Ranunculus is a little octopus corm in the buttercup family of Ranunculaceae. There are estimated to be about 1800 species in this family and we love many of them. Ranunculus has beautiful, multi-layered, thin petals that come in an array of colors - cream to yellow, pink to burgundy, with shades of peach and orange in between. They are stunning.
They’re also a bit fussy about their preferred temperature, water, and lighting needs. The end result of getting it right is worth it though! Rare in the home garden, flower farmers will dedicate time and care for this plant, which, because of their beauty and varied hues, are a must-have for weddings and high-end bouquets.
To sprout them, we start by soaking the corms for 2 hours, then place them on potting soil in large trays. The trays are covered and held in a 43 degree cooler until roots form. In about 2 to 3 weeks the corms will be ready for planting, unless the soil was not wet enough…fine line between sprouting and rotting, let this farmer warn you.
Tulips are in the family Liliaceae, however they share an affinity for the finickiness of ranunculi. Lucky for us, they also prefer planting at the same time of year. Easier to take care of finicky plants in numbers. So, while the corms are soaking, the tulip bulbs will be placed in crates, then watered. Similar, but not quite enough to be roommates with ranunculi, the tulips are placed in our 38 degree cooler for 2 months. We’ll have 12 crates cooling in all. Starting at the end of January, we will begin taking out 2 crates per week to go in our greenhouse. It is an experiment we’re trying to have tulips over a longer period of time. The results should be interesting. Tulips have such vibrant colors and offer a great architectural quality to arrangements.
Meanwhile, we prepared the studio for Christmas decor merry-making, which has given the farm such a cozy holiday feeling. Thanksgiving centerpieces, fresh herb arrangements, and evergreen wreaths have decked our shelves for the last week, and we love it. We’ve also really enjoyed speaking with you as you’ve stopped by to pick up pre-orders, or to shop in person. One of the best parts of this job is being part of your celebrations through decorating your holidays. We treasure it.
Wishing you the coziest Thanksgiving weekend,
Lis & Tim
