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Crocuses: planting and care in the open field, planting dates
Crocus blooms in spring, it is one of the most beautiful primroses. But there are varieties that bloom in the fall. In order to admire the exquisite flowers with a bright yellow center of long stamens, you need to observe the planting dates and simple rules of care.
Brief description of the plant
Crocus is a herbaceous bulbous perennial from the iris family. Plant height does not exceed 10-15 cm. One root can grow 2 or 3 small tulip-shaped flowers with six petals. Green leaves are basal, linear, appear during or after flowering.
In crocuses, planting and care in the open field depends on the variety, spring flowers are planted in autumn
Crocuses contain the poisonous substance colchicine. Care should be taken to ensure that pets or children do not taste beautiful plants.
Depending on the color, crocuses are divided into yellow and blue varieties. Many varieties have been bred, in which the perianth can be cream, lemon, bright orange, white, pale blue or dark purple. All varieties are grouped into 15 main groups.
Another name for crocus – “saffron” is known to culinary experts all over the world. The dried flower stigmas are used as a spice and a valuable food coloring. To obtain the spice, the stigmas are harvested from the saffron.
Planting and caring for crocuses in the open field
For planting crocuses, it is better to choose a well-lit flower bed, although the plant can grow in the shade, but it will not please with abundant flowering. The soil for planting is nutritious, loose and dry. For drainage, river sand or fine gravel is introduced into the soil on the flower bed, and rotted compost or manure is used as fertilizer. The soil should be with a neutral or alkaline reaction of the environment, a little lime is added to the acidic soil.
Crocus planting dates depend on the type of flowers. Crocuses blooming in spring are planted in autumn, they do it in September, so that the bulbs have time to take root and form a renewal bud. Before the onset of cold weather, the planting site is covered with a layer of mulch, which will need to be removed in the spring. Crocuses blooming in autumn are planted in summer
The depth of planting the bulbs in the ground is at least 5 cm. The distance between the plants is 10 cm. It is not advisable to plant thicker, since the bulbs form many children. The children are seated, separating from the uterine bush every 5 years, digging in the summer; if this is not done, the flowers begin to shrink.
In September, flowers of crocus blooming in autumn begin to bloom. Their corms are planted in July or August, when the plant ends its summer dormant period and begins to grow in preparation for flowering.
Crocuses do not need regular watering and feeding, they have enough fertilizers applied during planting. It is not difficult to grow crocuses in the garden, all care consists in the correct planting – in autumn or summer.