Crocuses - “winter awakening”: planting and care. Which crocuses to choose? Time frame for planting a flower in open ground

It’s best to start a conversation about the crocus flower with its definition. Crocuses belong to the genus of perennial low-growing corms of the iris family. In the literature on decorative floriculture, the plant has the Latin name Crocus. It is often called saffron (see Wikipedia).

As soon as the snow begins to melt, the first harbingers of spring appear in the thawed patches - small-bulbous plants, and in the first rows are spring crocuses. The flowers bloom in early to mid-April after the snowdrops and often before the first leaves appear.

The flowers look upward, goblet-shaped with six petals. It blooms for a short time, from a week to 20 days. And how much inspiration and joy they bring to our country life when the first and favorite ones have not yet bloomed.

Spring crocuses - description and types

If crocuses are spring-blooming, then their flowering begins from early April to May inclusive. With an understanding of the area globe you live. Spring saffron is a herbaceous perennial bulbous plant that reaches a height of 15 cm.

The aboveground stem does not develop. The leaves are dark green with a silvery longitudinal stripe.

Flower with a long tube, bell-shaped and funnel-shaped. The outer perianth lobes reach a length of 3.5 cm. They are larger than the inner ones.

From one corm, 1-2 flowers develop, yellow, purple or white, sometimes striped. The flower's throat is pubescent. The anthers are lemon yellow.

Types of spring crocuses

1. Alataevsky (Crokus alatavikus)

One bulb produces 1-3 flowers. The inside of the flower is white with a yellowish throat. Flower height 6-8 cm. Blooms in early April.

2. Spring (Crokus vernus)

The plant reaches a height of 17 cm. 1-2 flowers emerge from the bulb, purple or white, sometimes striped. Blooms in spring 20-25 days. The mother corm is replaced annually with a new one.

3. Golden (Crokus chrysanthus)

The flowers are golden-yellow, up to 20 cm high, sometimes with tan marks or stripes on the outside. Blooms in April for 15-20 days.

4. Narrow-leaved (Crokus angustifolius)

The plant is low-growing, 15 cm high. It blooms almost simultaneously with the golden crocus.

5. Reticulated (Crokus reticulatus)

One bulb produces 2-4 flowers 6-10 cm high. It blooms in the first half of April for 25 days.

6. Large-flowered Dutch hybrids

They grow up to 15 cm in height. Very large flowers of various colors - from white and all shades of yellow to blue and dark purple. Let's look at some of them:

• Joan of Arc (white)

• Sky Blue (blue)

• Queen of Blue (light purple)

• Striped Beauty (striped, purple and white)

Autumn crocuses and their types

When there are no more flowers around, the time for autumn crocuses to bloom comes. They bloom from early September to late October. Common types:

• Beautiful

The height of the flower reaches 20 cm. The flowers are large with longitudinal veins on goblet-shaped petals. Colors may vary, for example lilac

or white,

or purple.

• Dolinny

This is a small plant with medium-sized flowers, mostly white.

Just like the beautiful crocus, it is unpretentious to growing conditions and does not require a special approach.

If they grow in valleys, then on summer cottage they will feel good and cozy.

How to plant and replant a crocus flower

Crocus flower is an unpretentious frost-resistant plant. The place for planting it should be dry, well lit and warm enough by the sun.

Partial shade and planting under a tree are allowed.

Landing

To plant bulbs, you need light, nutritious, well-drained soil with the addition of sand and not large quantity mature compost or old humus.

Acidic soils, wetlands and fresh manure. Plants tolerate mineral fertilizers well. The first fertilizing is done in the snow in early spring, and the second - during flowering.

Crocus plants that bloom in spring should be planted and replanted in September-October, and those that bloom in autumn should be planted and replanted in July-August. The planting depth depends on the size of the bulbs: large - 8-10 cm, medium - 4-6 cm, small and children - 2-3 cm.

The distance between the bulbs is from 5 to 10 cm. Crocuses can grow in one place for more than 5 years, but it is advisable to replant them every 4 years in order to maintain the size of the flowers at the original level.

Crocuses can be planted under trees and bushes. As long as there are no leaves on these plants, the crocuses have enough light and time to bloom and form new bulbs. Then they will retire until next spring, and they will have no need for light.

Plant bulbs are planted on rocky and alpine hills, in borders, in flower pots and containers.

Spring crocuses can also be planted on the lawn. Then in early spring, instead of a black, unattractive patch, a lovely flower bed will appear in place of the lawn, which will have time to bloom by the time it is time to mow the lawn.

Along with crocuses, other early-flowering small-bulbous plants can be planted on the lawn: galanthus, chionodloxa, scilla (scylla), and pushkinia.

The growing grass will cover the leaves of the faded bulbs, and when you need to mow the lawn in mid-May, the leaves of these flowers will have already served their purpose and can be mowed.

