Mattiola evening fragrance: growing from seeds, planting and care, photo. Mattiola flower

A flower such as mattiola has many varieties. gardeners given plant attracted by chance. It turns out that the flower is not only attractive appearance, but also a wonderful aroma that can open up in the evening hours of summer. In order to grow any variety of mattiola, you need to remember some rules. And all because Matthiola is a capricious flower. In this situation, it is recommended to do the right growing from seed and know when to plant this plant.

General information

Mattiola is herbaceous plant which can be annual, biennial, or multi-year. Today matthiola has more than 20 species. And each species is characterized by its own characteristics of reproduction and development. It is worth saying that in a large number of types of mattiola, only two types are popular:

Bicorn Mattiola.This type The plant is distinguished by small and not very beautiful flowers. As a rule, such colors have pale shades. They are collected in inflorescences that resemble brushes. The height of such matthiola can be 20-50 cm. It all depends on the variety. If we talk about the time of flower development, then the cycle length is 2-2.5 months. Due to the simple shape of the flower, seeds can be collected. Do it at the end of the season. Seeds that are ripe should be brown in color. These seeds are characterized by a high percentage of germination. Sow seeds in open ground can be in the spring or in the late months of winter.

On a note! Matthiola bicornu is not recommended to be grown by seedlings. It turns out that the plant has a stem root system, which negatively tolerates transplants of various kinds.

In general, the two-horned matthiola is most valued for its aroma. Basically, the plant exudes aroma at night and in the evening. The flower has no decorative qualities. And all because its flowers close in the morning, and open only in the dark.

Gray Mattiola. Unlike the first species, this plant is decorative. If we talk about the height of the flower, then some varieties have a stem height of 80-30 cm. best flower- this is mattiola, which has a double flower. But in order to grow a matthiola with a double flower, the seeds will have to be taken from a mattiola with ordinary flowers. The process of formation and maturation of seeds can be from 80 to 100 days. And the germination of seeds can last for 5-6 years.

Levkoy gray has many different varieties. The number of these varieties has already exceeded 600 units. They may have different shape and bush size. They also differ among themselves in terms of flowering, coloring and other signs.

Due to the length of the development cycle, Mattiola gray can be divided into 3 types:

Levkoy autumn. If the plant is planted at the end of March, then flowering will occur at the end of August, or in early September.

Levkoy winter. If you plant in June or July of the current year, then the plant will bloom next year in the spring.

Levkoy summer. This type of plant is very popular. And all because if you sow a plant in March, then flowering can occur as early as June of the year of sowing. And if you sow flowers before the onset of winter, then flowering can occur as early as May-June next year.

On a note! Winter and autumn varieties of Levkoy are not able to endure the harsh winter of Russia. Therefore, the winter method of growing a plant is not recommended. In this case, it is better to plant the plant for distillation or as a potted indoor flower.

Summer matthiols, unlike summer varieties in the open field, develop perfectly. This variety of levkoy does not have excellent fragrant qualities. But the duration of flowering can be 15-20 days. But Matthiola bicornu with its flowers that appear at night can decorate the garden for only 5 days.

Terry matiola. Seed Selection Criteria

If carried out proper cultivation from seeds, then mattiola will please beautiful flowering. You probably figured out when to plant this plant. Now we will offer you those tips that will help you grow terry mattiola. Terry mattiola is very popular. Therefore, all summer residents are trying to get as much as possible more seeds terry plants. As a rule, seed selection can be divided into 2 stages:

while collecting seeds. Seeds should be collected from simple species flower. If the pods turn yellow, then you can start collecting seeds. Frost can be considered another sign for collecting seeds. In order to obtain plants from high sign terry, you need to remember the following:

• Choose short pods to harvest that are irregularly shaped and have a slightly rounded top.
• Prefer plants with a drooping look and pay attention to the stigma lobes, which should be pressed closely together.
• Mattiola, which have longer pods that have 2 horns small size and stigma lobes bent in different directions, as a rule, have seeds with a simple peduncle shape.

After shoots appear, it can be observed that 10% or 30% will be with simple flowers. The most important sign of a double flower is the bright green color of the foliage. Seeds that you have collected from various types of plants are recommended to be sown only for the next year.

How to sow seeds in the ground

Planting matthiola can be done by seeds. Seeds are sown directly in open ground. Of course, it is important to choose suitable site, which should be well lit by the sun and be protected from the wind. Remember that it is these conditions that Mattiola prefers. And if you plant mattiola in areas devoid of sunlight, then flowering will be very scarce.

For levkoy, sandy or loamy soil is suitable. It should be neutral in acidity. Matthiola should not be planted in those areas where cruciferous plants grew 4 years ago. This is not necessary because matthiola may become infected with a fungus or some other disease. Mattiola negatively tolerates fertilizer in the form of humus and stagnant moisture. As a result of such actions, a plant may develop a dark leg, which will lead to its death.

It is necessary to prepare the soil for planting matthiola in the fall. Fertilizers that will be applied to the soil can only die at low temperatures. Soil preparation is as follows:

• A piece of land is dug up to a depth of 30-40 cm. Mix the earth with humus.
• Also apply a liquid complex fertilizer to the ground. A flower substrate can replace it.

