The Ranunculus Diaries: Our First Spring with These Ruffled Beauties

We are officially in our ranunculus era, and we're loving it!

As first year flower farmers here at Franklin & Co. Flower Farm, growing ranunculus has been equal parts science experiment and miracle. These ruffled stunners have quickly become the divas of our spring lineup, and right now, they’re popping up like popcorn in every dreamy shade we planted: soft pinks, creamy whites, cheerful salmons, juicy oranges, and yellows. 

They’re even more beautiful than we imagined.

But let’s rewind for a second...

Where Do Ranunculus Come From?

Before these blooms became Pinterest famous, they had a much longer backstory. Native to Southwest Asia, particularly Persia and the Eastern Mediterranean, ranunculus (Latin for “little frog," which feels wildly inaccurate but kind of charming?) were admired centuries ago for their delicate layers and symbolism. The Dutch painted them, the Victorians loved them, and now, here we are, coaxing them to life in Zone 3.

No pressure.

Starting with Corms (aka Little Octopuses)

Ranunculus don’t grow from seed. They grow from corms; twisted, shriveled things that look more like dried up sea creatures than future flowers. But we trusted the process.

Step one was soaking them in cool water for four hours to hydrate them while we watched them doubled in size. We changed the water frequently to avoid rot (rot is the enemy when you’ve invested time, money, and heart into these little guys).

Then came pre-sprouting, a lesson in patience. We tucked the corms into trays covered with moist soil and placed them in a cool, dark space for nearly six weeks. Six weeks of hoping. Misting. Checking for signs of life. Wondering if we were doing it right.

Eventually, tiny roots and green shoots appeared and it was full on celebration mode.

Into the Hoophouse They Go

Once they sprouted, we planted them gently into the soil in the ground under our hoophouse. This was their moment.

Ranunculus love cool nights, full sun, and well drained soil, zone 3, however, loves to throw curveballs. Sunny days can hit 15°C (hello sunburn), but nighttime temperatures still hover around freezing. It’s a dance of covering, uncovering, watching the weather, and hoping.

It felt like the green sprouts stayed the same size forever, but then all of sudden things changed. The buds showed up. Then came the blooms.

I had never experienced something so magical. It's a surreal feeling when you pour your heart and soul into something and you spend so many hours nurturing them with nothing but hope and a belief that they will turn out - but, then it does. 

How We’re Caring for Ranunculus

Ranunculus are the divas of the garden. They’re sensitive to overwatering, mildew, poor airflow, and wet leaves. They like cool conditions, but not too cool. Sun, but not too much. Water, but not puddles.

We’re keeping our hoophouse well ventilated. We’re watering evenly and mulitple times a day with only a little bit each time. We’ve spacing plants for adequate airflow and obsessively monitoring for issues. These flowers have taught us diligence and patience.

And yet, despite all the rules, and everyone saying they aren't flowers for beginners, they're blooming. We've got them this far, now we need to take them over the finish line and get them into bouquets for you. 

Harvesting & Home Care Tips

Ranunculus are harvested when they look like a marshmallow, tight but with colour showing. That’s the sweet spot for a long vase life.

To keep your blooms fresh at home:

• Use cool, clean water

• Recut stems on an angle every 1–2 days

• Change the water daily

• Keep out of direct sunlight and away from fruit (it releases ethylene gas!)

With care, they can last up to 10 days, or more.

Are They Worth It?

Absolutely. 100%.

Ranunculus have been one of the most work intensive flowers we’ve grown so far, but also the most rewarding. When you see that first bloom after six weeks of pre-sprouting, countless weather checks, and hoophouse prep, it hits different.

For us, they symbolize what this season is about: hope, hard work, and the belief that something beautiful is always growing beneath the surface.

We’ll be sharing our ranunculus with you when our Flower Shack opens and we can’t wait for you to fall in love with them too.

Until then, we’ll be in the flower field making sure we have so much more to share after the ranunculus show is over. 

— Cory
Franklin & Co. Flower Farm