infection are nematodes and rodents, which damage the integrity of the plants.
Fungal diseases affect flowers, deciduous cover and corms.
Root rot
Due to poor aeration, soil density or excess moisture, brown ulcers appear on the bulbs. Copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid will help to cope with the problem.
Rust
When infected, orange spots form on the scales of the bulbs, and on the green leaves - the same color of the pads. There are several reasons for this:
- excess nitrogen fertilizers in the ground;
- a lot of moisture;
- watering is incorrect.
For your information! Destroy the disease will help the same means as from rot.
Mosaic
Light yellow spots form on the deciduous cover, and a gray coating on the flowers. As a result, they are deformed. There can be two reasons: violation of soil aeration and mechanical damage to corms. To combat the disease, copper sulfate and Bordeaux are used.
Chlorosis
Changing the color of leaves to yellow usually provokes a lack of nutrients in the soil, and poor drainage or inappropriate growing conditions can affect it. The fungicides gamair or phytosporin will help get rid of the disease.
Proper crocus planting and care will help prevent the development of diseases.
They fight rodents and insects with special preparations and manual methods.
Scoops
The insect caterpillars feed on the roots of plants: they damage the bulbs by making holes. You can find them in the autumn when weeding the site.
When the caterpillars are about to pupate, they are dug up and destroyed.
Mice
Pests break through passages in the soil, gnaw roots and can pull onions into their burrows. Damaged units rot, plants grow poorly and look oppressed in spring.
In order not to appear rodents, it is necessary:
- do not leave curtains;
- to cover the crocuses during the winter with branches;
- use ultrasonic repellers.
Important! To protect against rodents, plants are planted in baskets. On damaged corms, the buds will not tie.
Slug
Shellfish are harvested from sites regardless of the presence of saffron. You can fight them with special preparations or surround the bulbs with coarse sand.
Note! Proper planting and care for crocuses do not guarantee protection against rodents and insects, you need to resort to preventive measures in advance.
Slugs - Dangerous Crocus Pests in the Open Field
Difficulties in growing
When buying, you must specify what kind of planting material. If you plant early spring on the plot, you can not see the flowering, as saffron will bloom in March.
Why crocuses did not bloom:
- violation of the development cycle - the bulbs were dug up earlier than the set time;
- deciduous cover removed prematurely - the greens should dry completely;
- non-compliance with the regime during the storage of planting material. You need to start with a high temperature, gradually reducing to low at the last stage;
- no flowering - the plot was reborn. Crocuses are planted if grown for several years in one place.
Crocuses, planting and care in the open ground for which will not be a big hassle, bloom very effectively. Knowing the rules of agricultural technology will help to avoid mistakes when growing. A flower bed with home flowers will decorate the site in spring or autumn.