On a note! Planting a two-horned mattiola is recommended to be carried out in flower beds where other decorative flower stalks grow. As a result, the area with mattiola will look beautiful, and in the evening you will enjoy a wonderful aroma.

How to sow seeds correctly?

Mattiola flowers has many varieties. But its cultivation is almost always the same. This is done as follows:

• First, the previously prepared soil is loosened,
• Then make grooves 0.5 cm deep and moisten them,
• Take the sand and mix them together with the seeds in a ratio of 1:10, distribute the mixture in the grooves,
• Sprinkle with earth without tamping, after which you can moisten again.

On a note! After spring sowing, the first shoots will appear in 1.5 - 2 weeks. If sowing was done in the fall, then expect seedlings in the next spring.

How to care for seedlings

Growing matthiola from seeds at home does not present any difficulties. Yes, and caring for the plant is considered simple. For example, after a plant has 2-3 leaves, they must be thinned out. At the same time, leave the distance between the sprouts to be 15-35 cm. In general, this indicator depends on the variety of the bush and the measure of its growth.

On a note! Excessive density can contribute to the appearance of fungus in the plant.

In order for mattiola to grow and develop normally, the soil should not be overdried. Weeds should also be removed. Remember that they draw all the nutrients from the soil that the growing matthiola needs. If you manage to follow all the rules for planting mattiola, then the plant will delight you with beautiful flowers in 2.5 months.

How to sow seeds for seedlings

If use seedling method growing matthiola, then in June it will be possible to get a flowering plant. In this case, the sowing of seeds is carried out in the last days of March or at the beginning of April.

How to prepare seeds and soil?

A couple of days before the upcoming planting, prepare the ground and seeds. In this case, observe the following rules:

• Wash the containers with water, to which add a little manganese. Then dry them well.
• A few pebbles are placed at the bottom of the container. They will replace your drainage system.
• Now the boxes can be filled with earth. The land should consist of: turf land and sand in a ratio of 3:1.
• Next, pour the earth that is in the boxes with plain water. Add a small amount of manganese to the water.
• In order for the seeds to germinate faster, they are soaked for a day in boiled water. The water must be at room temperature. Then the seeds are taken out of the water and wrapped in a piece of cloth, which must be damp. In this form, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf.

We sow the seeds.

After all the activities described above are carried out, you need to start sowing seeds. In this case, we perform the following actions:

• Make grooves at a distance of 4 cm from each other.
• Spread the seeds with tweezers. The distance between them should be 3 cm.
• Sprinkle with earth and moisten.
• Cover with glass and take the pot to a warm but dark place.

When shoots appear, and this will happen after 5-8 days, the seed pot goes to a bright place. In this case, the temperature must be lowered. It should be 12-147 degrees. This must be done to speed up flowering.

Pick.

If the seedlings have 3 leaves, then it is necessary to proceed with their transplantation. Use individual peat pots as containers. Paper cups and other containers will do. Such containers should be filled with earth, which consists of:

• pieces of sand,
• Parts of sod land,
• Two pieces of leafy land.

Before planting, seedlings are watered abundantly. Mattiola transplantation is carried out with clod of land. Plants should be deepened into the ground under the cotyledons. Also leave a distance of 4 cm. Pack the soil around the seedling and water well. On the permanent place Growing mattiola is planted in the middle or at the end of May. Keep a distance of 15-30 cm in landing.

On a note! After planting, the first days the plant is covered from the hot sun.

How to care for an adult plant

Even to unpretentious flower appropriate care is required. Mattiola in this case is no exception. Care should be as follows:

1. Maintain moderate watering. If the soil is completely dry, then the flowers quickly shrink and fade.
2. Be sure to loosen the soil after watering and rains.
3. Remove weeds and flowering flowers in a timely manner.
4. Apply systematic mineral fertilizers every 3 weeks.
5. Constantly inspect the plant for diseases.

How to deal with plant diseases and pests?

1. In order to prevent the appearance of a black leg in matthiola, it is necessary to use a fungicidal solution. Water the flowers with this composition once a month.
2. Wood ash works well against cruciferous fleas. Therefore, sprinkle the plants with this substance after heavy rains.
3. If you treat mattiola with a weak solution of valerian, then you can get rid of white butterflies.
4. When a disease occurs on the leaves of the disease, they are removed and burned.

Finally

In order for Matthiola to grow as a healthy plant, it is important proper fit and proper care. In the photo, this plant is very beautiful. You can admire this plant all summer, and at night you can enjoy a wonderful aroma.

One of beautiful flowers in the garden is Mattiola. Due to the glut of the market with a variety of horticultural crops, not everyone is familiar with this species.

In ancient times, it was very popular among Italians and Greeks. Today, matthiola grows in the Mediterranean countries. In other regions, it is grown in mixed flower beds and discounts.

Varieties of matthiola

The height of herbaceous plants can reach 1 meter, and some species grow only up to 15 cm. The stems are woody or grassy; some of them are naked, others are pubescent.

