Terry cornflower and its cultivation from seeds. cornflower

Cornflowers (Centaurea) are bright and beautiful flowers that decorate not only meadows, fields, but also summer cottages. As for the origins of the name of these flowers, opinions differ. Some believe that the cornflower was named so because ancient greek mythology there was a wise centaur Centaurea, who knew a lot about healing herbs. Others believe that the name of the flowers comes from the word “centaurea”, which means in Latin. "one hundred yellow flowers" This flower is also popularly called commotion, voloshka, boletus, blueflower, blavat, etc. Cornflower is familiar to many from children's fairy tales and poems. He deserved such popularity for a reason. So, there are many varieties of this flower. To date, more than 550 varieties are known. Cornflower grows in Europe, America and Asia. Read more about cornflowers, planting and caring for these flowers below.

Characteristics and description of cornflowers

The cornflower flower is considered an ornamental crop. Depending on the type of cornflower, its color may also change. So, in addition to the usual blue and lilac flowers, there are pink, burgundy, blue, yellow and other shades. In addition, plant sizes vary from 35 cm (dwarf varieties) to 110 cm (tall varieties). The stems are decorated with large inflorescences. The leaves of these plants are whole or dissected. They are placed in regular order on the stem. There are rhizomatous annual, biennial and perennial flower species.

This crop is unpretentious to both climatic conditions and soil type. IN winter period plants can be left without shelter. Cornflowers bloom almost all summer, starting from June and until the end of August. The culture does not require careful care, therefore it is valued by many gardeners for its simplicity and ease of cultivation.

Massive inflorescences have the shape of a ball or cylinder. The rims are usually scaly, but can also be bare. Inflorescences are most often arranged in groups, but single variants are also found. In the center of the inflorescence there are tubular flowers, and funnel-shaped flowers on the sides. The varieties of these flowers also differ in the shape of the roots and baskets. The roots usually have a long rod shape, sometimes slightly branched root system. Mountain cornflower, on the contrary, has a short root. The seed box of cornflowers has an oblong shape. It contains about 310 seeds.

Perennial and annual varieties cornflowers have some differences. Thus, perennial species are very resistant to various climatic conditions, as well as to diseases. They are easy to care for, grow in almost all types of soil, and reproduce easily. Throughout the year, regardless of the season, the basal leaves of perennial cornflowers have green color. That’s why gardeners love these flowers so much, because they practically decorate a summer cottage. all year round. The upper leaves grow in both spring and autumn. The foliage that formed in spring period, by the end of summer it turns yellow and falls off, and autumn leaves begin to grow in September.

By the end of summer, the cornflowers begin to form a seed box. It contains many small seeds. In order to grow cornflower from seeds, the seed pod is carefully removed during this period. And the seeds are placed in containers for storage. Those flowers that begin to fade are recommended to be completely uprooted along with the peduncle.

Cornflowers are an undemanding crop, but some rules should still be followed when planting them. So, first of all, they love sunny meadows, so try to plant them in areas that receive very good sunlight. If you are forming flower arrangement, then try to plant cornflowers in the first row so that taller plants do not shade them. The same rule applies when planting flowers in the garden. The rows should be formed so that the plants do not create shade for each other. Therefore, plant cornflowers in increments of 40-50 cm. Partial shade is less destructive only for the variety Cornflower Myagky. However, under such conditions, its flowering will still be less bright and lush than when planted in sunny meadows.

One more important characteristic cornflowers is their frost resistance. Even in snowy winters, the bushes of these flowers do not die. As for annual species, they retain green foliage until October.

Crop varieties

All crop varieties are conventionally divided into two groups:

1. Mesophytes. This group was derived from flower species that grow in grasslands and plains. They love moist to moderately moist soils. This group includes annual plant varieties. For example, Cornflower Soft, Cornflower Lugovoy, Cornflower Phrygian, etc. To grow flowers of this type, soil of neutral acidity is required.
2. Xerophytes. These flowers, unlike the first group of plants, do not need moist soil. They grow without much difficulty in dry soils. Cornflowers of this group grow in steppe zones. These include Blue Cornflower, Musk Cornflower (Amberboa muskus), etc. These flowers have a massive root system, so it is better to plant them in separate containers or in an area at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other.

High-growing varieties of cornflowers include the large-capacitated cornflower and Fisher's cornflower. These plants reach a height of 30 cm to 150 cm. They have a massive root system.

Planting and propagation of cornflowers

When planting cornflowers in your garden plot, you must maintain the distance between the bushes. It must be at least ½ m so that each bush has a sufficient amount of nutrients for proper development. Otherwise, the plant may degrade, its stems will become thin, and the buds will become small and faded in color.