It is better to plant them interspersed, more or less evenly throughout the entire lawn. All of these flowers, except Chionodoxa, grow quickly, and they will have to be dug out of the lawn at least once every 3-4 years and planted or partially removed.

The easiest way to do this is while the grass has not yet begun to grow, that is, at the time of flowering or immediately after it, since at this time they tolerate transplantation well.

Transfer

From each flat-round bulb several stems with one bud grow at once, and a small flowering bouquet opens.

About 10-12 days after flowering, the bulbs can be dug up, sorted and planted, although this will have to be done every 3-4 years, since they grow very quickly. Otherwise, the bulbs will begin to shrink and flowering will weaken.

Plants and bulbs are planted in sand sprinkled on fertile soil with a neutral reaction. Therefore, when planting in sand, you should add ash, about 1 teaspoon per bulb.

Do not rush to fertilize with nitrogen in spring. Although crocuses and cold-resistant plants can withstand frosts up to 6 degrees, nevertheless feed them after flowering is complete. mineral fertilizer, for example azophoska (use 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer per 10 liters of water per 10 square meters of planting).

When transplanting, the roots of the bulbs are slightly trimmed.

Reproduction

Corms and children need to be dug up after the leaves turn yellow in June-July.

For mass propagation, this can be done annually, since several new corms and children are formed in place of the old bulb every season.

Video on how to plant crocuses correctly in open ground

Care and control of diseases of saffron flower bulbs

Crocus (saffron) bulbs can be infected with viruses. which are carried by ticks and aphids. thrips.

Whitish spots appear on the buds, the leaves become deformed, stretching and curling at the ends. It is better to destroy a diseased plant, but viruses do not spread to seeds.

In warm and damp weather, the corm is affected by fungal diseases. White and pink spots, it becomes soft and does not germinate after planting.

Such bulbs must be destroyed, and the rest need to be disinfected by any available method before planting.

Yellowing leaves indicate bulb damage, poor drainage and improper growing conditions.

Crocuses don't get sick in any particular way, but they have dangerous enemies - mice. Leave bait for them even before the crocuses bloom. Or scatter coriander (cilantro) or anise seeds among the plantings or special fertilizer<<Шторм>> or<<Форет>>. That is if you don't have cats.

If there are cats, then there should be no mice.

Crocus is the Latin name decorative perennial, which has taken root along with saffron. A plant with a bright palette of colors is popular in gardening and is grown in greenhouses and at home using the forcing method. In nature, crocuses inhabited the center and south of Europe and the Caucasus. Crimea, most of Asia. Some species are endangered and are therefore listed in the Red Books of European countries. Low and medium-sized crops with narrow leaves and goblet-shaped flowers adorn the landscape of city parks and private plots in early spring and autumn.

Botanical description and distribution

The scientific name of the herbaceous, bulbous plant is saffron; from the photo, many people know it as a crocus. The culture belongs to the Iris or Iris family. The genus saffron has more than 80 species. The flower will grow from a bulb with a diameter of up to 3 cm. It can be spherical or flattened in shape. The outside of the bulb is covered with brown or reddish scales. A fibrous root is formed in its lower part. There is no aboveground stem, the leaves are narrow, linear, and rigid. From below they are covered with vaginal scales. Green foliage may appear before or after flowering. In many species, the basal leaves have a light longitudinal stripe.

Information. Saffron is one of the oldest cultivated plants. He was famous in Ancient Egypt several thousand years BC. e. Appeared in Europe in the 10th century. thanks to the Arabs. Latin word"crocus" means thread and is associated with elongated pistils. The Arabic name “saffron” is translated as yellow, it is associated with the coloring ability of the flower.

Flowers emerge one or two at a time from the corm itself. They are located on a leafless peduncle 7-25 cm long. The dimensions of the flower are various types range from 3 to 8 cm. The bud has 6 petals, blooming only in clear sunny weather. On a cloudy day, the buds are closed, but this does not diminish their beauty. A blooming crocus flower looks like a cup or a star. The stamens of the plant are attached to the pharynx of the perianth; the style (part of the pistil) has three stigmas that serve to catch pollen. Stigma is the most valuable part of the plant; when dried, it is a food coloring, medical raw material and the famous spice - saffron.

Information. Saffron sativum is cultivated to collect stigmas. The plant is sterile because it was obtained by crossing several species.

Based on the color of flowers, natural species are divided into two groups: yellow-flowered (color from light yellow to orange) and blue-flowered (violet, lilac, blue). Cultivated varieties are more varied in color; two-colored specimens have been bred. In terms of popularity in gardening, crocuses are second only to tulips and daffodils.

Saffron - uses of the plant

Dried saffron stigmas have long been used as a spice with a specific aroma and bitter taste. Today, 90% of the crop is grown in Iran. The spice is used in cooking for preparing rice, peas, and soups. It indicates a preservative effect, keeping the dish fresh for several days.

