VETTERLE & REINELT — HYBRIDIZING GARDENS 
CAPITOLA, CALIFORNIA 
CULTURE OF ANEMONES AND RANUNCULUS 
Both the Anemones and Ranunculus are charming Spring flowering bulbous plants of easy 
culture. Anemones require rich light soil, protection against too strong sunlight and a con¬ 
tinuous supply of moisture during the growing period. Any drying out even for short times is 
harmful to proper development. The little bulbs are rather enlarged roots and care should be 
taken to plant them in a correct position. Often people who have not handled them before are at 
a loss to know which is top and bottom. The bottom is usually pointed, remaining a particle 
of the old root; the top is recognized by a fuzzy character, a left over from previous growth. 
They should be planted so that the top of the tuber is approxmately one inch below the surface. 
In California or similar climates they can be planted from September to the end of January 
to form early Spring flowers. When the first few leaves develop, additional feeding can be 
given if very strong specimens are required. One of the easiest methods is to simply make a small 
trench around each plant and sprinkle approximately a teaspoonful of cotton seed meal in 
it, cover again with soil and keep thoroughly moist. Other commercial fertilizers such as 
Ammonium Phosphate, etc., can be used instead with good results. In cases of concentrated 
salts such as Ammonium Phosphate for instance, a pinch is sufficient if sprinkled around each 
plant twice during the growing season. 
Anemones will bloom almost continually as long as they get a good supply of moisture, but 
it is practicable to let them dry up gradually in June or July to give them a good rest 
and keep them healthy. They may be left in the ground where they will grow for years if 
undisturbed. In colder regions the planting should be done In early Spring when the ground 
becomes sufficiently warm, otherwise the cultivation is exactly the same. In late Summer or 
Autumn when they become dormant they should be dug up and stored in a dry cool frostless 
place. If grown from seed, the best method is to sow thinly in flats in a mixture of leafmold and 
garden soil such as is used for sowing any other annuals or perennials. When the plants are 
sufficiently large, they can be planted directly in open ground and treated the same as bulbs. 
RANUNCULUS 
The culture of Ranunculus is very similar to that of Anemones except that they will stand 
more sunlight. Eastern exposure is usually the most desirable. The tubers are in reality a clump 
of enlarged roots and should be planted with the points down so the top is approxmately one 
inch below the surface. The ideal soil for Ranunculus is rich sandy loam heavily enriched with 
any kind of well rotted manure, however, they will grow well in practically any kind of soil 
provided they get a good supply of water and some additional feeding. When the growth 
reaches approximately two or three inches, make small trenches between the rows of plants, 
sprinkle liberally with either cotton seed meal or fish meal approximately a teaspoonful to 
each plant and again covering with soil, keeping thoroughly moist at all times. This dose 
can be repeated again six or eight weeks later when the buds are beginning to appear after 
which no additional feeding is necessary. The planting time for regions where mild Winters 
prevail begins from September until December. The earlier they are planted, the larger the 
specimens will develop. Late plantings are usually forced by the Spring warmth into quick bloom¬ 
ing without being able to form sufficiently large plants. In regions with severe Winters the 
tubers can be kept in a dry cool place until early Spring then planted when the ground becomes 
sufficiently warm. Anyone who wishes to grow show specimens of Ranunculus should keep 
in view two points; heavy feeding and constant moisture. In dry poor soils, even the finest 
varieties of Ranunculus will be only poor small double or single scraggly specimens. If 
growing from seed, sow from September to November in flats in a mixture of sandy loam or 
any light soil and transplant directly into the open when the plants become sufficiently large. 
If planted early they will form large flowering plants the same season. 
PESTS 
Both Anemones and Ranunculus are practically free from any kind of pest but the young 
growth is dearly loved by birds. In small gardens it is advisable to cover beds with wire 
until the plants are sufficiently large, otherwise, some friendly sparrow will make a very 
short story of them. 
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