Before planting plants in the ground, it is usually “squeezed”. In simple words, if the soil in the flowerbed is not too high density, it is compacted a little. The fact is that possible voids in the soil will not allow the plant to take root normally, which can cause development problems. When planting, it is necessary to monitor the direction of the roots. They should be directed both down and to the sides. You should not bury the plant too deep into the hole, however, this is acceptable for some plant varieties, for example, mountain cornflower or Fischer cornflower.

Cornflowers are planted using so-called divisions. They are part of a bush of an adult plant. Typically, cornflowers are planted on the eve of autumn, at the end of August. It is necessary to carefully dig up the adult bush of the plant along with the soil so as not to damage the roots. Then it is lowered into a bucket of water, where the roots are carefully washed from the remaining soil.

To stimulate the development of new bushes, they undergo root cropping. The length of the root of the division should not exceed 10 cm. After cutting the root, the adult bush is divided into several parts so that each of them has a full root and several healthy shoots with at least three buds.

After division, each division is planted in its place. To do this, dig a small hole in the ground, fill it with water, and after it has soaked the soil a little, plant the division. Then sprinkle with earth and add a little water on top. The new cornflower bush can be expected to bloom next summer.

Some plant species reproduce using seeds. These are annual cornflowers - Russian, field, Marshall and Musk cornflower. These species differ in that they have a taproot system.

You can sow annual cornflowers in the middle - end of April, then in the summer you can see their flowering. Sometimes perennial species of this plant are also planted using seeds. Sowing is carried out autumn-winter or mid-spring. Shoots of cornflower sown in spring appear within two weeks, however, it will be able to bloom only after a year.

The collected seeds of the plant can be successfully sown for 3 years; after this period, the likelihood of obtaining full-fledged seedlings sharply decreases.

Russian cornflower and Marshal's cornflower do not tolerate transplantation to a new location very well. Therefore, it is better to sow them on permanent place, or in a flower pot, and then planted in open ground along with the “native” soil.

Cornflowers: care

Growing cornflowers is not too troublesome. This plant is not fastidious in growth and does not require special care. It must be watered regularly and the soil loosened to ensure air access to the roots. Cornflower begins to bloom, although not too profusely, in mid-June. The plant does not require additional shaping, as it already has a rather attractive shape. After the crop has finished flowering, the dried flowers are cut off. This does not bring any benefit to him, but is done for aesthetic purposes so that the dried flowers do not spoil appearance flower beds. You can collect seeds from perennial plants of the second year of life; they are already strong enough for this. The collection is carried out at the end of August, at which time the bushes can be divided for propagation.

The perennial plant blooms quite successfully for 10 seasons. In addition to weeding and watering, it is necessary to occasionally fertilize with complex fertilizer formulations. Balanced flower mixtures can be found in any specialty store. In mid-autumn, flower bushes are pruned a second time. Do this up to the basal leaves.

The most common disease that affects cornflower bushes is fusarium wilt. This is a sponge disease that needs to be combated by treating not only the plant itself, but also the soil. To do this, use wood ash, which is sprinkled on the soil around the plant, and the solution is added cow dung or they are treated with foundationazole or topsin-M.

Cornflower flower: photo

Creating flower beds is a simple but effective way to transform your garden or country cottage area, and due to its low cost, it is also the most popular. However, choosing colors can be quite difficult. Knowledge of how to grow and care for plants will help simplify it. If there is not enough time to carefully monitor them, you can choose the most unpretentious flowers. These include terry cornflower. However, to grow it, you must adhere to some rules, then it will serve as a magnificent decoration for your flower bed.

Description of the plant

Cornflower has a number of alternative Russian names: sinyushnik, laskutnitsa, sinetsvetka, blavat, voloshka and others, it belongs to the Asteraceae family. The plant is especially popular not only because it looks great in a flower bed, but also for its excellent opportunity to make a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Details regarding the selection of colors for formation garden flower bed look .

Terry cornflower differs from field cornflower in the height of the stem, which can reach one hundred and twenty centimeters, and in the size of the flower, the diameter of which can be up to eight to ten centimeters. The inflorescence baskets are solitary.

Appearance of the plant

Terry cornflower can have a variety of colors from white and soft pink to dark blue and purple, depending on the variety. There are also yellow and burgundy inflorescences. The flower consists of funnel-shaped and tubular inflorescences, the leaves are found both whole and pinnate with dissections of gray-green color. The lower ones are petiolate.

The culture is widely used in folk and practical medicine as a choleretic and diuretic for eye diseases, rheumatism, gout, fractures and wounds. In cosmetology, it is used to get rid of swollen eyes, enlarged pores and dry skin.

Types and varieties

Modern varieties of cornflowers that can be found on sale are the results of the work of breeders, and without breeding hybrids, the plants would have a less attractive appearance. There are annual and perennial species and varieties.

