Many gardeners admire the stunning flowers of ranunculus without realizing how easy they are to grow. Here in Zones 9 and 10, growing ranunculus from bulbs is simple—and every gardener should give it a try!

How to Buy Ranunculus Bulbs

Ranunculus bulbs, also known as “corms,” should ideally be purchased from a local source. Fortunately for us in San Diego, we are close to one of the largest ranunculus-growing areas in the United States: The Carlsbad Flower Fields! This stunning display of blooms showcases many varieties of ranunculus, anemones, and other bulb-planted flowers. It’s also one of the places where we can source hyper-local ranunculus bulbs.

Why Buy Local Ranunculus Bulbs

Purchasing ranunculus or any flowering bulbs locally helps reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions, while also providing healthier bulbs or corms. Since they’ve traveled a shorter distance, they are more likely to have been stored in better conditions.

How to Grow Ranunculus Bulbs

After sourcing your bulbs locally, it’s important to plant them as soon as possible and in the right season. In Zones 9 and 10, ranunculus and freesia bulbs should be planted in the fall due to our mild winters, which allow for early blooms. In fact, you can start planting as early as October and continue succession planting well into late spring. Ranunculus are cool-weather plants and thrive in cooler temperatures. You can extend the growing season by using shade cloth.

Before planting your ranunculus bulbs, rehydrate them by soaking in water for 1-4 hours. For an extra boost, add a splash of organic liquid fertilizer, like our Fish and Guano. Once rehydrated, they are ready to be planted in high-quality potting mix in your favorite containers. We recommend using containers so you can easily dig them up after the growing season.

No Need to Pre-Sprout

There’s no need to “pre-sprout” in Zones 9 and 10. Our growing season is one of the longest, so you don’t need to jumpstart it by pre-sprouting.

Ranunculus Care

Caring for your ranunculus plants is quite simple! They require regular watering and protection from the harshest western sun if you’re in a particularly hot area of Zones 9 and 10. After planting your ranunculus bulbs, you can sit back and wait for them to sprout while keeping an eye on their progress. They are not prone to disease if watered at the soil level and spaced correctly at about 9-12 inches apart. If space is limited, you can even plant them a little closer together. Before your plants bloom, when you notice small immature flower buds, is the ideal time to fertilize with a bloom fertilizer.

Cutting and Enjoying your Ranunculus flowers

Perhaps the hardest part of growing ranunculus is harvesting all the blooms! You’ll be amazed at the number of blooms your plants produce. Be sure to harvest them early in the morning and cut the stems “deep,” meaning you should cut down to the base of the plant rather than leaving any stem behind. This practice will yield the longest and best blooms while also encouraging the plant to regenerate more flowers. For extended vase life, cut your blooms when they are partially open.

End of Season Care

At the end of the season, typically around early summer (or longer if you’re on the coast), it’s time to let the plants die back. You can continue to water them, as the plants will store energy for the next season, but don’t expect any more blooms that year. Your bulbs or corms can be dug up and stored for the following season.