These flowers belong to the Astrov family, they are extremely unpretentious to the growing conditions. They are annual or perennial. Annuals are varieties such as American, blue, imperial cornflowers. The perennial cornflower, mountain, Russian belongs to perennial. Petals are not only blue, as is commonly believed. Color can vary from snow white to deep purple, even yellow varieties are found. Cornflowers garden (photo below) differ in the shape of inflorescences. They can be small, large, simple or terry.
This plant is successfully used in the design of the
Moorish lawns, colored borders, perfectly combined with other plants in mixed flower gardens. Garden cornflowers of large varieties are grown for cutting. When choosing a place for these flowers, you should give preference to open sunny areas. The intensity and timing of flowering largely depends on these factors. There are no special requirements for the soil, the main thing is that the water does not stagnate, sandy loam well-drained and slightly acidic is suitable. On calcareous (alkaline) soil more intense flowering is noted, while the color of the flowers is brighter.
Annual plants are propagated by seeds; today the market offers a wide variety of mixes of cornflowers of various shapes and colors. They give seeds in large quantities. Landing is made directly into the ground in the winter or early spring. A perennial garden cornflower is propagated by dividing rhizomes or cuttings, this should be done after the plant has flowered. They transplant it quite rarely, only in case of strong growth or when creating new flower beds.
You need to water the flowers moderately, as the soil dries well. Periodically, loosen the soil at the planting site and remove weeds. After planting, seeds require intensive hydration. If the newly transplanted plant withers, you need to remove the ground part and water it well, in the next season the flower will continue lush vegetation. Once every three years, the planting of perennial cornflowers should be thinned out, the rhizomes should be divided and transplanted. If the
acidity of the soil increases
, the plant begins to wilt. In this case, it is recommended to liming the soil. Garden cornflowers feel better on scarce soils, so you do not need to feed them. Diseases and pests bypass these flowers.
Perennial plants are especially unpretentious, cold and drought tolerant.
Passing the rye field, it is impossible not to notice among the ears of bright blue heads. In this place, flowers are considered to be weeds, because they can inhibit useful crops. But in a well-kept garden, in a colorful flower bed, this is already a beautiful plant. When purchasing seeds, special attention should be paid to the manufacturer. The best garden cornflowers - from breeders from Novgorod or Novosibirsk. Seeds should be planted in open ground, well poured with water with dissolved humus and covered with a film or other material, if planted in April. The plant begins to bloom already at the end of June, it is not necessary to water it specially, enough summer rains. Cornflowers will delight you with their pink, white, purple and blue shades until the end of summer.