People are accustomed to planting flowers just to be able to enjoy their aroma and beauty. It is unlikely that any of us thought that such plants exist that bring not only aesthetic pleasure, but also substantial benefits. It turns out that nature gave people such a miracle. These are marigold flowers, which can often be seen in urban flower beds than in summer residents on the site.
general information
The fact that these beauties rarely grow in gardens, and more often - on the street, is due to the fact that they are unpretentious and bloom all summer, and therefore municipal landscapers choose them, although they are annuals. And the fact that marigold flowers are not widespread among summer residents has a very prosaic reason - many do not really like their smell. But few know that what some consider a minus is a plus. This smell, so disliked by people, repels not only humans, but also many harmful worms that cause great damage to the crop.
But this can easily be avoided if planted along the perimeter of the site, where cultivated plants, marigold flowers grow. And then there will be no worms on the site.
Description
Marigold
flowers got their
name , most likely, because of the amazing velvety tide of brownish-red petals. Depending on the varieties, their height ranges from twenty centimeters to one meter. For example, the Mandarin or Petit Orange varieties are stunted, they form compact bushes, and such as the Hawaiian or Mary Helen are worn almost to the height of the fence on the site.
Representatives of the genus in the wild are most often found in Central or South America. Many varieties are cultivated in Mexico, Chile, Brazil, and others. In our country, erect marigolds are most often encountered as an alien plant. They are cultivated as ornamental plants.
Kinds
These flowers are also called Tagetes, and Ukrainians call them Chernobrivtsi. There are several types of this plant. In the shape of a flower there are marigolds rejected and erect. The first variety is also called French. They make beautiful curtains and borders. Compositions look especially beautiful if you alternate in color with contrasting, but similar in structure and form varieties. Marigolds rejected have a sprawling bush shape. As a rule, they are not tall.
Another species - marigolds erect, or African - these are real giants with powerful stems. They reach a height of one meter and have very large double flowers.
The smallest species are marigold thin-leaved or Mexican. Their flowers form a huge number of densely leafy shoots, on which very elegant, thin carved leaves grow. Apparently, from this their name went. In our country, another species is not yet widespread - it is anise marigolds.
Features
Tagetes belong to the family of asters or asteraceae. Today in our country there are not only annuals, but also marigolds perennial brought to us from Arizona.
All varieties have a well-developed fibrous root system. This plant blooms quite abundantly. Its leaves are cirrus-dissected or separate, dentate, from light to dark green, arranged in the next order or opposite, and having translucent glands.
The marigold fruit is a black or blackish-brown strongly flattened achene, which maintains viability for four years. In one gram from two hundred to seven hundred seeds.
Inflorescences
In Tagetes, they are terry or simple baskets painted in yellow, orange or brown. The heads of the inflorescences are of medium size. Their cylindrical blanket consists of one row of leaflets fused together. Marginal female flowers are reed, and achenes are linear, narrowed to the base. Marigolds bloom profusely, from June to the very frosts. The aroma that surrounds the plant during this period is very peculiar and strong. This smell is difficult to confuse with another.
Marigold flowers are believed to have positive energy. Among the Chinese, they are a symbol of longevity.
Growing
Florists know that orange and yellow marigolds are quite unpretentious and not demanding. This statement is especially true for varieties of deviated species that grow well even along busy highways. They perfectly tolerate the negative effects of exhaust gases, urban smog and poor soil conditions.
Almost all varieties prefer open areas, but if they are planted in a shaded garden, they will nonetheless delight the hosts with their long flowering. The soil for planting and growing should be neutral, loamy. At the same time, it is imperative to maintain optimum humidity in it.
Breeding
Marigold seeds are sown in open soil in late May or early June. Ten days later, the first shoots appear. First, it is desirable to cover the soil with a non-woven material - acrylic or lutrasil. In this case, the seeds can be planted a week or a half before the deadline, thereby accelerating flowering.
For seedlings earlier than the other varieties - in mid-March - marigolds are sown upright, while rejected or thin-leaved - from the beginning of April. With optimal care, the flowering of all three varieties will begin in June. The plant transfers the transplant easily, even in a flowering state.
Tagetes erecta
Tagetes erect or African have large terry inflorescences, reaching a diameter of up to fifteen centimeters. Coloring of flowers begins with pale yellow and ends with dark orange. I must say that this species prefers more sunny areas in the garden, and therefore reluctantly blooms in shaded places.
Varieties vary in height: there are giant, reaching a height of one meter, high (60-90 cm), medium (45-60 centimeters) and low. The most common representatives of the species are the Marigolds of Antigua, which have the lowest growth. This plant forms, with proper care, numerous inflorescences with a diameter of up to ten centimeters. Marigolds of Antigua can be seen not only in the gardens of summer residents, but also everywhere in parks and lawns right on the street.
