Flower growers these days have a very difficult time: the number of flowers, their varieties and varieties that can be planted on your own plot is so great that it is hard to imagine. There are more than 250 species and subspecies of carnations alone! Varieties that are used in floriculture are distinguished by increased decorativeness, unpretentiousness. Today we will tell you about the types and varieties of carnations, their cultivation, care features.
Turkish
Turkish cloves can be called the most favorite type of plant that gardeners grow in a two-year cycle. Surprisingly bright and lush inflorescences flare up already in June, they decorate the flower beds before the annuals bloom in full force. Varieties and hybrids of Turkish carnation are incredibly diverse: in the color palette of soft pink, white, cream shades, rich crimson and red tones.
Features of cultivation
PlantingTurkish carnation material of all varieties can either be immediately sent to the soil, and it is advisable to do this in May-June, or you can grow seedlings, this should be done in March-April. Two weeks before planting, the site must be dug up to a depth of about 20 centimeters, then the soil must be carefully watered and covered with polyethylene. After 14 days, seeds can be planted. Between the rows of carnations, a distance of 15 cm must be observed. In one row, the distance should not be less than 2 centimeters. The optimal depth is 1 cm. After that, the seeds should be sprinkled with soil, poured with water using a spray bottle, then pull on the polyethylene. You will see the first shoots in one to one and a half weeks. After 20 days, you can start picking. It is best to choose evening time or cloudy weather for picking. Caring for the Turkish carnation, which is also called the bearded carnation, is simple: the bushes need watering twice a week, top dressing and timely treatment from pests and diseases.
Little Willie
If you're looking for Turkish carnations that are short and cold hardy, look no further than Little Willie. The height of these carnations does not exceed 20 centimeters, and the variety of shades is amazing. The variety is ideal for flower beds, it is resistant to cold and drought, it grows well even in shady places.
Heimatland
Gardeners love this delightful variety of carnations for their early and long flowering. The first buds are already appearingin May, decorative bushes, whose height is about 50-55 cm, remain for 2 months. The leaves and shoots of such a carnation are dark green, they are characterized by a burgundy tint. The diameter of the inflorescences is usually 12 centimeters, these are small flowers with jagged petals of dark red color. The plant is quite stable, it does not lose its decorative effect even on cloudy rainy days.
Lachskenigin
This variety of carnations is a little more compact, its height rarely exceeds 45 cm. Green shoots and leaves adorn rather large flowers, the diameter of which is about 20-22 millimeters. Flowers with dense petals and a finely serrated edge are collected in round inflorescences. Lachskenigin blooms from mid-May to the very end of July. The color of the petals is salmon pink.
Chinese
Cultivation of Chinese cloves in our country is quite common. As the name implies, this species comes from the Middle Kingdom. Some varieties can be grown as an annual crop, others as a perennial. A subspecies called Chinese carnation Geddeviga is especially common. You can hear another name - a bordered carnation. The subspecies, bred by a gardener from St. Petersburg back in the 19th century, is distinguished by the presence of a border on the edges of the petals.
Cultivation of Chinese carnations
The first thing to pay attention to is the choice of location and soil. Chinese carnations grow well on the east and southeast side, as well as in the western part of the site. In shady places the growth of carnations of thisspecies is possible, but you will not get spectacular flowering. The soil should be loamy or sandy, always with the addition of lime or dolomite flour. Manure as a fertilizer for Chinese cloves is contraindicated, as is stagnant moisture.
Experienced flower growers recommend growing Chinese carnations using seedlings. Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked in succinic acid for a short time, and then planted in the soil to a depth of about 1.5 cm. To create a greenhouse effect, cover the container with film or glass. In no case should the seedlings be waterlogged: the seedlings of Chinese carnations are often affected by the black leg. So instead of the usual watering with a watering can, it is better to use spraying with a spray gun. You can grow seedlings in open ground already at the end of May, when warm weather sets in without cold snaps.
Mary
The height of Mary's carnations is about 25 centimeters, the shoots have a rich green tone, at the peak of flowering they are completely hidden by bright flowers, the diameter of which is 4 centimeters. The flowers are simple, with a pinnate margin. The petals are two-tone - a delicate white-pink shade is combined with a red center. Flowers bloom at the very beginning of July, continue to delight the eye until severe autumn cold snaps.
Vesuvius
This variety of Chinese carnation is characterized by rounded bushes, the height of which ranges from 25 to 30 cm. The leaves are green, elongated. On the nodes of the shoots, they have a rich burgundy hue. The flowers are usually about 7 cm in diameter, theydensely double, with a serrated edge. The color is fiery red, very bright. Like Mary, Vesuvius blooms from early July until the first cold snaps.
Schwarzer Prince
This variety of Chinese carnation can be called one of the most spectacular. The height of its compact bushes is 22-25 cm. The leaves are green, brownish at the nodes. The flowers are double, their diameter is 5-6 centimeters. The color of the petals is maroon, in some places practical black. On the jagged edges of the petals there is a snow-white border. Schwarzer Prince blooms in mid-June and pleases the eyes of gardeners until the autumn cold snap.
Dutch (garden)
This type of carnation brings together large groups of perennials, among which the most common carnation Shabo (pictured above), Margarita and Grenadine.