The shape of the leaves can be carved, lanceolate, obtuse, oblong or ovate.

flowers matthiols are terry or simple, which are collected in spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences. Petals are distinguished by purple, pink, purple, lilac, yellow and white hues. The fruits look like pods filled with flat seeds.

But main feature plant is that it exudes a magical fragrant aroma that manifests itself in the evening and at night with the opening of flowers.

The Matthiola genus includes more than 50 varieties. All of them differ in time and flowering period, external structure and features of cultivation and reproduction.

Gardeners usually grow matthiola bicornu and mattiola gray-haired.

Mattiola bicorne

Its other name is “night violet”, since the color of its flowers resembles tones violets, and pleases the plant with a pleasant smell with the sunset.

The variety is an annual crop. The flowering period is the entire summer season.

The stems grow up to 30-50 cm, forming sprawling and branched bushes. bicorn mattiola is distinguished by oblong, oval and pubescent leaves. The most common shades of flowers are lilac, lavender, greenish-purple and white. The flowers are closed during the day and open in the evening, releasing a strong and pleasant fragrance.

Pod-shaped fruits have two short horns at the top. Gray-brown seeds of small size, germination - 2-3 years.

Popular varieties of matthiola bicorne:

• "Night Violet". The type of air inflorescences is racemose. The leaves are large-toothed, the length of the stems usually reaches 30 cm. With the first rays of the sun, the flowers and leaves curl up, and with the onset of the evening they open again and fill the air with a pleasant smell. They are used not only in the garden, but also in decorating balconies and terraces.
• "Lilak". The shape of the leaves is linear large-toothed. Densely branched stems grow up to half a meter. Loose racemose inflorescences have a strong, bewitching aroma. They are found in Mauritanian lawns and mixed ridges.
• . Purple and pale lilac flowers with highly branched stems can reach a height of 40-50 cm. Abundant flowering is accompanied by an intense aroma in the evenings and at night. Bushes are formed by loose racemose inflorescences.
• "Star Light". It is a variety mixture with different shades of matthiola flowers. They are characterized by a low decorative effect, but they have an exquisite aroma. They are planted next to the house, benches, along curbs and garden paths.

Mattiola gray-haired

Another name is "gray-haired left". Varieties of gray-haired levkoy can be annual and perennial. Surprisingly, sometimes double and simple type flowers are characteristic of the same species. Belongs to the cruciferous family.

Levkoy has gentle spicy aroma. Leaves and stems are pubescent and whitish. A rich range of shades of colors. Stems with spike-shaped inflorescences can be 20-60 cm in height. The period of preservation of seed germination is 4-6 years.

Varieties of gray-haired levkoy are classified by flowering period (summer, autumn, winter), by type of stem (single, branched) and by type of flowers:

1. Bouquet. Summer flowering season. Attractive flowers reach a diameter of 4 cm. There are different shades. The central and lateral stems of the bush grow almost the same height (25-30 cm).
2. gigantic. Bomb-shaped flowers grow more than half a meter. They are characterized by late flowering until the first frosts. big flowers 5-6 cm in diameter, they are held on brushes reaching 20 cm in length. The central shoots reach their maximum height faster than the side shoots. From famous varieties it is necessary to highlight "Northern", "Vygonochny", "Gigantic tree-like".
3. Quedlinburg. Terry and non-double signs of flowers are already pronounced at the seedling stage.

This group of plants is divided into the following 4 subgroups:

• six-shaped. The most valuable subspecies with dense flowers, the diameter of which reaches 6 cm. The height of the stems is 50–80 cm. Loose inflorescences are distinguished by one high central one.
• late high. They reach a height of 50 cm. Densely branched stems form pyramidal bushes. Plants with large double flowers.
• early high. Spreading bush with bright flowers grows within 60–70 cm. Large leaves predominate on tall stems.
• Early low. Flowers 20-40 cm high form a spherical bush.

Mattiola: growing from seeds

When to plant matthiola seeds? Each type of plant has its own characteristics in sowing, which should be repeated regularly for better flowering.

Night violets are planted in April. Perform a two- or three-time repetition of sowing in two weeks. Planting seeds of levkoy is done in late winter or early spring.

Mattiola: planting and care (photo, description)

Mattiola is bicornuate. Growing from seeds and care

Mattiola bicornu better grown method of planting seeds in open ground. The soil in which cruciferous crops were grown will not work; mattiola will not even rise in it.

The site for cultivation is chosen well lit sun, but a semi-shaded place would not be a bad option.

Previously, the soil is dug up and processed with a moderate amount of mineral fertilizers. It is not recommended to add organic substances. Landing is done in the sun-warmed and watered earth.

Pits for seeds are made 3–4 cm deep. The distance between the holes is made at least 15 cm. 4–5 seeds are thrown into each recess, covered with sand and soil. First seedlings should be expected in 8-10 days.

Mattiola care consists in regular watering. 1-2 times a month, the soil is treated with mineral fertilizers. But it is advised not to fertilize with manure, since the night violet does not tolerate it. Faded flowers should be cut off so that the plant develops intensively.