Information. In ancient times, saffron was valued more than gold and 15 times more expensive than black pepper. And not surprisingly, to prepare 1 kg of stigmas, it was necessary to manually process 200 thousand flowers.

Saffron stigmas are used in medicine. Compositions based on them have antispasmodic and stimulating effects. In folk recipes, dried stigmas are used as an analgesic and diuretic. They increase appetite. Medical properties are manifested thanks to chemical composition plants. The following was found in the stigmas:

• essential oil;
• gum;
• vitamins;
• crocin dye;
• fatty oil;
• flavonoids.

The stigmas contain a coloring substance used in Food Industry. The natural compound crocin allows you to give a yellow tint to cheeses, liqueurs, dough, and soft drinks.

Varieties of crocuses

Numerous photos of crocuses prove their importance decorative use in the design of gardens and home interiors. This is one of the first crops to bloom in spring in open ground. All types of crocuses were divided into 15 broad groups, 14 of them include plants that bloom in spring, autumn varieties are collected in one group.

Spring flowering (April-May)

At the beginning of spring, without waiting for the snow to completely melt, crocuses bloom in the garden. In open ground they are grown in flower beds, lawns, and alpine hills. Already in April, the primrose opens cup-shaped buds on a short peduncle. Leaves may appear after flowering. They are narrow, green in color, and may have a light stripe in the middle. A month after the flower a seed pod appears on the surface.

Spring crocus (Crocus Vernus) is a herbaceous plant 15-17 cm high. The flower is funnel-shaped, white or lilac color, anther yellow. The mother bulb is renewed annually. 1-2 flowers grow from it. Most often planted in gardens Dutch hybrids. In total, about 50 varieties of the crop are registered. Based on color, they are divided into three groups: white, mesh and plain (lilac, violet and others). Flowering lasts a little more than two weeks.

Among the common varieties:

• "Remeberance" - large flowers with a diameter of more than 5 cm of a purple hue with a silvery sheen;
• "Pickwick" - petals are rounded, light lilac with gray veins;
• "Snowstor" - round flowers with a diameter of 5 cm, snow-white with purple stripes at the base;
• "Nigro Boy" is a dark purple flower with a purple base and is distinguished by late blooming - in May.

Golden-flowered crocus (Crocus chrysanthus) – height up to 20 cm. The leaves are narrow, appear in early April along with yellow flowers. The bulb is spherical, slightly flattened. The perianth lobes bend outward.

There are varieties:

• Snowbunting - with white petals and a golden center;
• Blue pearl - blue with yellow bases;
• Lady killer - purple on the outside and white on the inside;
• Blue Bonnet 0 blue petals with a yellow spot in the throat.

Heyfel's Crocus (Crocus heuffelianus) is named after the Hungarian botanist J. Heyfel. This species is common in the Carpathians. Plant height is 10-19 cm, the corm is round. The leaves are linear with curled edges. There is a silver stripe in the center. The petals are purple, less often white. Darker on the outside. Flowering period - 25 days.

Saffron (Crocus reticulatus) – rare view, listed in the Red Book. Found in Central and Eastern Europe, Crimea, Transcaucasia. Height 15 cm, bulb spherical. The leaves become significantly longer after flowering. The color is white or purple, with purple stripes on the outside of the petals.

Tomasini saffron (Crocus tomasinianus) is one of the earliest spring varieties. The plant is unpretentious and thrives in shaded areas. The height of the crocus is 7-8 cm, the diameter of the flower is 2-4 cm, this is one of the most miniature species. The color of the petals is lilac, purple, white. It grows easily in any conditions and is often found in parks.

• “Lilac beauty” - purple petals;
• “Ruby Giant” - large star-shaped flowers have a purple-violet color;
• "Roseus" - soft pink and white petals.

Autumn-blooming (September-October)

A large group of decorative crocus blooms in the fall, like the last chord of a fading garden. Autumn crocuses are low and compact; they are used in border plantings along paths. Bright flowers look great at the foot of trees and shrubs. Saffron, which blooms in September, decorates the rocky alpine coaster. Often the crop is grown in pots and flowerpots. Flowers decorate the entrance area, window sills, and terrace in picturesque groups. Among the autumn species:

Beautiful crocus (Crocus speciosus) is one of the largest autumn crocuses. Its leaves reach 30 cm, the diameter of the flowers is 7-8 cm. The color is lilac, purple with dark veins. The petals are symmetrical with pointed tips. Flowering continues for a month. The number of leaves is 2-4, length is up to 40 cm. The stigmas contain a dye.

Garden forms:

• Albrus - white petals;
• Artabir - a variety with blue inflorescences and purple veins;
• Oxinan – distinguished by pointed petals, slightly bent back, color – purple.