Annuals

One of the most common plants is blue cornflower. different heights And various colors. Among the short ones, Jubilee Gem (blue) and Florence Pink (pale pink) are famous.

Musk variety

Among annuals, Musk cornflower is distinguished by its relatively small inflorescence.

Perennial

One of the latest and most popular is “Shelf Dot Mix”. This variety offers flowers up to five centimeters in diameter and a variety of colors. See more examples of unpretentious perennial plants.

White cornflower bushes have the shape of a sphere and reach sixty centimeters in height. This type has pink and white inflorescences. The most popular varieties are Steenbergii and John Courts.

Fisher's cornflower has large yellow flowers and a relatively low bush.

Round-headed cornflower also has large yellow inflorescences, but reaches a height of one hundred and fifty centimeters.

The mountain cornflower species grows up to fifty centimeters in height and comprises the following varieties: Alba, Rosea, Violetta and Grandiflora. Their colors are respectively white, pink, purple and blue-violet.

Mountain variety

Growing from seeds

Growing terry cornflower of any variety does not involve breeding seedlings, so the seeds of the plant can be added directly to the soil. Tall varieties are planted at a distance of five to ten centimeters from each other, low ones - up to twenty centimeters and, if necessary, thinned out. The main rule is to avoid creating shadows. To do this, it is necessary not only to maintain distance, but also to carefully choose a landing site. Cornflowers do not tolerate transplantation well because they have a tap root system.

Flowers can be grown on open ground or in ordinary pots on the balcony, while the planting material is good for two to three years.

Cultivation must be done in well-lit sunshine in non-acidic, well-drained soil. Alkaline soil provides bright color to the flower. Clay should be diluted with sand, and acidic with lime or. The best period For sowing, the time period can be considered from the end of April to mid-May. Cornflower begins its flowering in June and often ends with the arrival of frost.

The choice of place to plant cornflowers is also influenced by creating a composition with other plants. As a background for flowering plant Ordinary greenery or foliage of peonies and irises can serve. Also, cornflower seeds are often used to create a Moorish lawn. See details on growing and caring for Moorish lawns.

Cornflowers should not be planted next to flowers with the same flowering period. It is better if the height of the bushes of “background” plants is less than the height of the selected variety.

Planting in open ground

Before planting plants, it is necessary to prepare the beds, for which you need to mix two kilograms of humus with one tablespoon and one hundred grams wood ash. Next, you need to add two kilograms of peat to the mixture, after which it will be enough for one square meter.

Humus

The soil must be dug up and made into a depression of twenty to twenty-five centimeters. After creating furrows of shallow depth, the soil must be watered, then seeds can be placed in it. The top layer of soil should reach one centimeter. It must be covered with fabric on top.

The beds need to be watered every two to three days. Two liters of water are enough for one square meter. One to two weeks after planting, the cornflowers begin to sprout and the matter is removed.

Care

The main care for all varieties of terry cornflower is timely watering and fertilizing. In addition, it is necessary to thin out the plants in a timely manner and remove weeds from the beds.

Nitrophoska

Nitrophoska and urea are usually used as fertilizers. They are introduced into the soil with water, dissolving one tablespoon of each component for every ten liters. One square meter of bed requires about three to four liters of solution. Fertilizers should be applied once every one to two weeks. Yellowed castings act as an indicator of “overfeeding”. More details regarding types and application rates mineral fertilizers read .

In order for the flowers to maintain their proper appearance and flowering order, it is necessary to promptly remove faded baskets and shoots to the level of the rosette.

Diseases and pests

Dark spots on the leaves of terry cornflower indicate that the plant is affected by fusarium. In order to protect it from disease, treatment with foundationazole or watering with a solution of fresh mullein is required. This solution is made by mixing three parts water with three parts fertilizer. It is able to rid cornflowers not only of fusarium, but also of most types of fungi, and also provide additional feeding. You can also sprinkle the flower with wood ash.

Video

For a clear example of growing cornflowers from seeds, watch the video

Conclusion

If you want to decorate your garden or summer cottage, you choose the double cornflower crop, you can count on the fact that you will have to deal with an unpretentious plant, the types of which include many varieties various colors and forms. In addition, cornflowers can be grown not only in garden beds, but also in... You can make bouquets and compositions from flowers, combining them with other crops, and to obtain plants best quality, they should be provided with proper care.

For growing decorative flower, known as cornflower, seeds are not always needed. The variety of varieties of the plant called cornflower and their color scheme attract many gardeners and simply lovers of bouquets. But under the modest name are hidden annual and perennial plants, with a bizarre inflorescence shape, a rainbow range of shades, and a wide range of hybrids. Some of them are pleasing to the eye for several years, without requiring special shelter for the winter, some can be propagated by dividing the bush in August, and the traditional weed growing in wheat fields is completely self-seeding. Only an annual plant requires the indispensable presence of seeds when planting.

