Not so long ago, a rather exotic guest appeared in our gardens - the climbing creeper Cobaea scandens - purple kobe. It has sophisticated openwork leaf plates and original, up to eight centimeters in size, buds on thick long peduncles. In shape, the flowers resemble Christmas bells.
Our exotic guest - a resident of American tropical latitudes - represents a genus of beautifully flowering climbing bushes. But in our Russian climate, kobe violet is grown as an annual vine. If you have the possibility of container conservation of roots in winter conditions, it can be grown as a perennial plant.
Numerous, rapidly growing shoots up to 4-5 meters long, growing, create a huge green tent. They are able to climb to great heights thanks to their tenacious antennae.
It is advisable to plant kobei seeds in our region at the beginning or middle of March. The liana planted during these periods will develop quite well and, when planted in the ground in a permanent place, will immediately start growing.
For planting seeds, it is necessary to prepare loose fertile soil and individual containers so that the plant roots are not damaged during transplantation. It can be peat or plastic pots or just small containers where drainage holes must be. On the eve of planting, the seeds should be kept in a growth stimulant solution for a couple of hours (HB-1 or Epin may be suitable). They are not deeply buried, falling asleep with moist soil only 1-1.5 centimeters. Germination lasts about two weeks at a temperature of + 18- + 20 ° C. And only after the emergence of seedlings, the containers should be placed in a cooler room.
When these leaves appear, the plants should be transferred to a larger pot. Peat pots are very justified in this case, because plants can be planted in the soil with them without spending extra time on adaptation of plants in natural conditions.
One of the unpleasant moments is the interwoven lashes of growing vines. In order to prevent this problem, in addition to installing supports, it is possible to pinch the tops of the shoots. Plants after this procedure become more stocky.
Kobei should be planted in the ground when a warm period sets in, when the threat of freezing frost has already passed. It is necessary to carefully prepare the landing pits, choosing a sufficiently lit place, protected from the cold northeast wind. You need to make sure that there is a support for your plant nearby. The pits should be located at a distance of at least 60 centimeters from each other. They should be filled with a nutrient mixture consisting of humus, sand, turf land. At the bottom of the pits pour floral mineral fertilizers.
Kobe violet easily transfers the transplant from the pot, because at the same time its roots are not damaged. It is only necessary to be very careful with plant shoots when planting in a permanent place. After a few days, which are necessary for her to adapt and grow roots already in "real" conditions, your vine will grow, growing foliage. Initially, it must be fixed on a support, and then it will already cope on its own. In terms of decorativeness and ability to grow rapidly, a plant similar to a kobe is difficult to find. She is able to catch on her antennae for any roughness of the support and rise to a height of 6 meters, braiding it with a green carpet. Good watering and regular feeding are necessary for such a powerful fast-growing vine, like a kobe.
Planting plants in the ground at earlier times will require shelter, where plants can develop, adapting to real life conditions, without the threat of possible frost. Such a step will bring the beginning of flowering much closer, because the plants will receive an additional supply of time. They will get stronger, acclimatize, and will increase the root system and leaf mass necessary for starting. And from the moment of removing the cover of the kobe, the violet will immediately grow, throwing the first buds. The buds for the first time remain a greenish tint and, only when opened, are filled with purple. There is one more rare species - kobe white. Imagine how the green carpet of your arch is covered with amazing purple or white colors, which over time only become brighter. The kobeya blooms for a long time - until the autumn cold, calmly transferring small September frosts.
Already in the fall, you can cut the lashes and prepare the pits for planting the vine next year. In the presence of cool conditions, the roots can be stored in a container for next year, because a kobe, in essence, is a perennial tropical vine. It’s just that in our climate, she does not have wintering experience under a snowdrift. But she still has everything ahead!