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a plant that is not found in the wild and is propagated by humans. It is cultivated for its stigmas, which are used as a popular spice. Height herbaceous plant 12-30 cm. The bulb is spherical with fibrous roots. Fragrant large flowers come in white, purple and yellow. They consist of 6 folding petals. The stigmas are long, red, hanging between the petals.

Pallas saffron (Crocus pallasii) - narrow green leaves emerge from the ground in April, and flowering does not begin until September. Spectacular buds up to 5 cm in diameter, light purple in color with purple veins. Stigmas are yellow. It grows naturally in Transcaucasia.

Hill or valley crocus (Crocuse vallicola) is a miniature plant 6-12 cm. It grows in Asia Minor and Transcaucasia in mountain meadows. The corm is flat, covered with a fibrous shell. The leaves appear in the spring and dry out by summer. The petals are white, the stigmas are short and orange.

Banat crocus (Crocus banaticus) is a large species that grows in deciduous forests and meadows of Eastern Europe. Height 15-30 cm, leaves are thin, flowers are pale lilac or purple. Each bulb produces up to two flowers. The three inner petals are significantly smaller than the three outer ones. The plant was first described in 1831 by the French scientist J. E. Ge. Crocus is listed in the Red Book in Serbia and Ukraine.

Growing Crocuses

Regardless of the flowering time, decorative saffron is grown using the same technology. A sunny place with loose, well-drained soil is chosen for it. The soil should be fertile, neutral, structured with an admixture of sand. The composition of the soil can be improved by adding compost and humus before planting. Per sq. m will require 15 kg of compost and 100 g of superphosphates, which ensure abundant flowering. Plants overwinter in the ground.

Attention. Saffron is grown in one place for 4-6 years.

Landing

Crocus or saffron, which blooms in the spring, is planted in the fall, and autumn varieties are planted in late summer. Before planting, the bulbs are inspected, choosing only healthy material. Autumn flowers planted in groups of 5, at a distance of 5-6 cm from each other. In light soil they are buried to a depth twice the height of the bulb. After a few years, each bulb produces many children, the flowers form a continuous carpet, but due to crowding, the size of the buds decreases. It is recommended to plant the plants in other areas.

Care

Saffron requires minimal care: watering, loosening the soil and weeding. There is no need to moisten flowers often; weather conditions must be taken into account. Excess moisture– a fertile environment for fungal infections. After flowering, faded leaves and flowers are cut off, the bulbs are left in the ground or dug up for drying and sorting.

Reproduction

The best way to propagate crocuses is by daughter bulbs. They are dug up and dried for 2-3 months in a well-ventilated area at room temperature. Then they clean off old roots and exfoliated scales. Spoiled copies are immediately thrown away. You can propagate saffron by seeds, but this method does not always preserve varietal characteristics and delays the flowering time by 2-3 years. Autumn crocus is a plant that does not always have time to produce a ripe seed pod before the onset of cold weather.

The saffron flower is insect-pollinated or self-pollinating. Its fruit grows and ripens underground, and is thrown to the surface already formed, ready to open. Seeds of spring-flowering varieties are planted in the ground in the fall or in spring in containers for seedlings.

Growing crocuses does not create difficulties or problems with care, and the bright blooms will be a wonderful accent of the garden.

In early spring, as soon as the snow melts, the crocus blooms - a flower whose second name is saffron.

This bulbous plant of the Iris family is native to the tropics, but also thrives in harsher climates.

Delicate, exquisite flowers appear almost the very first in sunny areas freed from snow.

But they bloom not only in spring, but also in autumn. Caring for crocuses does not require any special skills.

This plant is suitable for those gardeners who live outside the city and have the opportunity to admire its early flowering. After all, it blooms for a very short time - no more than 7 - 10 days.

In such a short period of time, it can be difficult for city dwellers to get out to their dachas in order to catch the saffrons blooming. Crocuses that do not require planting and care in open ground special effort, are an unpretentious and disease-resistant crop.

In early spring, the plant does not need the care of gardeners. However, a number of agricultural technology features will have to be observed, otherwise flowering may not occur.

Saffron prefers sunny places, protected from cold winds if possible. Growing crocuses comes down to choosing the right planting location.

The more illuminated area provided to the plant, the larger the flowers will be.

The plant prefers fertile soil with a neutral reaction. Light loams are best suited for them, but crocuses can tolerate heavier soils. The main thing is that there is no stagnation of moisture.

Crocus propagation

The culture is most often propagated by daughter bulbs. They are formed from dormant buds, which are present in the axils of the scales covering the crocus bulbs.

The vegetative propagation method is the most preferable, since it preserves all varietal characteristics.

Young bulbs grow annually near the old mother plant. Depending on the variety, their number can vary from 1 to 10 pieces. Daughter corms bloom after a season.

Seeds can also be used to grow crocuses in open ground. But this method is much more labor-intensive.