Approximately 500 species of cornflower with inflorescences ranging from white to dark purple shades grow on their own, are grown in elite flower beds, and are used in elegant floral arrangements. And only the traditional blue or dark blue look has medicinal properties. It is believed that centaurs were still on the threshold of archaic centuries Ancient Greece knew about its medicinal properties and collected it for healing.

Blue cornflower grows in forest belts, usually along the edges, along roads or in rye and wheat crops. It can be collected from June to September, because it is at this time that the plants bloom. Most often found in central or northern Russia, Western Siberia, but such an area of ​​normal distribution does not exclude the possibility of meeting it in the southern regions. Modest blue flowers in endless yellow fields are pleasing to the eye, but upset farmers, for whom it is nothing more than a weed. Collection at the time of flowering is due to the fact that only the petals located at the edges of the inflorescence are used for medicinal collections and remedies. Herbalists are confident that the inclusion of other elements of the flower in the collection significantly reduces its medicinal properties.

To prepare medicines, you have to collect a large number of flowers, precisely because only the petals at the edges are used. It is believed that in medicine Only petals of saturated color are suitable, so faded or lightly colored ones are not used. The collected petals are dried in a warm place in the shade at a temperature of no more than 45°C, but the use of dryers is also allowed. They are not kept in the sun because the petals lose their color, and uncolored petals, according to herbalists, do not have medicinal properties. Properly dried petals retain a blue color, taste bitter, smell practically nothing, and in this form can be used for 2 years.

IN Lately has become widespread, the practice self-cultivation medicinal plants. This is due to the natural desire to use high-quality raw materials grown in certain conditions, and not the incomprehensible trash that is sold in the markets. But by growing blue cornflower, you can not only collect your own ingredients for medicinal preparations, but also admire beautiful flowers, which delight the eye throughout the summer and early autumn. The unpretentiousness and undemanding nature of the plant make its cultivation quite trouble-free. This is especially true since its seeds are also present in traditional medicine recipes.

General characteristics of the flower

The wildflower grows equally well in any conditions. It doesn’t need to be watered every day; it can be planted in partial shade. But since flowers are needed for medicinal preparations, it will have to be planted in a place where there is often sun. It does not tolerate seedlings well, so it is recommended to plant it directly in the ground with seeds. If there is humus or compost, and they are added to the soil, the plant will delight you with fast and effective germination, green bushes, and abundant flowering. If you don’t have a personal plot, it doesn’t matter, cornflower can be grown beautifully in a box on the balcony, in a house flower bed, or in the front garden.

Within 2 weeks, seedlings will emerge from the seeds and spread upward, but they will need to be thinned out, otherwise the density of the sowing will become a harmful factor.

The long flowering of cornflower, from June to September, will make it possible to collect a sufficiently large amount of medicinal raw materials and dry it for the long winter.

Not all flowers should be picked off, but some should be allowed to bloom and form seeds, which will be useful for planting in the new season and for use in the future. folk remedies. Cornflower, the seeds of which are also used for treatment, pleases the eye not only with its intense flowering. This plant, used to treat various diseases of internal organs, is also used in medicinal cosmetics to cleanse the skin and relieve inflammation of the eyes and eyelids. When it is grown for therapeutic purposes, the hand is unlikely to rise to cut the flower from the bush. But it still needs to be trimmed. If you cut off a dried flower carefully, the cornflower will bloom even better (Fig. 1).

Medicinal plant and its beneficial properties

The widespread use of cornflower in folk medicine is well known. Cornflower seeds ripen in a non-cracking natural capsule, so it is best to wait for it to fully ripen and then carefully cut it from the stem. In the fall, you can uproot the plant and hang it to dry in a relatively warm place. This will provide a sufficient amount of its medicinal components for the winter. Beneficial features cornflower is undeniable because it contains:

• potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron;
• alkaloids in small quantities;
• essential oils and tannins;
• quinic and caffeic acid;
• anthocyanin, centaurine and glycosides.

Cornflower is used to realize its valuable properties, as an anti-inflammatory, diuretic, choleretic, antimicrobial agent, it is used to improve digestion. The seeds and flowers of the plant are used in the form of infusion, tincture, decoction and powder. The most common use of cornflower is in eye drops (for blepharitis, conjunctivitis, night blindness, increased eye fatigue). It is also used for diseases of the kidneys and urinary system, for damage to the liver, gall bladder, for uterine bleeding, for any diseases where it can be used as a diaphoretic, anti-fever, analgesic, anti-inflammatory agent. The modest blue cornflower weed, the seeds of which are carried by the wind across wheat and rye fields, is in fact an extremely useful and medicinal plant (Fig. 2).

