Firmly RootedRanunculus - Part I

By Tori Carver

Ranunculus have been on my “want to grow” list since I began flower farming. This will be my fourth season so I thought it was high time to add this finicky flower to the line up.

If you are asking yourself, “why in the world did she wait so long”, let me explain. Ranunculus are an extremely finicky flower that prefer a Mediterranean climate. Ummmm, I’ve never heard the Northeast Georgia Mountains described as “Mediterranean like” so I completely shied away. For those wondering, a Mediterranean climate is characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. These idyllic conditions only occur in five regions of the world: California; Central Chile; the Mediterranean Basin; the Cape Region of South Africa; and South/Southwestern Australia. Nope, we’re not even close. The only thing we have going for us is the wet winters. Our summers are hot and humid and are rarely “dry”.

Every article, blog post, and book I read described this flower as finicky, temperamental, moody, sensitive, not-for-beginners, emotional, and maybe even a little neurotic. Wait, we are still talking about ranunculus, right? I digress.

Over the last season or two, I started seeing more and more flower farmers grow ranunculus who don’t live in a mediterranean climate either. I began to study their ways (a/k/a stalk them) in hopes of gleaning enough information so I could grow them too. I initially thought I had to have a hoop house (which I do not have), but I learned that small tunnels or caterpillar tunnels work well which is something totally doable for me.

So I ordered corms (ranunculus bulbs are called “corms”) and here we are…. growing ranunculus for the first time ever.

In true “Tori, just start small and grow a few” fashion, I planted between 1,500 and 2,000 in the Fall of 2022 and early Winter 2023 and have babied them every step of the way. My husband created hoops with PVC pipe and I covered them with 6 mil plastic. I uncovered them on warm days, covered them on cold nights, uncovered them when it rained, covered them when it rained too much, vented them on in-between days, uncovered them, covered them, vented them, uncovered them…. well, you get the idea. Growing in a caterpillar tunnel is not for the faint of heart!

I assumed growing ranunculus would prove to be as elusive as growing Sweet Peas or Poppies so I never got my hopes up, but I’m ecstatic to report it was a smashing success!! So many beautiful ranunculus this spring.

But the true test is whether or not I will grow them again next year. Besides being an incredibly beautiful and versatile flower that lasts well over two weeks in a vase, they filled the flower gap between tulips and peonies like a champ. They gave me the opportunity to have flowers the entire month of April and the first few weeks in May when we are normally in flower limbo. For so many reasons, ranunculus have won my heart and I’m forever a fan so I will most definitely grow them again!

Victoria (Tori) Carver is a flower farmer. From the thousand bulbs and plants that she puts in the ground each year she creates lovely bouquets. Many enjoy her flowers in their home each week. She has established a subscription program for her customers or a honor-system bouquet sales for random purchases. Tori and her husband and children make their home in Clayton, where they are a treasured part of the community. If you are interested in Firmly Rooted Flower Farm please reach out by email to firmlyrootedflowerfarm@gmail.com or phone 706-490-0041. You will also enjoy their website at www.firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com