It is more often used by professional flower growers when breeding the latest varieties and hybrids, as well as for propagating rare varieties and obtaining a large number of bulbs at the same time.

Flowers from plants grown by seed can only be expected after 4 - 5 years.

Rules for planting crocuses in open ground

The best period for planting spring-flowering varieties is Aug. Sept. In the time remaining before the onset of cold weather, the bulbs will have time to take root.

But sometimes, when the weather is warm and dry, planting crocuses in the fall is acceptable even in early November.

Autumn-flowering varieties are planted from early July to early August.

Bulbs are planted according to the following rules:

• large specimens are embedded in the soil to a depth of 12 cm;
• medium bulbs deepen by 4 - 6 cm;
• small bulbs - no deeper than 2 - 3 cm;
• the distance between individual corms should not be less than 3 cm (it is better to leave about 10-15 cm, since plantings thicken quickly).

Crocus bulbs have the ability to go deep into the soil on their own, forming retracting roots. Therefore, it is not necessary to strictly observe the embedment depth.

Seed material (from seeds prepared at the beginning of summer) is sown directly into the ground in the fall. During the winter months, the seeds undergo natural stratification; in the spring their germination will be better.

Forcing crocuses

Crocuses, like many bulbous plants, are often grown in room conditions by forcing method. You can get it quite easily flowering plant to the desired date (Christmas, March 8, etc.).

It is necessary to select bulbs of the same variety and approximately the same size, since they will bloom at the same time and the stems will be the same height. The larger the onion, the larger flower crocus and the sooner it will bloom.

Approximately 3 - 4 months before the expected date, the bulbs are planted in wide bowls with a soft, loose and permeable substrate so that they do not touch the walls of the container or each other.

Then the pots with crocuses should be stored in a room with a temperature of +5...+8°C. This could be a cellar, basement or even a refrigerator.

Within 8 - 10 weeks, rooting occurs and sprouts appear. When they reach a height of 4 - 6 cm, the pots are brought into a cool room with a temperature of about +10...+15°C and shaded with paper caps.

After 5 - 7 days, the covering can be removed and the crocuses placed on the windowsill in warm room. How better lighting, the larger the flowers.

If the room is too warm, the crocuses will quickly fade. To prolong flowering, the temperature should be maintained no higher than +15…+20°C.

After 2 - 3 weeks, the flower stalks will fall off, and the leaves will wither and gradually dry out. After the foliage has completely withered, the bulbs can be removed from the ground and, after allowing them to rest for 2 months, they can be planted again.

How to care for crocuses

Caring for these bulbous plants consists of: good choice planting sites, timely weeding, loosening, regular watering, etc.

Choosing a place for landing and transfer

The place intended for crocuses should be as sunny as possible. In heavily shaded areas, flowering will be weak.

If crocuses are planted and replanted in soil that is too heavy and does not absorb water well, then the soil must be drained.

To do this, you need to add fine expanded clay or coarse river sand to the soil and dig it well. Excess and stagnation of moisture has an extremely negative effect on plants.

It is advisable to fence the area with a low fence or decorative curb stone so as not to forget this place.

The fact is that when the foliage dries completely, the bulbs are quite difficult to find. Moreover, over time they go deep into the ground.

Fertilizer and feeding

There is no need to fertilize crocus corms immediately after planting them in well-prepared soil.

However, if the bulbs are not dug up, the soil is gradually depleted, and mineral potassium-phosphorus fertilizers will be required.

Phosphorus has a positive effect on flowering, there will be more buds and they will be larger. Potassium helps the formation of healthy and large bulbs.

Nitrogen fertilizers have a detrimental effect on crocuses, as they can provoke the development of fungal diseases.

During the growing season, the crop is fed 3 times:

1. When the first shoots appear, a potassium-phosphorus complex is added in a 1:2 ratio. The granules are simply scattered over the snow that has not yet melted.
2. During the mass ejection of buds - in a 1:1 ratio.
3. At the end of flowering - in a 1:1 ratio.

Crocuses do not tolerate fresh organic matter, but the use of humus and peat is allowed.

Watering

During active growth plants require a lot of moisture. But, since crocuses bloom early in the spring, nature itself takes care of this, providing the plantings with melted snow water.

There is no need to water them, because the crop is quite drought-resistant. In the future, watering is carried out only when the top layer of soil dries and as needed.

Why don't crocuses bloom?

The reason for the lack of flowering is often improper care of the crop. The reasons may be the following:

1. Long-term cultivation of crocuses in one place. The corms grow too much, become smaller, they become crowded, and they stop blooming.
2. The foliage was trimmed ahead of time after flowering, or the bulbs were dug up before the leaves completely dried out. The plant does not have time to gain enough nutrients.
3. The bulbs are planted too deeply or have sunk deep into the ground (if they are not replanted for a long time), and they do not have enough strength to flower.
4. Depleted soil.