This species is rarely planted seedling way which he does not tolerate well.

Growing gray matthiola from seeds at home

And the gray-haired left, on the contrary, is grown in seedlings. Sustainability to transplantation allows you to grow mattiola at home, which, when planted in open ground, will sprout faster and will have a longer flowering period.

Prepared containers are treated with a small amount of potassium permanganate. Add a layer to dried containers drainage. Sand and peat are mixed in a ratio of 1/3 and containers are filled with the mixture. The earth is watered with a small amount of water with a share of potassium permanganate.

To speed up germination, the seeds are soaked in a container with a slightly cooled boiled water for a day. Then they are placed in the refrigerator in a damp cloth for another day.

In the grooves made, the seeds are laid out at a distance of 3 cm, sprinkled with earth and watered. seedlings, covered with glass or film, rearranged in a dark place.

The first sprouts appear after 6-8 days. With the advent of leaves, seedlings are watered and carefully dug out of containers with a clod of earth into small pots.

For planting, it is worth taking a day without bright sun so that young plants do not get burned. earth previously dig and level with a rake. Recesses for seedlings are made at a distance of 20–30 cm. The sprouts are planted in moist soil, sprinkling the roots with earth and slightly crushing the soil around the seedlings.

Planting Matthiola "Temptation"

beautiful mixture of flowers pink, purple, violet and white color grown by seedlings and sowing seeds in open ground. Hardened seedlings are planted in the ground in late spring and bloom even in the first frost.

flower plots draw up next to the house or in the garden in a sunny area. For low flowers, beautiful vases are assigned, which are placed on balconies or terraces.

Mattiola care rules

In addition to regular watering and mineral dressings, mattiola needs loosening of the soil after rains and watering. To maintain the decorative appearance of the bushes, wilted flowers and weeds are removed in time.

Care also consists in a thorough inspection of plants to identify possible diseases and pests. The well-known matthiola disease - the black leg - is warned with a fungicidal solution.

Leaves with affected areas are immediately cut off, otherwise the disease spreads to the entire plant. To prevent cruciferous fleas from appearing, sprinkle flowers after rain wood ash.

Providing all conditions for growth and development blooming gardens will always please the owners with their attractive view and sophisticated aroma.

Some varieties of matthiola entice gardeners with their decorative characteristics, others with a fragrance that intensifies at night. However, growing one or another type of matthiola without knowing certain nuances regarding planting and caring for a plant is not at all easy.

Matthiola is a herbaceous plant of one, two or perennial nature. Currently, there are more than 20 types of mattiola, each of which has certain features of development and reproduction. At the same time, only 2 types are most popular:

1. Matthiola bicornu is characterized by small, inconspicuous flowers of pale shades, which are collected in racemose inflorescences. Depending on the variety, the height of the plant can be 20-50 cm. The matthiola development cycle, counting from the time of sowing to the beginning of flowering, varies between 2-2.5 months. The simple shape of the flower indicates the possibility of collecting seeds at the end of the season, the formation of which occurs in a small pod. Ripe seeds have a grayish-brown hue and retain a high percentage of germination for 3-4 years. At the same time, the seeds of matthiola bicorne are sown either with the onset of spring, or late autumn directly into the ground. It is better not to use the seedling method of growing matthiola, since the plant, having a tap root system, does not tolerate any transplants.

In general, matthiola bicorne is valued for the aroma exhaled by flowers in the evening and, especially, at night. Matthiola does not differ in decorative qualities during daylight hours, since by morning the flowers of the plant close and open only at sunset.

2. Matthiola gray, unlike the previous species, is cultivated due to decorative features. The height of some varieties of gray-haired levkoy can reach 80-90 cm. Matthiola with a terry type of flower is of the greatest decorative value. However, seeds from which terry individuals grow can only be obtained from plants with simple flowers. Depending on the cultivar, the process of seed formation and ripening takes about 80-100 days. Seed germination persists for 5-6 years.

Various varieties of gray-haired levkoy, the number of which has already exceeded 600 units, differ not only in the shape, size of the bush and inflorescences, flowering time, petal color, but also in the period of flowering.

Based on the duration of the development cycle, mattiola gray is divided into 3 types:

• autumn levkoy, if planted in the last decade of March, blooms only in late August or early September;
• winter levkoy, when sown in June or July of the current year, blooms in the spring of the next year;
• summer levkoy, relative to previous species, is the most popular, since sowing seeds in March contributes to the flowering of the plant as early as June of the current year. When sowing seeds in late autumn, it will be possible to enjoy flowering only in May-June of the next year.

Because autumn and winter varieties Levkoev do not tolerate frosts that are fierce in winter, then it is simply impractical to use the winter method of growing these plants in open ground. But for forcing in greenhouses for cutting, or as a pot plant, these varieties are ideal.

Unlike winter and autumn varieties, summer matthiols develop well in open ground.

