Ranunculus flowers originally hail from Asia, which means they aren’t exactly fans of freezing winter temperatures. If you want these beauties to return next year, you’ll need to give those sensitive tubers a little extra TLC during the cold months.
Ranunculus Aren’t Winter-Hardy
Since they belong to the buttercup family, these plants need some serious winter protection if you’re planning to leave them in the ground. Honestly, though? It’s usually much easier to just dig the tubers up and store them safely indoors.
Winter Protection
If you live in a region with super mild winters (like some coastal areas or wine country) where frost is rare, you might get away with leaving your ranunculus in the garden. Just make sure they are bundled up tight:
- Cover the tubers with a thick layer of brushwood or evergreen branches.
- Top them off with a good mound of mature compost.
- For extra safety, throw a garden fleece or frost blanket over the top.
Digging Up Your Ranunculus
If you don’t want to gamble with your plants, overwintering them indoors is the way to go. Once the daytime temps stop climbing above 40°F (5°C), it’s time to get to work. Here’s how you do it:
- First, stop fertilizing.
- Cut back any withered or brown foliage.
- Carefully lift the tubers out of the soil.
- Gently shake off any excess dirt.
- If you see any small “baby” tubers (offsets), you can clip those off to start new plants.
- Let the tubers dry out in a well-ventilated room.
- Wrap each tuber individually in newspaper.
- Lay them out side-by-side in a wooden crate or cardboard box.
Store your boxes in a cool, frost-free spot. You’re looking for somewhere dark, airy, and dry—think an unheated basement, an attic, or a frost-free garage. Your ranunculus tubers are now in their “beauty sleep” phase, gathering energy for next year. They won’t sprout while in storage, but it’s a good idea to check on them occasionally for any signs of rot. If you find a mushy one, toss it in the trash immediately so it doesn’t infect the others!
Replanting in the Spring
Depending on your local weather, your ranunculus can come out of hibernation in March or April. If you’re planning to plant the tubers directly in the garden, wait until the danger of overnight frost has passed. If you’re planting them in pots, keep them in a sheltered spot for the first few weeks.
Before planting, give your tubers a final check-up and then soak them in water for a few hours. This helps the dry tubers “plump up” and jumpstarts their growth. Plant them about 1 to 2 inches deep in good quality soil. Hold off on the fertilizer until you see the first green shoots popping up!