In addition to its medicinal properties, it can be used to tint wine and champagne pink, to make cornflower blue vinegar, and to produce dye for woolen fabrics. Both seeds and flowers are used for culinary delights. Seeds are in powder form, flowers are in dried form. In addition to this utilitarian approach, it is also a sweet, simple, beautiful flower.

Simple and effective recipes

Blue cornflower is used in 4 main medicines:

1. 1 A decoction or infusion as a mild diuretic, choleretic, antimicrobial medicine, prepared by boiling in a water bath for 15 minutes, 1 tablespoon of dry raw material per 1 glass of water. Take 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. Good for 2 days. There are 2 more options with minor subtleties.
2. 2 Seed powder for sprinkling on warts and as a flavoring. From the leaves - applied to joints, tendons and muscles for aches. Crushed fresh flowers help with wound healing.
3. 3 Baths are prepared with the addition of a concentrated infusion or decoction poured into hot water. Very often prescribed for diathesis and eczema
4. 4 Fees. Use in medicinal preparations can be combined with a variety of ingredients from bean flaps and corn silk to mistletoe, hawthorn, and chokeberry. Here you need the advice of an experienced herbalist, who sometimes even creates individual options for a certain “bouquet” of diseases.

Special fans of the plant prepare cabbage soup, salads, sauces, borscht from it, and add it to meat and fish. If you grow cornflower, you can try the seeds yourself as a flavoring. Preparing powder from seeds is an extremely simple process: they need to be cleaned of foreign impurities, and, already dried, ground in a coffee grinder (Fig. 3).

As for other types of flowers called cornflower, they are not suitable for culinary needs or for treatment. It's just colorful ornamental plant with very different color scheme, with beautiful petals, often hybrid, double, modified for greater beauty. It will enliven and ennoble any flower bed, terrace, small cozy front garden, serve as a picturesque border blooming all summer long, along garden path, at a time when other plants have already faded.

Florists love it because it perfectly complements a composition of large inflorescences, but it also looks no worse in a separate bouquet. Cornflower, the seeds of which can be bought at a gardening store, is not suitable for treatment. He simply pleases the eyes with his modest beauty. Blue cornflower preparations can be purchased at any pharmacy.

All gardeners, without exception, love to transform their garden plots. Blue cornflowers are perfect for this purpose, because they are simple and... at the same time, beautiful flowers.

1. Many poets and poets wrote about their attractiveness, and artists decorated their canvases with amazing flowers.
2. The girls made wreaths from blue flowers, which they later used to tell fortunes for the corresponding holidays.
3. In addition, garden cornflower is used in cooking as a spice and dye.

Description and characteristics

You can meet the blue flower anywhere in Europe. Prefers to grow in fields among crops. Cornflower is found as a weed in Europe. In Russia, you can enjoy voloshka in Kamchatka and the Urals, Siberia and the foothills of Central Asia. In fields where rye, wheat, barley, oats, flax and alfalfa are sown, you can find the most beautiful cornflower, but harmful to the crops. In order to grow the plant, the ground must be covered with lime, and then all flowers must be removed.

There are countries in which blueflower is considered one of the harmful weeds that is almost impossible to get rid of.

But, even despite this, cornflower is bright flower decorating fields and roadsides.

Zvonova grass can be either an annual or biennial plant, or a perennial plant. The hairs, the photo of which shows all their beauty, are characterized by 120 centimeter straight or lying shoots. On the stem first there are whole leaves, after which variegated dissected ones grow.

Flowers are collected in various inflorescences, spherical or cylindrical shape. They are covered with bare or pubescent scales, arranged in one or more pieces. The marginal flowers are funnel-shaped, while the middle ones are tubular or tubular-funnel-shaped. Depending on the species, the root system also changes.

You can enjoy white, bluish, sunny yellow, pink, lavender, blue, burgundy and scarlet cornflowers.

Legends and fairy tales: the meaning of a flower

Literally translated from the ancient Greek language we hear - kentaurion, that is, centaur. There is a myth that Chiron, an herbalist, was named after this mythical creature, who, with the help of herbal components of a blue flower, was healed from the deadly arrow of the Mighty Hercules. Since then, cyanosis has received the name “centaur potion.”

Depending on the region in Russia, different names are heard: blue flower, bobwort, voloshka, zvonova grass, commotion or rye patchwork.

Cornflower received such names for a reason and there is even a legend about the origin of one.

One day, a river mermaid saw a plowman named Vasily and fell madly in love with him at first sight. She wished that he would live with her in the pond, but the guy did not share her feelings. The angry mermaid could not bear the refusal and bewitched the young man, turning him into a blue flower. The hue of this flower was the same color as his eyes of the clear sky and grew in the arable land where a young plowman once worked.

Since then, cornflowers began to be called mermaid love.

What varieties are found?