Another representative of the erect species, the Golden Dollar, has compact tall bushes and strong thick ribbed shoots of light green color. It has large dark leaves and almost spherical clove-shaped inflorescences of red-orange color, which are odorless. This is an early variety, it blooms from late May until the first frost. In landscape design, the Golden Dollar is used for cutting and high groups.
Very often in the gardens you can find bright yellow marigolds. This is Gelber Stein, whose bushes grow up to seventy centimeters. The inflorescences of the yellow stone are chrysanthemum-like, light golden.
Other varieties of erect tagetes, such as Golden Light, Sunny, Lemon Prize, etc., are not very common among gardeners. They are most often used in parks for group planting.
Tabetes rejected
They are called French in another way. Compared to erect, they are much shorter in height and reach a height of a maximum of forty centimeters. They can have both terry and chrysanthemum-like inflorescences, which are also beautiful. Varieties of rejected marigolds are very numerous.
For example, the Golden Ball has sprawling strongly branched bushes growing up to half a meter. The shoots of this variety are green, ribbed and durable, with a reddish-brownish coating. The leaves of the Golden Ball are medium in size. Inflorescences are simple and semi-double, in diameter up to four centimeters. Reed flowers of this variety, located in one or two rows, are velvety and have a reddish-brown color, while tubular flowers are golden yellow. The golden ball, being early, blooms from the first days of June. It is used most often for cutting.
Another representative of the rejected tagetes, Reina Sofia, has slightly terry bicolor inflorescences: they appear red, with an orange-bronze border, but gradually, fading slightly in the sun, they acquire a brown hue. They reach a diameter of up to seven centimeters.
The most interesting in terms of appearance are lemon marigolds - Lemon Gem. They have densely leafy compact, highly branched bushes growing up to thirty centimeters that are spherical in shape. The shoots of lemon marigolds are thick and durable, with dark red ribs. The leaves are medium in size and dark green in color. Inflorescences are clove terry, up to four centimeters in diameter, consisting only of bright yellow reed flowers. This is a fairly early variety. Experts recommend growing it for flowerbeds and rabatok, for decorating balconies. The rejected tagetes also includes the varieties Golden Head, Orange Flame, Fireball , etc.
Leaf variety
These flowers have beautiful delicate delicate openwork leaves and small compared to other varieties of non-double inflorescences, reaching a maximum of two centimeters. The most popular representatives are marigolds, thin-leaved varieties of Gnome - spherical densely leafy branched bushes with strong shoots. They are often used as a pot culture.
Anise marigolds
This is perhaps the most amazing view of this plant. Its stem, leaves and flowers exude the smell of tarragon, but it is much more pleasant and stronger. And the taste of the plant is very reminiscent of this green. The aroma of anise marigolds is felt even at a sufficient distance. They bloom profusely throughout the summer months and are well suited for flower gardens of any type, even with a limited amount of soil. The plant is unpretentious, drought tolerant, but at the same time very fond of warmth.
Diseases and Pests
A great advantage of marigold flowers is their stability. Phytoncides, which are secreted by their leaves, perfectly repel insects, including those living in the soil. And yet, from time to time, they may show a black leg or gray rot, which is the result of fungal activity, as well as bacterial and diseases.
Marigolds, if they are properly looked after, will thank their master not only by abundant growth, but also by beautiful long flowering. In order for the plant to grow and develop safely even on poor soils, regular feeding is necessary: at least two to three times during the growing season.
The properties
Marigold flowers look great both in pots or flower girls on apartment balconies, and separately or in a group with other annual or perennial plants. Many of them decorate flowerbeds and borders, believing that these flowers are simply indispensable for decorating the garden.
But, in addition to their decorative characteristics, marigolds also have a number of other useful properties.
They are able to heal the soil and plants on it from infection with a nematode, safely rid them of pests such as aphids, bears, cabbage fly and even a cotton scoop. The green mass of this crop, laid in autumn in compost, is an excellent fertilizer that enriches and heals the earth.
Few people know that marigolds are great healers. Their flowers help against a number of diseases. First of all, they contribute to the preservation of vision, because they contain lutein. If you eat one or two small flowers or inflorescences before meals, you can forget about the visit to the optometrist. You can dry marigolds and add one tablespoon of dry raw materials to tea. Such a natural drink has a beneficial effect during colic and bloating.
When insects bite in the country, and after that very unpleasant and itchy swellings remain, then fresh juice from the leaves of marigold will help. They need to be rubbed in the hands, applied to the problem place.