Graceful anemones, or simply anemones, whose name is translated as “daughter of the wind”, can decorate the garden from early spring to autumn. Only not due to repeated flowering, but because of the variety of forms. The genus Anemone belongs to the buttercup family and consists of 150 species. Anemones grow throughout the Northern Hemisphere, in temperate climates. Their range extends from the Mediterranean to the Arctic.
It is clear that with such a range of natural habitats, different species of anemones have different rearing and housing requirements. Yes, they look a little like each other. For example, a modest graceful forest anemone about 10-15 cm tall is very different from the exquisite one and a half meter Hubei anemone. The most beautiful and capricious is considered to be difficult to grow crowned. She has many cultivars and hybrids, the number of which is growing every year. Of course, the question arises of how anemones behave in winter. After all, the area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbtheir growth is large, and the content in the cold season cannot be the same.
Do I need to dig up anemone in the fall? By winter hardiness, anemones are divided into those that are able to survive the cold season in the open field, and require storage in a room with a positive temperature.
rhizome anemones
In the conditions of Central Our Country, the rhizomatous anemone is covered with a layer of peat or fallen leaves and left in the soil. In the south, it does not even need to be mulched. In the spring, anemones quickly build up the above-ground part, bloom on time, and in the fall they go to rest, without causing unnecessary trouble to the owners.
Anemones with tuberous rhizomes
This is not how an anemone behaves, equipped with a tuber, which grows naturally in southern Europe. Most species should be dug up for the winter even in the Krasnodar Territory and Ukraine, with the exception of the Black Sea coast.
Tuberous anemones
Let’s take a closer look at tuber anemones, at least the most beautiful and popular species. We will find out whether it is necessary to dig them out, or whether preparation for winter can be done in another way.
anemone apennine
The birthplace of this anemone is the deciduous forests of southern Europe, the Balkans. She needs soils rich in humus under the canopy of trees or large shrubs. Flowering occurs in early spring, and light partial shade provides a brighter color of the buds.
Apennine anemone reaches a height of 15 cm, single blue flowers up to 3 cm in diameter are located on strong peduncles. Irregularly shaped tubers withstand frosts up to 23 degrees. Anemone of this species looks especially beautiful in solid plantings, so digging them is not recommended. It is better to cover the soil with a thick layer of mulch, and in regions with a particularly harsh climate, use spunbond and spruce branches.
The Apennine anemone has many garden forms that differ in the color of the flowers and the number of petals.
Caucasian anemone
This anemone, despite the name, is more resistant to cold than the previous one. It grows in the alpine belt of the Caucasus Mountains, slightly below the eternal snows. There is no need to dig an anemone for the winter, it is enough to mulch the soil well.
Outwardly, it looks like an Apennine anemone, but prefers open places and poor watering. It grows up to 10-20 cm, blue flowers reach a diameter of 3 cm, with the beginning of summer the aerial part dies off.
Anemone tender
Light-loving and drought-resistant anemone up to 15 cm high can withstand up to 25 degrees below zero. It is not necessary to dig up its tubers, and if planted under the protection of trees or shrubs, you can limit yourself to a light shelter for the winter.
The birthplace of this anemone is the countries of Asia Minor, the Balkans and the Caucasus. It attracts attention with blue flowers up to 3,5 cm in diameter. There are garden forms of lavender, pink, white or red color, there are bicolor varieties.
garden anemone
White, red or pink anemone flowers 5 cm in diameter bloom in early spring. A bush with openwork leaves reaches a height of 15-30 cm. These beautiful anemones need to be dug up after the aerial part dies off. It is better not to delay this, because already in the summer you will not find a place where the anemone grew. If you do not get the tubers out of the ground, they will freeze in winter.
Anemone sparkling
Only rare lucky ones can boast that this graceful guest from the southern regions of Spain and France grows in their garden. This anemone is a natural (natural) hybrid of peacock anemone and garden anemone. Its tubers need to have time to dig out before the aerial part completely dies off in the summer.
Bright red flowers with contrasting black stamens reach 4 cm and bloom with the advent of heat. The bush reaches a size of 10-30 cm.
Crowned anemone
This is the most spectacular of the anemones, both tuberous and rhizomatous. But the capricious nature and the absolute inability to withstand frost are attached to the stunning beauty, so the question of how to preserve this anemone in winter is by no means idle. She is called the queen of spring flowers and it is probably difficult to name a person who has not tried to plant a crown anemone on his site at least once. Under natural conditions, it grows in the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
The crown anemone is grown for cutting all year round in greenhouses. Most of the bulbs on the market belong to numerous varieties or hybrids of this species. It is difficult to grow it, but the efforts pay off with the unusual catchy beauty of flowers up to 8 cm in diameter. They can be simple, terry, of a wide variety of colors – from white to dark purple, bicolor.
The height of the crown anemone surpasses other tuberous species, it grows up to 45 cm. The bulbs are also large – up to 5 cm in diameter. They must be dug up for the winter, stored, and then planted at the right time directly into the ground or in pots for forcing or transplanting to a flower bed.
Digging and storing anemone tubers
As you can see, it is not always necessary to dig up anemones with tuberous rhizomes, but they should be well covered for the winter.
When to dig up anemone tubers
All anemones, the rhizomes of which are tubers, have a short growing season. They bloom, produce seeds, and then their aerial part dries up. If you do not rush to dig, they simply will not be found. Well, if the species winters in your latitudes. You can mulch the landing site and calm down on this. And if not? It is a pity to lose a beautiful spring flower.
Once the anemone leaves are dry, dig them out of the ground. If you know that you won’t be able to do it in time, for example, you are leaving, you are not always on the site, or for any other reason, mark the landing site with sticks or twigs stuck in the ground. Then, at the first opportunity, the nodules can be dug up and sent for winter storage.
How to prepare anemones for storage
After you get the anemone tubers out of the ground, cut off the aerial part, rinse them and soak in a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate or foundation solution for 30 minutes. This is necessary in order to destroy pathogens.
Where and how to store anemone tubers
At home, anemone tubers go through three stages of storage:
- immediately after disinfection, spread the anemones in one layer to dry in a well-ventilated area at a temperature of about 20 degrees;
- after 3-4 weeks, place them in a linen, paper bag or in a wooden box filled with sawdust, peat, sand until October;
- the rest of autumn and winter, anemones need to be stored at a temperature of 5-6 degrees Celsius.
When it’s time to germinate the anemone or prepare it for planting, you’ll bring out dry, shriveled balls that will turn into beautiful flowers in a few months.
Conclusion
Even if it seemed to you that it was troublesome to dig up and store tuberous anemones, think about rhizomatous varieties that require minimal shelter. They are not as spectacular, but have their own unique beauty.