Today there are about 500 various types representatives of the family. They all have a lot of external differences. Breeders have managed to develop many varieties of various rich and muted shades. The most popular are terry hybrids, based on mountain cornflower. Samples related to annual plants, delight their owners with flowers until late autumn. You can enjoy these flowers after they wither only by sowing them again.

• Flower blue cornflower— Centaurea cyanus

The most famous and popular representative. This particular variety has many names: patchwork, cyanosis, blade, simple hair and others.

It can be either an annual or biennial plant belonging to the Compositae family. Its shoot reaches up to 80 cm. Green leaves are alternate or cobwebby - woolly. The foliage located below is petiolate, all others are linear and entire-marginal.

Blue, sky blue or azure flowers collected in single baskets will allow you to enjoy their mesmerizing blooms from the very beginning of summer until the onset of cold autumn.

The coolest hybrid of this species is the imperial cornflower.

• White hairworm - Centaurea margaritalba

The height of this species does not exceed 30 cm. Five-centimeter baskets include white double flowers. This variety is very rare, so it is listed in the Red Book, which prohibits damage to rare specimens.

• Mountain knapweed - Centaurea montana
  

The most recognizable perennial. The height of its shoot reaches 80 cm. The leaves are entire, oblong-lanceolate, dull green in color. The flowers located in the outermost row are funnel-shaped and colored deep blue or light blue. The middle flowers are tubular and endowed with a purple, blue or violet-lilac hue. This species is collected in rather large inflorescences of a basket with a circumference of about 5-7 cm.

• Yellow bighead - Centaurea macrocephala

It is a shrub whose size reaches 120 cm. The flowers of this amazing representative of the cornflowers are about 7 cm and are painted in a canary-yellow hue. Oblong-lanceolate leaves are located on erect massive stems. You can enjoy its flowering for 1.5 months, starting in July.

• Double cornflower

The height of the variety varies from 40 cm and reaches 120 cm. They can come in a wide variety of colors.

• Blue cornflower - Centaurea jacea
  

A perennial variety not exceeding 80 cm in height. The ribbed, erect shoot has a gray or cobwebby coating. The foliage is lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate in shape. Winged petioles hold the lower leaves, while the upper and middle ones are located on sessile petioles. The petals are colored lilac-pink, and sometimes White color. The large marginal flowers are funnel-shaped, collected in inflorescences; it is also worth noting that they are sterile. The flowers located in the center have a tubular shape. Most common in Europe.

• Oriental cornflowers - Centaurea orientalis

These hairs have been known since 1759. Perennial species most often found in the natural environment. The height varies from 80 cm and reaches 120 cm. On long petioles there are pinnately divided leaves. Yellow flowers collected in baskets.

Hybrid perennial cornflowers in the garden at the dacha video:

• Cornflower is a perennial favorite

The variety will grow no higher than 60 cm. They bloom on an erect shoot blue flowers, which after some time become slightly pinkish, and soon completely white.

• Field hair - Centaurea cyanus L
  

The height of this annual species is no more than 60 cm. Its flowering begins in May and lasts until August. Lanceolate-linear grayish-greenish leaves grow on massive shoots. The outer ones are solid, while the lower ones, on the contrary, are slightly lobed. The blue marginal flowers are funnel-shaped, while the middle ones are tubular in shape.

• White cornflower – Centaurea dealbata Willd
  

Variety perennial flower with straight branched spreading shoots, the height of which does not exceed 60 cm. Considered the most beautiful representative of the cornflower family, because its upper pinnately dissected oval leaves are green and the lower ones are snow-white. The circumference of the deep pink flowers is about 4 cm. Flowering lasts from June to September.

• Pink hairworm - Centaurea macrocephala rosea
  

Meter-long erect thick stems are decorated with oblong-lanceolate leaves. The inflorescences reach up to 5 cm in circumference. Pink cornflower begins to bloom in July and pleases its owners for 1.5 months.

• Garden cornflower
  

As previously mentioned, simple-looking creatures are highly decorative. The most popular are the perennial varieties, to which this variety belongs. After planting, it can feel great in the same place for about 10 years. But the most important advantage is that garden blueflower, like border cornflower, does not require special care.

IN landscape design They are often used in general plantings; if you plant low-growing specimens, they perfectly emphasize their splendor with their simplicity. They also look great along paths or borders. If you plant tall pets, it is better to give preference to the background of the plantings.

Gardeners do not disdain single plantings, for example, in the middle of an emerald grass lawn or far away near a fence or any fence. Voloshka is a discovery of amateur gardeners.

Planting and care in open ground

Beanwort is an easy-to-care plant, but those who decide to decorate their garden with it need to stock up on some skills. It prefers to grow in open sunny places, because for lush flowering it needs bright Sun rays. When planting flowers with other plants, give preference to the foreground (for dwarf varieties), which will allow them to receive enough light. A variety such as Soft Cornflower can grow in areas where partial shade predominates, but in this case its flowering will not be abundant.