Diseases and pests

At proper care Crocuses rarely get sick or are damaged by insects. If there are errors in maintenance, they can be affected by fungal infections: gray and white rot (sclerotial), fusarium.

All affected material must be destroyed, and for prevention purposes, the corms are soaked for 20 minutes in a fungicidal solution.

It is necessary to carefully select planting material and when digging, try not to accidentally damage the bulbs. Damaged areas are treated with crushed ash.

Plants are occasionally damaged by wireworms (larvae of click beetles).

To collect pests, traps are set up from tufts of wet grass, hay or straw laid out around the area, covered with boards.

After a few days, the traps with crawled larvae are burned. With excessive moisture, slugs may appear on the crop, which are simply collected by hand.

Crocus bulbs are often attacked by hares, mice and other rodents.

Caring for crocuses after flowering

Crocuses fade quickly, but the leaves remain green for some time. Peduncles can be cut off as soon as the flowers fade, if you do not plan to collect seeds.

The foliage is not touched until completely dry. At this time, a renewal bud is laid and formed inside the bulb. If you cut the leaves ahead of time, this process will be disrupted.

If this is not required yet, then the flowers are left in the ground without any care. It is also necessary to dig up crocuses after flowering if they plan to plant them in another place in the fall.

The bulbs are removed from the ground, dried in a shaded place, and cleaned of remaining soil, scales and old roots.

Sick and damaged specimens are rejected. Healthy bulbs are stored until autumn at a temperature of +18...+ 22°C in a regularly ventilated area.

Spring-flowering varieties of crocus are dug up from about the second half of June to mid-August.

Plants that bloom in autumn should be removed from the soil between the end of May and the end of July, since their vegetative cycle is different and the dormant period begins earlier.

It must be remembered that all manipulations with corms (digging, planting) are best done when they are at rest.

Wintering crocuses

During the winter months, crocus bulbs remain in the ground; they can easily withstand frosts down to -20°C.

In regions with more severe climatic conditions It is recommended to cover them with spruce branches, branches or dry leaves.

The best varieties of crocuses

Many varieties and varieties of crocus have been bred. Hybrids with large flowers are especially popular.

Some of them will be discussed below:

1. Albus. snow white flower up to 7 cm in diameter, with a creamy center. Blooms in September - October.
2. Artabir. The plant is up to 18 cm high, with large (about 12 cm) sky-blue flowers. Autumn blossom.
3. Pickwick. The flowers are about 4 - 6 cm in size, light purple in color with purple stripes, with large yellow stamens. It blooms quite late in the spring.
4. Grand Mater. The flowers are goblet-shaped, up to 4 cm in size, the petals are a rich dark purple color and pointed at the top. Spring flowering variety.
5. Saturnus. Flat, wide-open, creamy-yellow flowers with bright orange stigmas, up to 3.5 cm in girth. A hybrid that blooms in spring.
6. Marietta. The spring flower is lemon or light yellow in color, the oval petals are mottled on the outside with thin stripes of a dark brown hue.
7. Blue Pearl. Small (about 2 cm) delicate white-bluish flowers with a yellow center. Blooms early in spring.

The crocus saffron itself, from the stamens of which the spice is made, is called sativus. It belongs to the autumn-flowering varieties.

Crocus, aka saffron

While flower growers call this flower “crocus,” chefs know it better as saffron.

The crocus consists of a corm, a leaf rosette and the flower itself, and it was one of the parts of the flower that gave the plant its name, since it came from Greek word“thread” – “kroke”. And saffron, that is, crushed dry crocus stigmas, is one of the most expensive and sought-after spices, so cooks around the world owe a great debt to the modest spring flower

The height of crocuses is small - 10-15 cm. Each plant is a compact bush, and that is why it makes sense to plant corms in groups of several pieces. And if there is an opportunity to plant small area crocuses of different shades, placing them close to each other, you will get a living carpet of rare beauty.

By the way, crocuses are flowers of forest glades and caring for crocuses is quite simple. They grow well in open, lighted areas.

Crocuses are convenient because after they wither, any annuals with a shallow root system can be sown in their place. It is better to do this while the leafy part of the crocuses has not yet dried, but remember: when weeding summer flowers, try not to damage the crocus corms located in the ground.

Varieties of crocuses

Depending on where they grow, crocuses differ in color, shape and flowering time. I have already mentioned that crocuses are widely represented in the wild - in the forests of Europe, in the Pyrenees and Alps, in the Crimea, in the Balkans and in Asia Minor, India, as well as in Hungary, Romania and the countries of the former Yugoslavia.

Growing crocuses in home floriculture is mainly limited to large-flowered and hybrid species. Their colors are varied. Among the popular varieties there are both single-color crocuses (white, blue, purple, yellow, light blue) and two-color ones.