Thus, the gray-haired left, surpassing the two-horned matthiola in decorative characteristics, is significantly inferior to it in terms of the degree of exhaled aroma. However, the duration of flowering of gray-haired mattiola with double flowers reaches 15-20 days, while bicorn mattiola, being the owner of only simple flowers, will decorate the garden in the evening and at night for only 4-5 days. At the same time, a sign of terryness of future plants can be determined even at the stage of seed collection.

Selection criteria for terry mattiola

Since plants with a terry type of flower are of the greatest decorative value, most gardeners are trying to get the maximum number of seeds with signs of terry. The selection is made in 2 stages:

1. At the seed collection stage. Due to the sterility of matthiola terry varieties, seeds are collected from plants with simple type flower. The signal for the collection of seeds are yellowed pods and the onset of frost. You can get plants with double flowers with a high degree of probability if:

• mature seeds are in short pods, often irregular shape and a somewhat rounded top;
• the lobes of the stigma are closely pressed against each other, and the plants themselves have a drooping appearance.

Mattiola with a longer pod, having 2 small horns at the top, and stigma lobes bent in different directions indicate the receipt of seeds with a simple flower shape.

2. When shoots appear. Even with careful selection of seeds, 10-30% will turn out to be seedlings with a simple flower shape. A sign of terryness in emerging shoots are large leaves of a pale green hue. At the same time, the bright green color of the leaves indicates the absence of signs of doubleness in the future plant.

Regardless of the type of flower, independently harvested seeds it is better to sow only the next year after their collection.

Sowing seeds in open ground

With regard to the two-horned matthiola, cultivation from seeds is carried out by sowing them immediately in open ground, since the plant does not tolerate transplantation well and often dies when using the seedling method.

Site selection

Mattiola prefers sunny, sheltered areas, although midday shading will not harm the flowers in any way. Planting matthiola in areas that are hidden from the rays of the sun for most of the day will result in poor flowering and stretching of the stems.

Loamy or sandy loamy soil with a neutral acidity indicator is suitable for the full growth and development of levkoy.

It is undesirable to sow seeds in a plot where various representatives of the cruciferous family grew 3-4 years before planting matthiola, since there is a high probability of infection of flowers with diseases such as keel, fungus and other ailments that affect the roots of the plant. In addition, matthiola does not tolerate stagnant moisture and the application of humus soil as a fertilizer, since these factors cause the plants to develop a black leg, which subsequently leads to the death of flowers.

It is advisable to prepare the soil in late autumn, six months or a year before sowing seeds, since the microbes introduced with fertilizers die under the influence of winter frosts. For this you need:

• dig the earth to a depth of 30-40 cm and mix it with humus (7 kg of humus per 1 m2 of plot);
• add liquid complex fertilizer or a neutral flower substrate (3 tablespoons per 1 m2 of land).

Given the periodic loss of decorative characteristics of the two-horned matthiola, it is better to plant seeds in flower beds with other flowering plants, which during the day will give the selected area a more aesthetic appearance.

Sowing seeds

Depending on the variety and type of matthiola, seeds are sown in spring or autumn as follows:

• loosen previously prepared soil;
• make grooves to a depth of about 0.5 cm and slightly moisten them;
• mix seeds with sand in a ratio of 1:10 and distribute along the grooves;
• without tamping, sprinkle with earth and moisten again.

With spring sowing, seedlings should be expected 1.5-2 weeks after planting, and with autumn sowing, only next spring.

Seedling Care

When 2-3 leaves appear, future plants must be thinned out, leaving a distance of 15-35 cm between them, depending on the variety and degree of growth of the bush, since excessive plant density contributes to the development of fungal diseases.

The soil should not be allowed to dry out, since mattiola is a moisture-loving plant.

Systematically remove weeds pulling stock nutrients from the soil, which is so necessary for growing flowers.

Subject to all measures and sowing seeds in the spring, matthiola will delight the owner with the appearance of flowers in 2.5-3.5 months.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

To get a flowering plant in the month of June, many gardeners use the seedling method of growing matthiola. In this case, the sowing of seeds is carried out in late March or early April.

Seed and soil preparation

The ground and boxes must be prepared 2 days before the upcoming planting, observing the following sequence of work:

• we wash containers for planting with water with the addition of a small amount of potassium permanganate and dry thoroughly;
• we put several pebbles on the bottom of the box, which will replace the drainage system;
• we fill the boxes with earth, consisting of sand and sod land in a ratio of 1: 3;
• we spill the earth prepared in boxes with water, again with a small addition of potassium permanganate until a pinkish color appears.

To speed up germination, the seeds must be soaked for 24 hours in boiled water. room temperature, then wrap it in a damp cloth and move it to the refrigerator for another day, highlighting a place on the bottom shelf.

Sowing seeds

After all preparatory activities proceed to direct sowing seeds:

• we make grooves at a distance of 4 cm from each other;
• spread the seeds with tweezers, keeping a distance of 3 cm between them;
• sprinkle with earth and moisten;
• cover with glass, after which we remove it in a dark, but rather warm place.

