The flower delphinium, or spur, larkspur, belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. About 450 species of annual and perennial plants are known. There are several legends about the origin of its name. One of them says that the unblown flower looks like a dolphin's head. Another - such a name was given in honor of the Greek city of Delphi, in which they grew in large quantities. In the article, we will consider planting a dolphinium with seeds, and also dwell on the methods of care.
Growing Features
Cultivation of ferns in culture began in the nineteenth century. Currently, there are about 800 different shades of this flower. Among them there are terry, super- and semi-double, medium-, high- and low-growing varieties.
When growing a dolphinium, you need to know some subtleties:
- The plant prefers loamy and clay soils with low acidity, enriched with organic and mineral fertilizers.
- Choosing a place for landing - in the first half of the day it should be sunny, protected from strong winds, without stagnation of water. After planting, mulching with humus or peat is mandatory.
- Depending on the species, in one place, the liveliness grows from three to six years, and then the planting and division of the bush is required.
- Flowers do not tolerate excess moisture and require a garter to protect the stems from breaking.
Self-collection and preparation of planting material
For planting delphinium seeds are purchased in specialized stores or collected independently. To obtain high-quality seed, pay attention to the color of the fruit, they must be brown. Collection is carried out in dry weather. Seeds are stored at room temperature for 11 months. To extend the shelf life, they should be kept in the cold, for example, in the refrigerator. Low temperatures contribute to better preservation of the properties of seeds, and storage in a warm place reduces germination.
Planting perennial delphinium seeds for seedlings requires their preparation, which does not depend on whether planting material purchased or collected independently is used. They must be pickled and properly processed to obtain good seedlings. For disinfection, a saturated solution of potassium permanganate is used, in which they stand for twenty minutes. Then they are washed in cold water. If desired, you can soak for a day in a solution of "Epina", which requires two drops per 100 milliliters of water. And it is also allowed to use another fungicidal agent. After such manipulations, the seeds of the delphinium are ready for planting. However, carrying out the following procedures will not only increase their germination, but will also please you with strong and healthy seedlings.
To do this, carry out the following procedures:
- From white cotton material, cut strips of 10 x 40 cm in size.
- Sprinkle seeds in the middle of the flap and distribute evenly.
- On both sides, bend the long edges and roll into a roll.
- Pour some water into the bowl and put the rolls in it so that they are slightly moistened.
- Place the container with seeds on the lower shelf of the refrigerator, where the temperature is about +5 degrees.
- When the seeds swell or white dots appear on them, it means that they are ready for sowing. To slow down the process, they are put in a colder place.
Seeds for planting delphinium seeds in spring on seedlings should be prepared as follows. Soak them in early March and wrap in gauze, which they put in a plastic bag. Then bury it in the ground. Fourteen days later, plant in pots.
Reproduction in this way makes it possible to obtain a large amount of planting material. The brightest colors are obtained from seeds collected in the first year.
Soil preparation before sowing
Land before planting delphinium seeds for seedlings is purchased in a store or prepared independently. Professional gardeners recommend the latter, since the purchased soil contains a large amount of peat, which is not particularly suitable for fern. He prefers breathable and light soil:
- In a ratio of 2: 2: 1 they take peat, garden soil and washed sand. All mixed and sieved.
- The use of perlite will increase the moisture capacity and friability of the soil. Half a cup is added to five liters of the mixture.
- The prepared composition is kept in a water bath for sixty minutes. As a result, fungal spores and weed seeds die.
- For the purpose of disinfection, the use of "Fitosporin" is allowed.
- The finished substrate is poured into the prepared container and slightly compacted.
Planting delphinium seeds for seedlings
Before this procedure, labels with the names of varieties are fixed on containers in which planting material will be poured. In addition, to control seedlings, it is recommended to indicate the date of sowing. An even layer of seeds is scattered on the surface of the earth. They are sprinkled on top by 3 mm and slightly compacted. It is desirable to water from the spray gun. The water is pre-boiled and cooled.
Delphinium rises best in the dark, so the container with seeds is covered with a transparent lid, and then with a black film or covering material. Temperature plus 10-15 degrees is considered optimal for seedlings. When the plants begin to germinate, and this is about ten to fourteen days later, the film is removed. It is important to keep the substrate moist. To prevent condensation, the room in which the seedlings are located is periodically ventilated.
Picking and caring
When two or three leaves appear after planting the delphinium with seeds, it is planted in the ground. The leaves should be dark green in color, strong and healthy. Seedlings dive in containers with loose soil, a volume of not more than 300 ml. Humidify moderately, the temperature is maintained at about +20 degrees. Abundant watering provokes the occurrence of diseases. In spring May days, small plants begin to accustom to fresh air and sunlight. For top dressing, which is carried out twice with an interval of fourteen days, use "Solution" or "Agricole".
