Flowers adorn any home and garden. They create a holiday atmosphere around us, give a spring mood and a pleasant aroma. Perennial marigolds are not an exception, the planting and care of which do not require special time and material costs. The name of the flowers comes from their velvet ebb. In some countries they are also called Chernobrivtsi.
Pros and Cons of Marigolds
Like any other plant, this flower has its positive and negative sides. To begin with, not everyone loves him because of a specific smell. The aroma is very pronounced, with hints of astringency, so some people prefer roses or carnations, which smell, no doubt, better. But it is this strange aroma that repels various pests that spoil the plant and cause diseases in it. Of course, this is one of the advantages that marigolds have. Because of this, growing, planting and caring for them takes a little time and does not require a lot of resources, as a result, flowers become just a godsend for lazy gardeners.
In addition, Chernobrivtsi are not afraid of drought, and gardeners also appreciate this. Having planted these flowers, you do not have to worry about frequent watering. In the summer, the whole family has the opportunity to wave to the sea for several weeks without worrying that the plant will die. Returning home, you will find all the same brightly flowering marigolds perennial, planting and caring for which will be for you only a pleasure, not a universal problem.
How to plant
When you decide that you want to get this particular plant, then hurry to the store for seeds. Choose them so that they are all the same size, without any damage, not wet or dry. When they sprout, then instead of a bare flowerbed outside the window we will have a whole flower planet. Marigolds, planting and caring for which will be a real pleasure, will be able to bring an atmosphere of joy and lightness to any home.
Seeds are planted in small holes, the distance between which should be about 2 centimeters. They are sprinkled with earth on top (a layer of no more than a centimeter), and then watered. By the way, there should not be much water. It is necessary to withstand moderate watering before the appearance of the first sprouts.
When the appearance of pioneer leaves is noticeable, the flowers are transplanted to a new place. If these were pots, now it’s open ground. At the same time, the Chernobrivans should not be very close to each other. It is better to plant them in smooth, beautiful rows or geometric shapes. You can choose your own version of the pattern in special publications, which describe in detail the cultivation of marigolds from seeds, planting, varieties and properties of marigolds.
How to get seeds for re-planting
Of course, when you once see the fruit of your efforts - a whole field of flowers outside the window, then you will want to plant marigolds the next year. Planting
and care, types and varieties of plants will become a real hobby that will completely captivate you already in early spring. It is during this period that the plant can be planted in a warm room. With the advent of April-May, they can be transplanted into the open ground or you can do it right away, but not earlier than that time, when frost and cold recede.
If you want to plant marigolds for the next year, then leave a few flowers on the flower bed until they dry completely. Then the seeds should be carefully removed from the cup, dried a little and set aside until next spring. Just know that the blackbrivs obtained in this way will not always be similar to last year. They can differ in shape and color, since the most popular varieties are usually hybrids. Their hereditary traits sometimes appear after several generations of plants. Professionals usually advise planting seeds a maximum of two years ago, because older samples lose their ability to quickly shoot and bloom.
What land do marigolds love
As we already understood, these flowers can be grown in two ways: in the form of seedlings and directly into the open ground. Each gardener chooses the method that is more suitable for him. In any case, the earth should be as loose as possible. It is better when you observe the proportions of humus, peat, turf and sand. The last component must be taken half as much as the other components. Flowers also need good drainage. This is easily achieved by sprinkling soil on three centimeters with a mixture of crushed stone, sand and expanded clay. Before planting, fertilizers can be added to the ground, but not fresh manure.
If you planted marigolds in open ground, they will rise in a week, and will bloom in 2-3 months. With this method, the seeds are thrown into specially prepared grooves, the depth of which is one and a half to two centimeters. If you have chosen a seedling method, then the seeds need to be planted in boxes. The first shoots should appear in about 10 days.
