Growing forget-me-nots: production, planting, breeding
In may most of the plants just start to grow, and flower beds are flooded early bulbs. Experienced growers "shade" their diversity of blue glades using a modest flower, the forget-me-not, a flowering of which is at the same time. The plant is undemanding, fast growing and knowing a few secrets of care to grow it can even beginners. Growing forget-me-nots
General information
A genus of forget-me-nots belongs to the family Burashnikova. Because of the simplicity, the natural area of distribution is quite wide: found in Asia, America, Africa, Australia and Europe. Prefer to settle in the fertile soils along streams or in areas with high humidity. Interestingly, in most languages the meaning of the name of this flower "forget me not" – remains unchanged, and in many traditions it is used as a symbol of remembrance.
Forget-me-not is a herbaceous perennials, rarely annuals. Stems branched, short, up to 40 cm, often pubescent. Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, without petioles; the shoots are alternate.
Flowers forget-me-nots consist of five-disc of the Corolla, usually blue, and campanulate calyx. Yellow Snapdragon. Gathered in clusters, called brush or curl. Forget-me-nots bloom from early may to late June. After pollination the fruit is formed, zenobi, with many dust-like black shiny seeds.
The types and varieties of forget-me-nots
The genus includes about 50 species. In ornamental horticulture used only some of them. Wild forget-me-not small-flowered, five-petal, blue, with yellow center. For example, forget-me-not creeping, which is found in arctoalpine regions. Cultivated is larger, there are white and pinkish shades. Growing forget-me-nots
Forget-me-not marsh
Marsh forget-me-not – dwarf, about 25 cm, strongly ramified perennial with quadrangular stem and lanceolate leaves. Produces easily adventitious roots in the lodging, so instead of withered shoots quickly grow new. This feature allows to extend the bloom until September. Curls with inflorescences dense, the flowers are quite large. Popular varieties of Semperflorens bright blue and Thuringen with the dark blue color of the petals.
Forget-me-not Alpine garden
Alpine forget-me-not (garden) is a hybrid, derived on the basis of the Alpine variety. Stems densely branched, dense rosette. Flowering lasts 1.5 months. Reproduces only by seed.
Derived many varieties, differing in color:
- Indigo Compacta – perennial garden forget-me-not blue, Bush height of about 20 cm.
- Blue Ball – Bush about 15 inches, has bright blue petals.
- Victoria – has a deep blue color.
- Rosylva – up to 20 cm, flowers pinkish.
- Miro is a dwarf, with bright pale blue petals.
- Compinidf – 15 inch shrub crowned with deep blue buds.
- Carmine King – dark pink Narcissus about 20 cm tall.
Forget-me-not field
In nature, field forget-me-not is native to Europe and parts of Asia. Flowers to 5 mm in diameter, whorls dense. Shrub height of about 30 cm, the leaves are oblong-lanceolate. On the basis of a number of hybrid varieties with purple, cream, pink petals. Growing forget-me-nots
Forget-me-not forest
Forest forget-me-not – compact, 40 cm high, perennial. Curls leafless. Stems strongly pubescent, densely branched. Basal leaves sit on short petioles, oval. Stem – leaves lanceolate, pubescent, too. The flowers are small, about 1 mm, clustered in thick curls. One of the most popular blue forget-me-nots. Based on it displayed several varieties, among which are the dwarf. Different shade of the base color. For example, hybrids Roggli, Compendi, Pompadour and Miro they are dark blue. In the variety of Dunkelblauen Turm blue. In a series of Silva and Magnum, which are sold in specialized stores in the form of a mixture of seeds, there is the wood forget-me-nots pink and white flowers.