Sowing seeds
The planting of perennial delphinium seeds in the soil is carried out in the spring, usually in May. The area where this plant is planned to be planted is dug to a depth of 25 cm, adding per square meter:
- two kilograms of peat and humus;
- one hundred grams of wood ash;
- ten grams of nitrophosphate.
Then they level, make grooves and sow seeds. They are sprinkled on top with sifted soil, slightly compacted and covered with plastic wrap or special agrofibre. Covering material is removed after emergence. Care for young sprouts consists in watering, fertilizing and cultivating. Next spring, the plant is ready for transplanting to a permanent place.
Permanent landing
When the root system completely fills the container with seedlings, it is time to transplant the delphinium to a permanent place, which is prepared in the fall. Dig the ground with manure (compost) and peat. Repeat in the spring. They are fed with fertilizers containing superphosphate, ammonium sulfate, potassium salt. Pits are made with a depth of 40 cm, the distance between the seedlings depends on the type of flower. The soil from the hole is mixed with compost in a ratio of 1: 1 and put on ½ back.
When the earth settles, this process takes about two days, you can plant plants. The soil around them is slightly compacted and watered. To protect against wind, each seedling is covered, for example, with a glass jar. When the plants grow, then the shelter is removed. When growing by seedling, the delphinium delights with flowers in the year of planting.
Summer care
After planting a dolphinium with seeds, care for it is carried out throughout the summer period. To do this, it is recommended to perform the following manipulations:
- Top dressing - three times per season. As fertilizers, cow manure is used in a proportion of 1:10, that is, one part of the fertilizer and ten water. For watering, take one liter of infusion per bucket of liquid. A mixture is also suitable, which includes 20–30 g of potassium chloride, 30–40 g of ammonium sulfate, 60–70 g of superphosphate, and 10–15 g of ammonium nitrate. Dry mixture is scattered under the bushes and slightly deepened.
- Thinning - allowed with stems not less than 20 cm tall. Leave no more than five stems on each bush. The shoots growing near the ground break off.
- Tie-up - they place supports twice, that is, when the stems reach a height of 50 and 120 cm. For this, it is best to use tapes made of cloth to avoid damage to plants.
- Watering - the soil under the bushes should be moist. In the dry period, one or two buckets are poured weekly under each bush. After absorbing water, the soil must be loosened.
Planting seeds of a delphinium perennial in the autumn
Landing in the fall or before winter is also possible. This method allows you to achieve early flowering. The stratification process is carried out naturally. Seeds are sown in the ground in October-November. They are lightly sprinkled with a mixture of peat and river sand, taken in equal quantities. As a covering material use burlap, foliage or spruce branches. Landing under the winter is done when steady frosts come. To do this, seeds are poured into pre-prepared grooves, a thin layer of dry earth and covered, as in the previous case.
In the spring, when the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed. The seed material with this method of planting should be taken more, since the survival rate of seedlings is significantly lower than with the seedling method or sowing directly into the open ground. It is important to remember that for varietal plants such planting methods are not practiced.
Helpful information
- When stored in a dry and warm room, delphinium seeds quickly lose their germination capacity, so when buying them in the off-season, it is best to store in the refrigerator.
- Sowing is allowed at different times - after the collection of seeds, that is, in the fall, freezing of the soil (before winter). Even planting delphinium seeds at home is allowed in late February.
- It is practically impossible to grow the liveliness of hybrid varieties from its own seeds. The reason is that the parental traits are not inherited, so they are bred by cuttings or division of the bush.
- Delphiniums are frost-resistant and able to withstand temperatures up to minus 50 degrees under snow cover. If there is little or no snow in winter, then they need shelter.
- White varieties need more light. In addition, with close planting of different varieties, it is difficult to maintain color purity.
Diseases and Pests
Delphinium is attacked by fungi:
- Seedlings from seeds are susceptible to a black stalk whose pathogen is in the ground. Therefore, as a preventive measure, its disinfection is carried out. Provides the occurrence of the disease, strong humidity, heavy soil and dense plantings. Sick and weak sprouts should be removed immediately.
- Adult plants are affected by rust, powdery mildew, etc.
Antifungal agents are used to combat, for example, they are sprayed with Bordeaux liquid.
Delphiniums can also get viral diseases. In this case, the affected plant is removed. At the very beginning of the disease, sprinkling with a tetracycline solution helps.
Insects such as onion flies, slugs, aphids, caterpillars harm young leaves. Fight pests with special chemicals.
Conclusion
After reading the article, you became acquainted with the care and planting of perennial delphinium seeds. It is rightly called an exotic decoration of any summer cottage. Tall plants with bright large flowers immediately attract attention.