Flower growers mainly breed spring crocuses , but there are also late-flowering species of crocuses in cultivation. They bloom in late August - September.

Crocus bulbs of early flowering varieties should be purchased in the summer and planted in September-October.

But also different varieties For spring crocuses, flowering times may vary by 2-3 weeks. And their mass flowering lasts about 10-14 days, although the duration of flowering is directly dependent on the weather.

Saffron is a perennial corm plant from the Iris or Kasatikov family. In floriculture it is called crocus. Crocus is used in landscape design How ornamental plant. Dried stigmas of saffron flowers are used as a spice and orange food coloring. In the food industry, saffron is used to color cheeses, liqueurs, butter and soft drinks. There are some known health benefits of this plant.
Crocus is a spring flower that blooms even earlier than the tulip, but its flowering lasts only a short time - about 10 days. It’s not for nothing that we associate spring pictures with crocuses. By planting crocuses in a flowerbed, you will get delicate and beautiful flowers (pictured) that will delight the eye with bright colors, and we will discuss planting recommendations and caring for them below.

Homeland: Mediterranean, Central Europe, Asia, Middle East.

Flowering: early spring or autumn - depends on the species.

Height: short.

Light: open sunny location.

Temperature: during the day 14 to 16 °C, and at night -1 to -3 °C.

Feeding: at perennial plantings- three times per season, annuals - fertilizing the soil before planting.

Transfer: mid-summer.

Reproduction: Children, seeds. Sowing in autumn. They emerge the following spring and begin to bloom in the fourth year.

Varieties of crocuses

The genus of crocuses is very numerous, there are more than 80 species, half of which are grown in decorative purposes. Crocus flower - in the photo picture:

Crocuses are classified according to a rather complex scheme. The main parameters for classifying crocuses are:

• Flowering time -

spring and autumn blooming.

• Flower color -

yellow-flowered and blue-flowered. The exceptions are golden and white, bred artificially.

• Separation according to botanical characteristics -

small-flowered and large-flowered are Dutch hybrids, which are obtained from spring crocus.

Let's look at the most popular types.

• Crocus sativa (C. sativus)

An industrial variety, the famous spice “saffron” is obtained from its flowers. Crocus reaches a height of 10-30 cm. The flowers are white or light purple with a very pleasant violet scent. India, the main country for the production of saffron, is considered to be the birthplace of the flower (see photo pictures).

• Crocus Pallas (C. pallasii) -

low-growing variety (5-6 cm), light purple flowers with pink tint, base purple. The corolla of the flower is about 4.5 cm.

Blooms in September and blooms throughout the month. It grows naturally in Asia, the Balkans and Crimea.

• Crocus Sharoyan (C. scharojanii) -

The flowers are bright orange and bloom in late August.

• Beautiful crocus (C. speciosus) -

one of the most popular types. The flowers are large (up to 12 cm in diameter), violet-blue, with veins of a darker shade. The flowers are fragrant (see photo pictures).

Autumn flower, blooms in September. IN natural environment grows in Crimea, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Asia.

• Scottish crocus or two-flowered (C. biflorus) -

This crocus has purple or red petals, which is quite rare for crocuses. It grows naturally in the Caucasus, Asia and southwestern Europe.

• Crocus Alexandri -

very original and decorative flower: snowy white inside, dark purple petals outside edged with a narrow white edge.

• (C. vernus) -

a widespread spring species, found in nature in Alpine meadows and the Pyrenees. Flowers up to 5 cm in diameter are lilac or violet in color (see photo pictures). It is this species that serves as the basis for selection different types crocuses

• Golden crocus (C. chrysanthus) -

blooms in April, its height is up to 20 cm, the leaves are narrow, the flowering period is up to 20 days. The natural color is golden yellow, however, many hybrids with two-color coloring have been obtained with it.

• Crocus Korolkova (C. korolkowii Maw ex Regel) -

The flower comes from Central Asia. It is bright yellow in color, with red outer stripes, up to 6 cm high. Russian breeders developed varieties based on it: Kiss of Spring, Glory to Samarkand, Tiger.

• (C. flavus Weston) -

blooms in April with golden-orange flowers up to 10 cm in diameter (see photo pictures). The height of the plant is about 20 cm. It is found in nature in the Balkans and Asia Minor. U hybrid variety Largest Yellow flowers are even larger, cup-shaped, dark yellow, outside which has dark stripes.

• Crocus Sibera (C. sieberi) -

has a non-standard three-color coloring (light pink, purple, yellow). The plant is up to 10 cm high. Its homeland is mountainous Greece, Bulgaria and Macedonia.

• Flower Record (Flower Record) -

crocus, which is ideal for forcing with flowers of lilac-purple color.

