Planting Anemone and Ranunculus

Both Ranunculus and Anemones are cool spring flowers that thrive in growing temperatures of  3 - 20°C. The trick to getting a decent bloom period from ranunculus/anemones is to plant them in early/late spring. When daytime temperatures are still cool, and nighttime temperatures are cool but don’t go much lower than 0°C. They can be planted outside 3-4 weeks before the last frost, but be prepared to cover them when the temperature drops below 0°C. 

Before Planting - about 3-4 weeks before planting outside
Pre-Soak
Soak the corms for 3 to 4 hours in room-temperature water. You mustn’t oversoak them; otherwise, they will be more susceptible to rot. As the corms soak, they will plump up, often doubling in size. Set a timer and change the water once per hour. The corms require fresh water to prevent bacteria from growing and causing the corms to rot. 

You don’t have to presoak, but it will produce blooms a few weeks earlier.

After pre-soaking, the corms can either be pre-sprouted or planted directly outside (pots or garden beds), depending on the timing of your last frost date.

Pre-Sprout 
Fill a flat-bottom tray half full of moist potting soil. A recycled takeout container works great. Press the soaked corms gently into the soil, and cover them with more soil so that they are completely covered. For Ranunculus corms, place them “legs” down. Leave the tray in a cool, dark place (4°C-10°C) for 10 to 14 days in an area where the mice and voles can’t find it. Check on the corms every few days, making sure the soil is moist but not soggy, and remove any corms that show signs of mold or rot. During this time, corms will swell to about twice their original size and develop little white rootlets that resemble hair. Once the roots appear, it’s time to plant them. Occasionally, you may see stems and leaves first; just wait for the roots. It’s okay to gently nudge the soil away to check for roots.

Planting Out
Plant the corms 6 in (15 cm) apart at a depth of 2 in (5 cm). Plant Anemone corms with the pointed end down if you can determine one, and the "legs" down for Ranunculus. During cold stretches, when temperatures dip below freezing, cover the plants or bring them indoors if they are in pots. 

Regular Care
Regularly deadhead to remove spent flowers. This will also produce additional flowers. Keep them well watered and don’t allow the soil to dry out.

These beauties take a bit of work, but they are worth it. Happy planting!