Buttercup: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you plant ranunculus?
This advice concerns Persian buttercup, Ranunculus asiaticus, sold as small clusters of claw-like tuberous roots. It does not apply to meadow buttercups or aquatic ranunculus. Choose a bright position and fertile soil that stays moist during growth but drains well. Persistently saturated soil encourages rot.
Match planting to your climate. In autumn, start the claws in containers under cool, bright protection, shielding them from damaging frost. Autumn planting directly into the garden is not suitable everywhere. In spring, wait for conditions that permit establishment without severe frost. Plants started under protection can gradually be acclimatised before moving outside once frost risk has passed.
Rehydrate the claws according to the supplier's directions before planting. Position the fingers pointing downwards, not upwards as with a tulip bulb. In a container, cover them with about five centimetres of free-draining compost, following the tuber supplier's instructions and leaving space between the clusters. Provide drainage holes and sufficient airflow around the growing plants.
Water to moisten without soaking. Monitor establishment, slugs and excessive moisture afterwards. For a plant already growing in a pot, retain its previous planting depth and handle the roots gently. Do not plant every type of ranunculus using the same method: check which plant you have first.
When does the buttercup flower?