• (C. tomasinianus) -

considered the most unpretentious primrose. It blooms in early April with pink-lilac flowers 3-5 cm (pictured). He doesn't require special care, grows even in shaded places, adapts well to any conditions. It grows naturally in Bulgaria and the Balkans.

Planting and care

Planting crocuses will require you to create the following conditions:

• The soil for crocus should be fertile and loose. It is good to fertilize it with compost and manure. If you plan to plant crocuses in conditions clay soil Having fertilized it first, be sure to add sand.
• To grow large and beautiful crocus flowers, you need to plant it in the most illuminated place. Planting crocus in partial shade will result in smaller crocus flowers.

• Watering flowers should begin immediately after the first shoots appear. In order to ensure optimal moisture penetration, you need to lightly fluff up the soil before watering. Crocuses need to be watered regularly throughout the flowering period.
• There is almost no need to fertilize crocuses if the soil was fertilized before planting. But if you have them growing in one place for several years in a row, then it is advisable to feed them. For crocus, it is good to use phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Phosphorus promotes the formation of buds and prolongs flowering, and potassium helps the development of bulbs. The first fertilizing can be applied when the first sprout appears, or immediately before. The second can be applied at the moment the buds appear, the third - after the crocus has faded. The first feeding should contain more potassium.

Most crocuses are spring flowers, but there are also varieties that bloom in the fall.

Fall bulbs are planted in the summer, while spring crocuses should be planted in September or October.

• Large-caliber bulbs sink 12 cm into the ground, small ones - 5 cm.
• The distance between flowers should be 5 cm. But, if you want to dig up the bulbs every year, then the distance between them can be reduced to 3 cm.

In summer, crocus leaves wither and dry out, so they need to be removed. Crocuses are frost-resistant, but if the winters in your region are harsh, then better plants cover with spruce branches.

• When planting crocus as an annual, dig up the bulbs better in summer. The dug up bulbs should be cleaned of dry leaves, calibrated and removed. Bulbs are stored at 18-22 degrees and preferably with access to air.

Crocuses are flowers that can be grown at home. But care and planting, accordingly, are slightly different.

Crocus in the apartment

To grow crocus at home, you need to select certain planting material. There are many varieties of crocus, but not everyone likes to live indoors.

Large-flowered Dutch hybrid crocuses feel best in a pot. This type of crocus will produce a large and spectacular color, as in the photo:

If we talk in more detail about the varieties, then we need to focus on the flowering time.

If you want the crocus to give color for the New Year, then choose early varieties, and if you want to get flowering by May, then late ones.

The home crocus, its size, appearance and flowering, will also depend on the size of the planting material.

It is better to grow indoor flowers from bulbs no smaller than 5 cm in size. The larger the bulb, the sooner the crocus will give color.

Indoor crocuses are often grown in pots: white Joan of Arc (see photo pictures), lilac Remembrance, blue Vangart.

It is advisable to buy bulbs in August.
Care different varieties crocuses grown at home are the same.

Planting and growing crocus in a pot, according to the conditions, should be close to natural. This means that an indoor crocus must go through the following stages:

• If the bulbs are dug out of the ground, then they must be calibrated and dried.
• Cooling the bulbs. This stage should also be applied to purchased bulbs. To cool, place the planting material in the refrigerator. The later you need a flowering indoor crocus, the longer the cooling should continue.
• Rooting is planting bulbs in pots. Crocus should be planted in loose soil. You can plant indoor crocuses in containers, several in each. Bulbs of the same variety and size should be planted in a container, close to each other. When planting, the bulbs need to be pressed slightly into the ground, leaving only a centimeter neck on the surface. After the bulbs are planted, the soil should be lightly compacted and the pots should be placed in a cool place with a temperature of 5-9 °C. Rooting lasts two to two and a half months. No maintenance is required.
• Forcing. Indoor crocuses should be grown 15 days before the desired flowering date. By this time they will have already taken root, as evidenced by 5-centimeter sprouts. For forcing, containers or pots should be moved to the windowsill. Having provided the conditions, you will receive an indoor flowering crocus within 14 days (see photos below). During forcing, flower care should consist of maintaining the desired temperature and watering. You need to water 3 times a week. Indoor crocuses tolerate dry air well - they do not need to be sprayed.
• Crocus blooms quickly at 20°C. After a few hours, the crocus may lose its color if it is not protected from the sun in time and the temperature is not reduced to 14 °C, and at night to -1 °C. If you provide such conditions for home crocuses, they will bloom for three weeks.

We told you how to grow crocuses both at home and in the garden, and now I would like to point out this fact: a crocus is not only a flower, but there is also such a thing as a crocus color. The crocus color is very popular in a brand like Milavitsa. Milavitsa is a well-known company producing lingerie. And the color crocus, of all the colors presented by the Milavitsa brand, has occupied a leading position for many years.

We bring to your attention a video about the types of crocuses and their cultivation.