Leo (matthiola) is an ornamental, beautifully flowering plant for the garden, the flowers of which fill the air with its enchanting scent that intensifies in the evening. Most often in floriculture there is a gray-haired gray-haired species. It is used for registration of sites and growing in pots, as well as for making bouquets. In the article we will tell you how to grow regular and terry levkoi, and how to organize their planting and leaving.
Levkoi - description
Lefka gray - this is an annual or perennial plant with a branched or simple lignifying stalk, oblong whole light or dark green leaves. Its fragrant flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences of different shapes and from white to dark purple. The plant begins to bloom 70-110 days after emergence.
The cycle of development distinguishes three varieties: summer, autumn and winter. On the backyard is a widespread summer look, blooming from June to the end of summer. The varieties of gillyflower, and about 600 of them, differ in height, the number of stems, the shape of the inflorescences and flowers, as well as the periods of flowering.
Growing of gillyflower from seeds
The main feature of growing gentry is the sterility of decorative terry flowers. From seeds from simple gillyflower plants are obtained, both with double flowers and with ordinary flowers. The germination capacity of seeds harvested in the pods is kept up to 6 years, and it can be sown already in the second year.
We prepare boxes with turf ground, mixed with sand in a ratio of 2: 1. A couple of days before sowing the seeds, we process the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate (2 g per 10 liters of water). In March, on moderately moist soil, we spread the seeds 3 cm apart, leaving 4 cm between the rows. From above we fall asleep with a thin layer of fine sand, we press it with a board and cover with glass or transparent film. The box is placed in a bright warm place, the temperature should be 12-15 ° C. Pour moderately from the spray. After 7-9 days, when the first shoots appear, the box needs to be moved to a bright place with a temperature of up to 10 ° C. The first watering is carried out only on the 4th day, it should be moderate, since in dampness the plants rot. When two good cotyledons appear, the sprouts dive, with a pinch on the spine, in a container with an extractable bottom, in order to later plant them with a clod of earth, as the goblin does not tolerate transplants. Pots with seedlings are kept in a light, but cool place. Seedlings seasoned, watered. When the second and fifth real leaves appear, fertilize the fertilizer solution.
At a temperature of 6-8 ° C, we can determine the plants of gillyflowers with double colors. They cotyledonous leaves will be paler and larger, and for simple flowers - shallower and bright green.
Planting gillyflowers in the open ground and care
For growing gillyflowers, choose sunny and windless places. Any soil is suitable for the plant, but it is better to grow it in loamy soil. In the land for planting, you can add organic and mineral fertilizers (except manure).
From mid-May, prepared wells, watered, planted seedlings with an earthen lump, top around the plant sprinkled with dry earth and crimped. Distances between the plants should be 20-30 cm. Hardened seedlings of gillyflowers are not afraid of short-term frosts up to -2-3 ° C. Flowering of plants will begin in June.
Seeds can be sown in open ground from the end of April. When there are 2-4 leaves, they are thinned to a distance of 5 cm, then - in
Care for planting consists of such activities:
- Weeding weeds ;
- regular watering, especially in the heat;
- loosening after precipitation and watering;
- top dressing;
- pest control.
Cultivation of gillyflowers and care for them are satisfied simple, the most important thing is to adhere to the correct temperature regime and ensure regular watering. Blossoming terry flowers of gillyflowers will please you with their beauty and scent till 15-20 days.