Forget-me-not wood
Widely used in ornamental horticulture and forget-me-not Asherah. Stem branched, to 30 cm long, softly pubescent. The leaves are greyish green, lanceolate. The flowers are small, blue. Different long, until the end of July flowering. Growing forget-me-nots
Growing forget-me-nots
For growing forget-me-nots it is important to choose the right place. They belong to shade-loving plants; in open Sunny areas, the flowering period is reduced by half. The usual species such as forget-me-not forest or swamp, you can put in nizinnyh or areas close to groundwater. Hybrids have a lower tolerance for water logging, so they are put above or drained soil.
Forget-me-nots develop as biennials: in the first year form a rosette of leaves at the second bloom. However, they do not tolerate severe frost, so grown seedlings.
When to plant seeds for seedlings
For perennial Alpine forget-me-not, growing from seed is the best way to enjoy blooming already in the year of planting. To acquire seed material can be in specialized stores or build it yourself. Seeds remain viable for up to 2 years. Planting begins in October, then in early may, the bushes will be ready to move in open ground, and in late – bloom.
Sowing seedlings
For germination, use a loose formula. The best would be of such composition: ground sheet, peat, sand, agroperlite (2:2:2:1). Use a wide shallow container with drainage holes. Surface sow in pre-moistened and compacted soil. In hothouse conditions do not fit. Make sure that the soil doesn't dry out, if necessary, wetting it with a spray bottle a hazy stream. For prevention of black leg once a week added to water potassium permanganate until slightly pink solution.
Seedlings emerge after 2 weeks. After the appearance of the second pair of true leaves they start to dive, choosing the largest. The "left behind" give to grow. Remove carefully, using a needle or awl, being careful not to damage the fragile roots. Seated on vessels larger in the grooves, maintaining a distance of 3-4 cm After the pick, the seedlings need cool, around 5-10°C, the temperature, otherwise, they will die. Home window sills to comply with this condition is difficult, therefore, when growing forget-me-nots from seed need a heated greenhouse.
In March, when clumps of forget-me-nots grow up, they dive in separate containers in the same soil mix. The temperature was raised to 16-18°C. In the process of growing seedlings is important to prevent the drying earthen coma, and to continue regular treatment with potassium permanganate. Plants infected with black leg, immediately removed, to prevent outbreak of the disease. In may the young plants can be planted in beds.
The flowers, which combine forget-me-nots
Garden forget-me-nots planted in groups, interspersing with higher plants, blooming at the same time. It could be daffodils, tulips, lilies and other spring bulbs. Perfectly me-nots from the garden of shade-loving herbs – ferns, Samara players, hosts. Used in single crop in the design of garden ponds, creating rockeries or Alpine gardens. On the same plot with forget-me-nots can be planted violas, marigolds or calendula. They perfectly coexist, not inhibiting the growth of each other, and with the advent of summer, a flower garden out of the blue will turn a yellow-orange colour.
Preparation of planting site
Two weeks before you plant forget-me-nots, the plot dug, carefully choosing the roots of all weeds. Loosen with a rake. Heavy soils "ennoble", adding sand and peat. To the acidity of the soil undemanding. Under perekopku bring well burned out humus. If necessary, arrange drainage channels. Moisten the ground and allow it to settle.
The sequence of planting seedlings in open ground
To plant forget-me-not is easy:
- At the site preparing the hole or groove so that between the bushes was maintained a distance of about 15-20 cm In a mixed planting with violas, marigold or calendula increase the interval up to 40 cm
- On the bottom put the expanded clay or gravel sand.
- The seedlings, being careful not to damage the roots, remove from containers and place in the planting hole.
- If forget-me-nots were in peat cups, put together with them.
- Bushes, do not bury.
- Gently sprinkle the ground, trying not to damage the roots. Not tamped.
After planting the land is abundantly watered using the spray nozzle. Within 2-3 weeks, while forget-me-nots will never get used to a new place, make sure that the soil doesn't dry out.
Care forget-me-not outdoors
With the right choice of planting, the care of garden forget-me-not is not difficult. And yet, to extend flowering and prevent the development of diseases, you need to know about some of the features of its farming.