After the emergence of seedlings (after 5-8 days), we move the boxes to a bright place and reduce the temperature to 12-14 degrees. Lowering the temperature is a necessary measure, since with more high temperature bud formation, along with flowering, is delayed. For example, if the air temperature is 25 degrees, then the beginning of flowering will be 10-30 days late, depending on the varietal indicators.

Picking plants

The appearance of 2-3 leaves in seedlings indicates the need to transplant future plants. Separate peat pots, paper cups or other containers can be used as containers to reduce the likelihood of root damage when transplanted into the ground.

Prepared containers are filled with earth, consisting of:

• leaf land - 2 parts;
• sod land -1 part;
• sand - 1 part.

Before transplanting, seedlings must be shed abundantly. Mattiola transplantation is carried out with a clod of earth. At the same time, future plants are deepened into the soil under the cotyledons, leaving a distance between seedlings equal to 4 cm, and the ground around the seedling is compacted and watered abundantly.

Seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the middle or end of May, at a distance of 15-30 cm from each other. However, the first 2-3 days after planting, it is better to shade the plants, especially in hot weather so that they are better accepted in a new place.

Care for an adult matthiola

Despite the unpretentiousness of matthiola, care for these plants is still required and it consists in the following:

1. Moderate watering. With excessive dryness of the soil, the flowers begin to shrink and quickly fade.
2. Loosening the soil after rain and watering.
3. Weed control that deprives plants of moisture and nutrients.
4. Timely removal of faded flowers, contributing to the maintenance decorative look matthiols.
5. The systematic introduction of mineral, but not organic fertilizers every 3 weeks after planting the plant in a permanent place. Special attention fertilizer should be given during the formation of buds and after the flowers wither.
6. Carrying out activities aimed at the prevention and timely detection of diseases in plants, for example:

• it is possible to prevent the appearance of a black leg in matthiola, the photo of which is presented below, with the help of a fungicidal solution, watering the plant once a month;
• sprinkling plants with wood ash after heavy rains - preventive measure regarding cruciferous fleas;
• processing mattiola with a weak solution of valerian will help to cope with white butterflies;
• if dots and other signs of damage appear on the leaves, the leaves must be removed and burned to prevent the spread of the disease throughout the plant.

Thus, observing all the nuances when sowing mattiola, planting and caring, you can enjoy the decorativeness of this plant throughout the summer or inhale the aroma emitted by the night violet.

Lovers of exquisite aromas prefer to grow levka. The flower has a delicate fragrant smell, which intensifies at night. Planting matthiola in the open field and caring for the plant is not difficult even for beginner flower growers.

Levkoi - annual varieties for the garden

Levkoy gray (Matthiola incana) in nature grows in southern Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. In other areas, this beautiful flower in wild does not occur.

Levkoy - annual and perennial flowers of the Cruciferous family. Cultivated mainly annual varieties matthiols, whose agricultural technology will be discussed in this article.

Levkoy gray

Plants reach a height of 60 cm, tall cut varieties can grow up to 1 m.

The cruciferous family is characterized by simple, four-petal flowers in the form of a cross, pink, white, lilac, red, with strong aroma. The straight stems of the plant bear alternate leaves with pubescence. The tap roots of mattiola are very strong, do not differ in large size.

Currently, breeders have bred a huge number of varieties of terry levkoy. However, there is a certain pattern: for reproduction, seeds are collected from non-double flowers. Terry flowers of matthiola are sterile, seeds do not form in them. After flowering, about 8 seeds ripen in the pod, which remain viable for several years.

Matthiola variety with non-double flowers

It is customary to subdivide Levkoy into groups (there are 10), into which plants are combined according to flowering time, size, and agrotechnics of cultivation. Meet to various types Levkoev can be in the photo. Among them are remontant varieties that bloom twice a year.

Flowers look spectacular in bouquet compositions (varieties Brilliant, Golden Bouquet, Quedlinburg Levkoy and Excelsior).

Levkoy for cutting

Photos of bouquets of matthiola flowers are fascinating, which give the composition an inexpressible grace and airiness.

Mattiola: planting and care in the open field

Levkoy grow well and develop on loose fertile soils, with sufficient moisture and neutral reaction. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging and high acidity of the soil. For the normal development of matthiola, it is required to allocate bright, sunny places for planting culture.

The plant does not tolerate excessive fertilizing, it is especially scary to overfeed levkoy with fresh organic fertilizers.

Advice! Watering requires moderate, but systematic. It is especially important to follow timely watering flower beds in the summer heat.

In autumn, plants bloom until the very cold weather, easily enduring morning frosts.

It is most convenient to plant mattiola seedlings

Levkoy are planted directly in the ground by seeds or seedlings. In some regions of Russia, when sown with seeds in the ground, the flowers do not have time to bloom.

Plant care includes the timely removal of weeds and loosening the soil. Timely top dressing is the key to abundant flowering. Levkoi bloom for a long time and profusely. To prevent the plant from depleting, it is useful to carry out regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. When planting in the garden, you can add a granular phosphate fertilizer of prolonged action.

