JANUARY UPDATE: Don’t let Seattle winters scare you away from planting ranunculus
By Stephanie - West Seattle Flower Farm
I've been planting ranunculus in waves since October—100 to 200 corms at a time—and despite the rain, the cold, and one very rude neighborhood cat, they're thriving.
If you’re wondering whether it’s too late—or too cold—to plant ranunculus in Seattle, this post is part of an ongoing, real-time experiment. I plant ranunculus from fall through late winter and document how they handle rain, cold snaps, and whatever else our unpredictable winters throw at them.
Each monthly update reflects what’s actually happening in my garden right now, so you can decide when and how to plant ranunculus in Seattle with a lot more confidence.
The spring flower that’s absolutely worth the fuss.
Here’s how it’s going so far in late January 2026:
Why I plant ranunculus in successions:
Does succession planting actually extend your bloom window?
Some growers swear by it. They say planting in waves gives you blooms for weeks longer. But I'm skeptical. Last year, everything bloomed all at once anyway. But I planted more deliberately this year, so I'll report back in spring.
Here's the real reason I plant in waves: it buys me time.
I am planting over a thousand ranunculus this season. But I am also digging and dividing my dahlias at the same time, so as beds open up as I pull up the dahlias, I plant more ranunculus in their spot. Planting in waves means I don’t overcommit by soaking more corms than I actually have time and space to plant, and I am not forced to plant a thousand ranunculus at once.
My ranunculus experiment: Presprouting versus direct planting
In late October, I tried presprouting indoors, presprouting outdoors, and direct planting in the ground when outdoor temps were in the mid-to-high 40s.
I wanted to see if direct planting, versus presprouting, was more successful than the others
The result: Two months later, all three sets of corms are all at roughly the same stage of growth. Some rotted. Most didn’t.
Ranunculus I presprouted indoors, outdoors and directly in the ground in October
They’ve all got plenty of green foliage, but they won’t send up buds until we get more sun and spring heat in April.
Frost protection:
We’ve had a few frosty nights, but I didn’t bother covering them with low row cover until mid-January (and that was only because the neighborhood cat started pooping in my ranunculus and I am trying to thwart him from using my flowers as his litter box.) The ranunculus seemed perfectly happy with Seattle’s winter so far.
I have, however, mulched around the plants with shredded leaves, which:
-
Suppresses weeds
-
Feeds the soil (invites worms to the party)
- Adds a layer of protection if temps dip near or below freezing.
Shredded leaves = my favorite mulch
If the forecast shows sustained temps in the 20s, I’ll throw a second layer of row cover/frost cloth over them. But so far, it hasn’t been necessary.
How my ranunculus planting waves are doing
I’ve planted a few hundred ranunculus since fall. These below photos were all taken on 1/19.
Early October wave:
Late October wave:
Late-November wave:
Mid-December wave:
I presprouted these on Dec. 15. Only a few ranunculus from this succession are poking through the dirt so far.
Late December wave:
I presprouted these indoors the last week of December. I planted them outside in mid-January.
The takeaway
Despite the huge amount of rain and insane winds we’ve had this winter, my ranunculus are thriving.
If you haven't planted ranunculus yet and this post is giving you a twinge of stomach panic—relax.
You have plenty of time. I’m planting ranunculus weekly into the first week of March. Don’t stress. Just plant when you have space and time.
If you’re worried about the cold, cover the ground they’re planted in with leaves, if you have them.
Maybe toss on frost cloth or row cover if it gets below freezing.
They’ll be fine, I promise.
My plan for the rest of winter: Because January and February tend to have lower temperatures than November and December, I’ll be presprouting my corms indoors for about two weeks, then planting them outside when the forecast shows several days of 40-degree weather.
And if you missed last week’s post about the turd in my ranunculus bed, I’m offering 25 percent off all ranunculus corms for the month of January + February.
Use code TURD at checkout to take 25 percent off.
More ranunculus resources
FAQ: Planting Ranunculus in Seattle Winter
Is it too late to plant ranunculus in Seattle in January?
Nope. Seattle's winters are mild enough that you can plant ranunculus from fall through early spring. I regularly plant into February—sometimes even early March if I'm behind.
Do ranunculus need frost protection in winter?
Usually not. Ranunculus prefers cool, wet winters. I’d only add frost cloth if the forecast shows sustained temperatures in the low 20s. Otherwise, mulch and good soil drainage are enough.
Should I presprout ranunculus before planting in winter?
It’s optional. I’ve tested presprouting indoors, presprouting outdoors, and direct planting—and so far, they’re all performing similarly. Presprouting can help if you’re planting later in winter and want a small head start.
What’s the best time to plant ranunculus in Seattle?
Anytime from October through early spring works. The “best” time is when you have space, time, and soil that isn’t frozen—which, in Seattle, is most of the winter.
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