Watering and fertilizing
As with all moisture-loving plants, blooming forget-me-nots only when a sufficient level of humidity. In early spring, when the soil some dry enough after the winter and occasionally it rains enough to water the planting once a week. In late may, the frequency increased to 2-3 times a week. The lack of moisture period flowering is greatly reduced.
The plot is not water jet or by spraying: in the first case, washed away soil from under the roots, the plant "falls" and dies. In the second the moisture hits the leaves, that may trigger the development of fungal diseases. It is better to prepare grooves for uniform distribution of moisture through the area, or just putting the hose on the ground, occasionally moving.
Many gardeners believe that forget-me-not grow without additional supplements. In fact, it responds to fertilizer, like all flowering plants, more abundant and long flowering. This is especially true of hybrid varieties that can produce buds again.
The forget-me-not feed mixtures with a high content of nitrogen is made for digging of compost it is enough. Otherwise the Bush will start to "fatten" and form side shoots instead of flowers. This does not mean that you need to look for fertilizers "without nitrogen" – they mostly integrated; choose those which are dominated by the phosphorus and potassium. Before flowering superphosphate contribute in the dosage specified by the manufacturer. When re-laying the buds repeat the procedure, adding the potassium salt. After wintering flowering shrubs fertilize her again.
Care during the autumn and preparing for winter
If forget-me-nots are grown as biennials, flowering after they are simply removed from the beds. Perennial growing only suitable for some species, for example, forget-me-not garden.
In this case, carry out the usual range of events:
- Remove the stems and trim the leaves.
- Loosen the ground around the bushes, filled with peat, straw or fallen leaves.
- Cover the mulch with branches to avoid being blown by the wind.
Without shelter the plant, except the southern regions, winter freezes. Remove the coat as soon as the snow melts.
Reproduction
Most often, the Pansy is propagated by seed. Sow them freshly picked in July-August in open ground. Before sowing, dig over the plot with peat and compost, weeds are removed. Make shallow furrows, about 2 cm Seeds I try to sow rarely, at a distance of 2-5 cm are Filled not with earth and sand layer of about 1 cm Tamped and watered carefully, taking care not to dislodge the seed material from the grooves.
Sprouts germinate in 2 weeks. They are regularly watered, not allowing to dry out the top layer. Before the frost planting mulch with peat or leaves, additionally covered with agro-fibre and twigs. The young forget-me-nots does not tolerate frosts, and the spring part of the plant may die. After the snow melts, the shelter is removed. In early may, when the survivors bushes stronger, they are seated on temporary beds, observing a distance of 15-20 cm Blooms grown in this way forget-me-nots only in the second year. Easily propagated by self-seeding.
Forget-me-not perennial, this is especially true of hybrids can be propagated by cuttings. Cuttings with a length of about 5 cm is cut in early spring, before flowering. The roots germinated in water. When they reach 8-10 cm, planted in open ground for extra beds. To the earth mixed with peat and sand to the young plants easier to anchor. Within a month after planting make sure that the soil doesn't dry out. Cuttings can bloom in the first year, but the buds are better tweeze.
Often for reproduction of forget-me-nots are used the division of the Bush. Dig up and divide with a sharp knife so that each part should have remained the roots and growth points. Thanks to tenacious and strong root system delenki quickly take root and bloom in the same year.
Possible problems when growing
Forget-me-not garden is one of the most "hassle-free" plants. Of pests it can settle cruciferous flea beetles, aphids; sometimes gnaw the roots of the scoops. When detected, pests destroy them with systemic insecticides. Usually 2 treatments with an interval of a week. Growing forget-me-nots
Fungal diseases occur only in violation of farming. If you observe moderation in watering, not allowing the ground to zavolochitsy, regularly loosen soil and remove weeds, not a problem. If the root rot, the bushes are still "caught", it can be recognized by the lodging of the bushes in wet soil. Affected plants are removed, the remaining a few times treated with Fundazol (10 g per 10 liters of water). Reduce watering.
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