Propagation of matthiola: methods and techniques

Annual levkoy reproduce exclusively by seeds, while sowing in open ground or for seedlings in a greenhouse is practiced. The time of flowering of plants depends on the timing of sowing. There are spring, summer and autumn flowering.

matthiola seeds

Sowing seeds in open ground is carried out in the spring, when the earth is already warm enough. Seeds are laid out in furrows, sprinkled with earth. It will take three months for the seedling to grow before flowering. If the seedlings are too dense, some of the plants must be removed, using them for transplanting into a free bed.

Advice! The most amazing double flowers come from crooked, twisted seeds. Do not rush to discard irregularly shaped seeds, you can lose lush flowers.

Sowing late varieties it makes sense to spend in a greenhouse for seedlings.

Diseases and pests of matthiola

For this plant, characteristic diseases are lesions by Fusarium and keel of cabbage. Fungal spores remain in the soil for a long time and can infect a flower culture.

Kila cabbage

At the first signs of fungal infections on plants, levkoy must be treated with fungicides. Cabbage pests can also infect mattiola. Flowering plant damage whites, cabbage butterflies and cruciferous fleas.

Levkoi - tenderness in combination with other plants

Curly flowers of annual levkoy perfectly harmonize in flowerbeds and flower beds with other annuals. Of particular interest is the combination colorful flowers with lavender, rosemary, decorative wormwood, mignonette.

Mattiola in the flowerbed

Good combinations are obtained when planting matthiola next to perennial phlox, pyrethrum, nivyanik. Interesting compositions are obtained by planting plants next to decorative leafy plants and herbs(thyme, thyme).

Mattiola in landscape design

The flowers have a strong pleasant aroma that intensifies at night. Levkoy is usually planted in special compositions with fragrant flower crops.

Mattiola also looks good in flowerpots

The plant is suitable for growing in pots and flowerpots. Undersized varieties matthiols are used in landscape design for registration of rock gardens, pools and ponds.

Planting matthiola and caring for it: video

Mattiola: photo

Levkoy or mattiola are once widespread flowers interspersed in living borders of royal gardens, aristocratic flower terraces and front gardens of the common people. However, fashion - the lady is not only changeable, but also walking in a circle - the popularity of these colors is again beginning to gain momentum.

Modern flower plants This class owes its name to the Italian Pietro Mattioli, an outstanding botanist and court physician, who in the middle of the 16th century was one of the leading European specialists in herbs and decorative flowers. It was thanks to his efforts that new types and varieties of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths appeared. Well, about the left-handed ... It is not known for certain who made the effort, but after some time, in memory of this outstanding scientist, in the code of international botanical nomenclature, these flowers changed their name from Leucoion (white violet) to Matthiola.

Currently 2 botanical species are cultivated- Levkoy or gray-haired matthiola (Matthiola Incana) and two-horned matthiola (Matthiola Bicornis).

white levkoy

More than 500 modern varieties of gillyflowers are unusually decorative in group plantings. Due to their wide growth range and colors, they can be grown into a multi-tiered composition in a flower bed, which will give fragrant pleasure from June to November, and in the southern regions during the winter months. Dwarf varieties will be a wonderful year-round decoration of any interior.

Description of the botanical species

Mattiola gray (Levkoy) is, as a rule, an annual, less often a perennial, with herbaceous, often lignified stems, which can be simple or branched. Oblong-lanceolate, ovate leaves arranged alternately , may be smooth or pubescent. Due to the variety of leaf colors - from rich light green to numerous deep dark shades with a silvery fluff, the composition of gillyflowers will look at 100 even in the middle of the day.

Mattiola gray-haired blooms for a long time, throwing out several flower stalks in turn. Erect racemose inflorescences, of various shapes and densities, consist of 10-100 flowers. Brushes, group planting, 10-30% - simple, the rest - decorative terry. Simple flowers consist of 4, and terry flowers consist of a large number (up to 70) of simple petals. Coloring, size and shape of the brush are multivariate. Flowering of simple forms lasts 4-5, and terry - up to 20 days. Only terry varieties have high aesthetic qualities.

Reproduction features

No wonder botanists were so interested in left-handed people. Mattiola gray - a unique plant with a very interesting way reproduction. Despite the fact that levkoy reproduce by seeds, the main part of the inflorescences is barren due to the defectiveness of double flowers - they do not have pistils and stamens. This sterility is characteristic of terry inflorescences. Only flowering of simple 4-petal flowers ends with dry pods with bean-shaped seeds.

The method of “conception” is also interesting - self-pollination occurs in a closed young bud, and when it opens, a small horn already sticks out against the background of a cross of 4 petals. Unlike other types of matthiol, levkoy retain a very high seed germination (up to 6 years).

For self-study seed material, it is very important to maintain a balance between simple and terry levkoy - 10–30% to 90–70%. His carried out in 2 stages:

1. At the stage of collecting seeds - from even and dense pods will grow simple shapes, and from twisted or short, blunt, pressed to the stem pods - terry. At the end of September, when the pods turn brown, it is necessary to pull out the whole plant and dry them in a ventilated room. After the pods are completely dry, they break off and shake out the seeds.
2. When growing seedlings - place the plants for two days in a room with t 6–8℃. In terry plants, the cotyledon leaves will become light green, and in simple ones - dark green.