Care Features
When the first leaves appear on the site, then there is no limit to joy. But now you have new concerns - the cultivation of marigolds, the care and transplant of plants. As already mentioned, they are unpretentious, but still avoid excessive moisture and shade (this does not very well affect young shoots). Ideal for flower growth is the air temperature in the region of + 23-25 degrees Celsius. The plant should be protected from the cold wind by special partitions with a transparent film. You need to fertilize marigolds once a month. This is enough for them not only to grow rapidly, but also to bloom profusely. Water the plant not much, otherwise stagnant moisture can cause rotting of the sprouts.
We add top dressing according to this schedule:
- The shoots reached a height of 10 centimeters.
- The first buds appeared.
- The beginning of flowering.
In addition, flowers need to be weeded periodically to ensure normal air circulation in the soil. If you want the bushes to have a beautiful shape, sometimes crop them. Withered leaves and flowers must be removed.
How to deal with pests and avoid diseases
This is usually not difficult. Endowed with a specific smell, marigolds repel harmful insects, protect themselves from fungi and nematodes. Moreover, gardeners plant them at the edges of the plot so that they become a shield for other plants that are inside. And this is rational, since marigolds, sowing, care, varieties of which are unpretentious in nature, are at the same time very aggressive towards external irritants. The Colorado potato beetle bypasses them, other insects also do not particularly like to bask in the leaves of this plant.
If on the flowers during a drought a spider mite is wound, then it is easy to get rid of it by spraying and watering. At the same time, excessive rain threatens flowers with the appearance of fungi and rot. We are struggling with this by drying the land and providing access to the bushes with a lot of sunlight. Usually this plant is affected by gray rot - it is easy to recognize by dark brown spots. Sick marigolds need to be removed quickly.
Varieties
Whatever this plant may seem simple and of the same type, there are 60 varieties of it. Most of them are hybrid, grown by crossing and during experiments. The most popular species are erect, leafy and rejected marigolds. Description of the variety, growing conditions, care, application of fertilizers for all of them usually do not differ much.
But there are varieties that are not like the others. For example, a flower variety grown in Latin America helps with constipation, and it is also an excellent emetic and diuretic. Seasoning, known in the world as Imereti saffron, is also made from this plant.
There are cloves, terry, semi-double and other varieties of marigolds. Usually they have a yellow or orange color, but there are also varieties of plants with white and burgundy buds. Any marigolds are perennial, planting and care of which are not too costly, are a very colorful decoration of a summer cottage, city flowerbed or balcony in a high-rise building.
Marigolds as part of landscape design
If you decide to plant the seeds of this plant, then follow certain rules so that the overall appearance is not too faded or catchy, piled up or half empty.
Undersized flowers, determine the place along the edges of the flower bed, filling its middle with those that are higher. The whole composition will be well visible.
The flowerbed can be the same color. But a better combination of different shades, for example, white and red, brown and yellow. Flowering will please the eye the whole summer, if some plants wither or wither, new buds will cover them aesthetically.
Marigolds are an ideal material for creating a living border. If, in addition to flowers, you still grow vegetables, then plant this fragrant plant along the edges of the beds. Thus, you will give it a beautiful look and protect the crop from pests that are scared away by the specific smell of flowers.
Invaluable benefits
Flowers not only decorate flowerbeds and beds, but are also actively used in folk medicine and cooking. Tincture from this plant improves metabolism, calms the nervous system and relieves stress. Marigolds are an excellent choleretic drug that helps in the initial stages of diabetes, which helps to lower blood sugar. With problems with the pancreas, baldness, poor eyesight, psoriasis, they are also indispensable. Our ancestors used them to treat colds and flu.
As for cooking, then marigolds are used in pickles and marinades as a spice. They contain a whole bunch of essential oils and coloring components. The plant is dried and ground to a powder state and stored in glass containers and used as seasoning. And fresh flower leaves are suitable for making salads. In a word, marigolds are perennial, planting and caring for which do not cause much trouble, will not only become part of landscape design, but will also help to heal a number of diseases, and also make dishes more spicy.