The most important advantage of perennial plants is their frost resistance. Despite the harsh winters, small bushes can be seen from under the snow. Cornflower lingonberry jam, as well as other annual representatives of this family, delight the eye with rich foliage until late autumn.

How to plant cornflowers

Blue flowers indeed unusual flowers, capable of growing even in sand. If they are planted in nutritious fertile soil, they will stop reproducing. Bushes are able to live even next to the road, without fear of smog and exhaust fumes. That is why if you decide to plant hairweed in your garden, you can do it on soil deprived of nutrients.

Planting and caring for cornflower, which does not take much effort from you, still requires some special features of its growth.

1. The main thing is not to forget to loosen the soil next to the bushes so that air and moisture can properly reach the root system.
2. Reduce soil acidity by using dolomite flour or lime.
3. It should also be noted that excessive watering of some varieties will be harmful. Even those species that love moisture need moderate watering. Some of the varieties need little watering, as they are drought-resistant varieties.

Reproduction of hairs

There are several species through which blue flowers can be grown.

Seed propagation of double blue flowers

cornflower terry growing from seeds, when the time comes to plant, it needs some preparation. First you need to prepare the soil, which should be well-drained, acid-free and sandy loam. April and May are the most suitable time for sowing.

Cornflower seeds placed in alkaline soil not only grow much better, but their flowering becomes more lush and vibrant. Clay soil needs to be mixed with sand, but the acidity of the soil is reduced with the help of lime. But do not forget this procedure is carried out before the cold weather sets in..

What rules should be followed before sowing?

Most gardeners are interested in how to grow cornflowers and seeds without even suspecting that this procedure is not complicated, but requires compliance with some rules. Soil preparation is a process that should be approached with special care.

• To 2 kg of humus and peat you need to add 100 g. wood ash and 1 tbsp. nitrophoska.
• This amount is used per square meter of area where the seedlings will be sown.
• The beds need to be dug up, the soil should be thoroughly leveled and lightly compacted, not forgetting to make holes for the seeds.
• Water the soil and start sowing.
• Seedlings need to be covered with 1 cm of soil and compacted slightly by hand.
• Be sure to cover the resulting beds with fabric.

If you decide to plant several varieties at once, then form the beds so that after germination they do not impede each other’s growth and development. That is why keep a distance between them of about 40-50 cm.

Musk cornflower is grown from seeds in the same way as other varieties; after sowing it needs watering.

• It is worth considering that any seedlings, regardless of the variety, need to be moistened through a cloth every few days.
• After 2 weeks, sprouts will begin to emerge, which means you need to remove the fabric.
• Be sure to thin out the seedlings to make it easier for them to develop.
• The gap between each sprout should be approximately 10-13 cm.

You can grow flowers both in beds and in flowerpots. Cornflowers in a pot serve as an excellent decoration for balconies, loggias and balconies.

After proper collection, seed material can be stored for no more than 3 years.

Vegetative propagation

Reproduction by this method is usually carried out in August. In central Russia, this procedure is carried out in the spring, after the soil has warmed to about +10 degrees. As a rule, these are the last weeks of April and the beginning of May.

A year later, you will be able to see the unforgettable and memorable flowering of cornflowers, which look like small colorful butterflies.

How to properly care for blue flowers after planting

Cornflowers, when planted and cared for in open ground, are kept to a minimum, still need some attention. All you need to do is water, weed and loosen upper layer close up with hairs. If faded flowers appear on the bush, then they should be removed to preserve its decorative effect.

If you are growing flowers for cutting into bouquets, be sure to apply complex fertilizers once every 2 weeks for enhanced support for long-term flowering.

The photo of cornflower, which shows all its unusualness and beauty, is used not only to decorate the garden, but also for other (useful) purposes.

Where is the hair used?

Its flowers are used not only in folk, but also in classical medicine.

• With their help, you can get rid of some diseases of the eyes, liver and bile ducts.
• It is part of various antiseptics that are used to disinfect wounds and fractures.
• Popular infusions of cornflowers are used as a diuretic.
• Some of the varieties will help cure coughs and colds.
• In addition, these infusions are drunk as a prophylactic against ARVI.
• In order to restore the menstrual cycle, you need to drink a decoction of cornflowers.
• This flower is also used in cosmetology to get rid of emerging skin problems, including bags under the eyes, enlarged pores, and allergic rashes.

The cultivation of cornflower snow queen, which is quite simple, just like other representatives of this family, has contraindications for use if there is a lack of perception of the components.

Important! Before trying to get rid of any ailments with its help, be sure to make sure that blue flowers will not harm you.

How to properly collect and harvest blue meadow cornflower

Inflorescences must be collected at the time of their peak flowering. The root system should be dug up in late autumn. Everything you managed to collect needs to be laid out under a canopy or in a special dryer.