Sowing dates

When choosing a variety for cultivation, it must be remembered that levkoy, depending on the duration of the development cycle, are divided into 3 categories and require an individual approach.

Varieties of the autumn and winter category in the conditions of the middle lane do not winter in open ground, so tall species are cultivated for forcing and cutting, and undersized - for home growing in pots. Levkoy, sown in open ground, blooms much later than seedlings.

Landing in open ground

Loamy and sandy soils with slightly alkaline or neutral ph are ideal for levkoy. The site should be well lit and drained. To avoid infection cruciferous flea avoid areas where cruciferous plants have previously grown, or before planting seedlings treat the soil with Hom. By fulfilling these requirements, you will facilitate further care behind the plants.

When sowing seeds in open ground, a little sand is poured into shallow grooves. After the seeds sprout, thinning is necessary:

1. At the stage of two cotyledon leaves, the distance between the sprouts should be 8–10 cm.
2. In phase 4–5 of this leaf. As a result of the second (sometimes third) thinning, the distance between single-stem plants should be from 15 to 20 cm, and between branched or pyramidal plants more - 25–30 cm. earthy clod to an empty seat.

seedling method

Before planting, levkoy seeds are soaked in water until they swell (approximately a day). Then, wrapped in a damp cloth, stratified for several days in freezer. Shallow containers are required for germination. with prepared soil mixture of turf and sand- 3:1. It is impossible to take soil from the area where cruciferous plants grew - the seedlings will get sick with a keeled or black leg.

When planting, it is necessary to try to sow the seeds sparsely and to a depth of no more than 0.5 cm. The box is covered with a film and placed in a dark place with t = 22–25 ℃. Seed germination is 4–5 days, possibly up to 2 weeks. As soon as the sprouts appear, the film must be removed and the box placed under bright diffused light in a room with a low temperature of up to 10–12 ℃. The first watering of plants is carried out 2-3 days after germination.

After 10–12 days from the appearance of sprouts, seedlings dive into cassettes with a soil mixture of sand (1), leafy soil (2) and turf (2). Do not pay attention to the fact that the plants did not have real leaves. During a dive it is desirable strengthen the root system any modern means, and when the first two true leaves appear, feed with a one-liter solution with microdoses: blue vitriol(0.3 g), manganese sulfate (0.3 g), zinc (0.1 g), boric acid(0.3 g).

Two weeks before transplanting into open ground, hardening procedures are carried out, gradually increasing in time.

Planting seedlings in the open should be carried out after May 15. Shouldn't be afraid return frosts- Levkoy will perfectly endure such troubles. For better survival, young plants are planted in earthen holes, abundantly flooded with water. After filling the holes - the earth is carefully compacted. The interval between undersized and single-stemmed plants is 15x15 or 20x20 cm; for tall and branched varieties - 25x25 or 30x30 cm.

Varieties

Before anyone who wants to enjoy not only the smell, but also the beauty of terry inflorescences, there will be difficult choice. And here it is not only a matter of choosing the growth of a plant or the color of leaves and flowers. Modern selection also offers 8 different forms inflorescences.

Mattiola - empress of scents of unthinkable tones

Another variety of mattiola - bicornuate, is grown not for "contemplation", but for "smell". Inconspicuous flowers that bloom at dusk are intoxicatingly fragrant from sunset to sunrise.

The selection of this species is aimed at improving and diversifying the shades of the aroma. Therefore, matthiola bicornuate is, as a rule, highly branched annual shrub 40 to 50 cm high with linear green serrated leaves. Seeds are formed in a pod, which ends with 2 horns. The seeds of the horned levkoy remain viable for up to 3 years. The rules for planting and care do not differ from matthiola gray.

Levkoy and mattiola care

Night violets are not very capricious, but still require proper and regular attention:

• balanced watering - carried out in a timely manner, since the flowers cannot stand waterlogging and drought;
• mineral top dressing - full support is needed in spring mineral fertilizer, and during flowering - potassium-phosphorus.
• cruciferous flea control - upon detection, a 3-fold (with breaks of 4-5 days), thorough, from all sides, treatment of the leaves with an ash solution or special insecticides should be carried out;
• destruction of weeds and loosening of the soil - is carried out after each rain or watering for a full-fledged root "breathing";
• mulching - matthiols love such attention, especially in the heat, but perennial levkoy does not need it in the year of planting;
• preparation for winter - in the middle lane, the plants are pulled out, the site is dug up and fertilized, and in the southern regions the matthiols are cut to the level of the soil surface.

Before the onset of cold weather, matthiol can be transplanted into a pot and continue growing at home. The beloved matthiola terry bush and its spicy aroma will give pleasure on long winter nights and will not require careful care.

“He has come,” flies from elm to elm, and suddenly the sleepless smell of mattiol becomes heavy, as if having reached the highest phase. B. Pasternak.

Levkoy flowers