The Margarita group is a carnation, which is characterized by remontant flowering, continuous throughout the whole season. The height of the plants is 40-50 cm, the bushes are literally dotted with fragrant flowers of various tones: white, yellow or red. The group is not suitable for bouquets, as it fades quickly after cutting.
Carnations of the Grenadine group are distinguished by tall and powerful bushes - they grow up to 60 cm. The leaves of the bushes are narrow, have a bluish bloom. Inflorescences can be both simple and terry. One of the main advantages of this group, gardeners call frost resistance. In the fall, they can simply be covered with spruce branches or other improvised materials, and in the spring they will begin to bloom again.
Howeverthe most popular representative of garden carnations can be called the magnificent beauty Shabo. This group includes amazing ornamental hybrids and varieties.
Carnation Shabo
In the photo you can see that this carnation is characterized by large flowers, green shoots with a bluish bloom, single or flowers collected in inflorescences. In general, all carnations in this group are biennials, but they are grown as annuals.
When choosing soil for Shabo, preference should be given to universal light substrates. If you decide to prepare the soil yourself, combine garden soil, humus and peat in equal parts. And then add the halved amount of sand. Growing Shabo carnations from seeds should be started when the seedling season is still far away. Experienced gardeners say: in order for the flowers to bloom at least in the middle of summer, the plants must be sown in the middle of winter, and, speaking of early flowering, seedlings should be taken care of in early January.
However, you will just need to make small beards, plant seeds one at a time, compact the soil a little and cover the crops with glass or film. In order to germinate, Shabo carnation does not need bright light or any special temperature conditions. Seeds are able to germinate at a temperature of already +15 ° C, while the substrate should not be dry. However, overwatering is unacceptable. Florists recommend spraying the soil surface in the morning with a fine sprayer. Crops should be aired daily. Onceshoots will appear, the film should be removed, the plants should be placed on the south side or under the lamp, the temperature should be lowered to +12-13 degrees.
When the plant has the first pair of true leaves, you can carry out the first pick, the second requires the development of the fourth pair of true leaves.
Immediately after the second transplant, Shabo must begin to harden. The easiest way is to lower the night temperature to +10 degrees; on warm days, a container with seedlings can be placed on balconies or terraces. If there are no night frosts, Shabo can be transferred to the greenhouse for the night. At the end of May, carnations should be planted in a permanent place. The soil should be fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline. The best option is a site in direct sunlight. The soil on which Shabo will not take root is sand and clay. Of course, in too wet areas, the carnation will not take root either.
There are several varieties of Shabo, we will introduce you to them right now:
- Champagne. Carnation flowers of this variety are very fragrant, double, have a golden yellow hue. About 20 flowers are formed on one bush. The height of the Champagne carnations is 50 cm. The shoots are suitable for cutting. Flowering is quite long: it starts in June and ends in October.
- Mikado. The height of these carnations reaches 60 cm, the shoots are graceful, green, the leaves are narrow. The nodes have a light purple tint. The flowers are quite large, double, silky. They are characterized by a finely serrated edge and a stunning purple color.lilac shade. Flowering Mikado begins at the end of June and lasts until October.
- Aurora. The average height of the bushes is 65 cm, the shoots are green and bluish bloom. The inflorescences are very dense, densely double, the petals with a finely serrated edge have a smooth transition from salmon to pale pink. The variety is decorative and frost-resistant. These carnations will decorate the flower beds until the October frosts.
Grass
Gardeners - lovers of alpine slides are well acquainted with carnation perennial grass. She fell in love due to her compactness and stunning decorative effect. The height of this species is no more than 20 centimeters, the shoots are thin, creeping. The flowers are very small, they are characterized by bright pure shades. Flowering is rich, long-lasting: perennial grass blooms in mid-May, blooms with short breaks until October.
Among the varieties are the following:
- Confetti Deep Red. Grass bushes of this variety are spherical, their height does not exceed 15 cm. In May, saturated red flowers flare up, the middle of which is darker. The name of the variety conveys the appearance of this carnation: the flower bed seems to be strewn with bright red confetti. The variety is contraindicated in stagnant water. On light soils, Deep Red grows and blooms just fine.
- Diamond. This variety also has red flowers. The height of the bushes is slightly larger - 25 cm. The stems are branching. Leaves and shoots are characterized by a thick bluish tone, it is especially pronounced at the beginningseason. The diameter of the flowers is from one to one and a half centimeters, the petals are split, carmine-red. Lush flowering begins in June and continues until early September.
Needle-leaved
A rare guest in domestic gardens is needle-leaved carnation. In general, this species is common in the wild - spiny carnations are often found in the Southern Urals. The best place for them is pine forests and mountains. The bushes are thin, graceful. The shoots are long, the leaves are gray-green. Flowers usually consist of 5 petals, they are openwork, more like snowflakes with a delicate aroma. The height of needle-leaved carnations is from 15 to 30 cm. Airy flowers and hard needle-like leaves can make plants the main decoration of a rock garden.
Meadow
Like the needle carnation, the meadow carnation is more common in the wild. It grows on forest edges, clearings, where gravel or sandy-gravel soil prevails, in water meadows. These are the European part of Russia, the western regions of the Central Asian republics, Moldova and Ukraine. The flowers are quite small, simple and solitary. Rarely they are arranged in pairs. The petals are corrugated, they are characterized by a jagged edge and pink or red tones. Flowering of carnation meadow begins in June and lasts until mid-August. There are no varieties, the species is considered wild.