The cornflower blue color of the photo, which shows how beautiful the representatives of this family are, are used both in single plantings and in compositions. Thanks to low-growing bushes, you can decorate borders and paths, as well as diversify rose bushes. If you have chosen tall species, then the most suitable place for them is the background.

Having become the owner of such amazing flowers, which can be of a wide variety of colors, you can enjoy them lush flowering, giving joy to you and your loved ones.

Medicinal properties of meadow and field cornflower video review:

3603 02/15/2019 5 min.

Terry cornflower is an ornamental crop that is not very different from common cornflower. The plant is characterized by incredibly beautiful and abundant flowering. A flower basket includes many petals and holds each one firmly. They all fit tightly together, creating fluffiness. One stalk of cornflower can contain both terry and non-double baskets.

Description

Terry cornflower belongs to ornamental crops. Its peculiarity is that the flowers can take on different colors - from white to dark lilac. The plant has double inflorescences that rise on thin branched stems. The height of the bush reaches 50 cm, and the size of the flowers is 6 cm. There are double plants, both perennial and annual. All of them are easy to care for, hardy and cold-resistant. Perennial crops do not require special attention and are disease resistant.

Double cornflower

How and when to plant

To grow a healthy and abundantly flowering crop, you need to know some of the features of planting double cornflower.

Selecting a location

Before planting roller seeds, you must first decide on the variety. If it is a tall plant, then the choice of site should take into account its height. Terry tall cornflowers should be planted in the background of the flower bed or in its center. But lower plants can be located at the foot of their tall counterparts.

If you plant cornflowers with colorful flowers, then you need to take care of the background. It is best for it to be plain. Great option there will be green foliage of some plant, for example, iris or peony.

They will be an excellent company for terry cornflower. But it is completely unreasonable to plant asters near double flowers. Multi-colored asters and cornflowers will look ridiculous. In addition, these plants often coincide even in height.

Terry cornflower cannot be grown in areas where there is shade or partial shade. Under natural conditions, cornflower grows in spacious fields where there is no shade from trees.

So when choosing a location, it is necessary to take these nuances into account and create maximum natural conditions. So the plant will not need any shelter from the heat.

Once you have chosen sunny place, you need to pay attention to the soil. Terry cornflowers are among those crops that grow well on any soil. But if the soil is calcareous and fertilized, then the crop will respond with lush flowering. Can be planted around

If you want to grow perennial double cornflowers, then you should plant them in open ground in October-November or April. After 10-12 days you can see the first shoots. Flowering can be observed at next year. In August, cut off the wilted shoots and collect the seeds for subsequent sowing.

Sowing

If you decide to decorate your flowerbed with double cornflower, then you do not need to worry about growing seedlings in advance. This plant has high germination even with direct sowing. The terry cornflower also has a tap root system, so the crop tolerates replanting reluctantly. When sowing, the seeds should not be placed close to each other.

But how this happens is indicated in the content of the article.

This will help you understand how to grow from seeds and when to plant Thyme.

It will also be interesting to learn about how to plant ornamental cabbage with seeds:

There should be a distance of 5-10 cm between plants. This distance is acceptable for tall crops. Then, when lodging, the bushes will support each other. And if you use low varieties to decorate a flower bed, then there should be a distance of 20 cm between plants. The fact is that low crops can bush. In gusty winds, low bushes will not be damaged or torn apart. You can plant it around the bush, but you can see what the Budleya bush looks like in the photo in the contents

On the video - how to grow terry cornflower:

How to care

To give terry cornflowers abundant flowering, you need to take care of fertilizer. This must be done during the budding period. Nitrophoska and urea are excellent for these purposes. Take 20 g of them, add to 10 liters of water. Use the resulting solution to water the plants. There are 3-4 liters of fertilizer per 1 m2. Can be used for watering

To speed up the flowering of double cornflower, you can use the spraying method with Zircon. This remedy should be used right before the formation of buds. For 1 liter of water there is 1 ml of the drug. The resulting solution will be enough to treat 30 m2 of planting.

As for watering, for terry cornflowers it should be moderate. Water the plant only when the soil dries out. Maintenance also includes weeding and loosening the soil. When watering the plant, do not allow standing water, as this will cause the roots to rot and the bushes themselves to die.

After one landing annual crop continues to grow on the site, since its reproduction occurs independently - by self-sowing. The task of gardeners is to control this process and, if necessary, thin out the plantings.

As for pests, double cornflower, with proper care, is not susceptible to disease. Otherwise, the plant is affected by fusarium. This disease appears as dark spots on the leaves. It is possible to treat the disease, but this will require the use of chemicals. Most often, treatment is carried out using foundationazole.

And to illuminate flowers, you can use

Return