Breeders have bred many varieties of cloves, and the exact number of varieties of this attractive plant cannot even be counted. But against the background of this diversity, grenadine stands out. This group of flowers of the Dutch selection is distinguished by its excellent appearance, unpretentiousness, frost resistance and resistance to diseases and pests. The rules for growing clove grenadine seedlings from seeds, as well as its planting and caring for this attractive plant will be discussed in this article.
Description
Carnation grenadine belongs to the garden (Dutch) varieties of plants of the Carnation family. It is a compact flowering shrub often grown as a biennial. The variety has an attractive appearance: it has narrow silvery leaves growing from the base,tall and thin stems, as well as lush terry buds, painted in white, pink and red tones. But breeders have bred varieties with variegated colors - in the form of a border, dots and stains.
Shrub grows up to 60 cm in height. And the diameter of the buds, with proper agricultural technology and cultivation in fertile soil, can reach 6 cm. They are collected in small groups at the ends of the stems and exude a strong but pleasant aroma that spreads throughout the district. Flowering, as a rule, begins in June, and on average lasts 30 days. But in some cases, the buds may last until September.
As a rule, in the first year the plant produces 7-18 peduncles, and in the second year their number more than doubles. And some specimens give up to 100 buds. Alas, in the third year, carnation grenadine rarely pleases gardeners with lush flowering. Therefore, it is advisable to rejuvenate the shrub every two years.
Best varieties
Breeders have bred many varieties of grenadine cloves. But the following varieties are recognized as the best among them:
- Carrot king. This variety is distinguished by large terry buds, and thin straight shoots, reaching up to 60 cm in height. The petals of the plant, which emit a pleasant aroma, are painted in a rich bright red color.
- King in black. Carnation grenadine of this variety is distinguished by a dark brown-red color of buds with a purple tint. Compact shrub reaches 40-60 cm in height.
- Delight. Under this name most oftensell a mixture of colors with different colors. Plants reach up to 60 cm in height, and are densely covered with fragrant buds with a diameter of 5 cm.
- Coral. The variety is distinguished by its compact size, and pinkish-red color of the petals.
- Rose. This variety is valued for its rich pink bud color.
Each of these varieties will decorate your flower bed. But for this you will have to make some efforts, ensure the proper care and planting of grenadine cloves.
Choosing a seat
Plants with light, fertile soil are suitable for growing clove grenadines. If you plan to break a flower bed on clay soil, then two years before planting flowers, be sure to apply organic fertilizer to it. For a plant, it is desirable to choose well-lit places, but carnations will take root in a small shade, however, their color may fade slightly.
In no case do not choose places for a flower bed in a lowland, in flooded areas or in places with a close occurrence of groundwater, because the plant categorically does not tolerate stagnant moisture at the roots. As a last resort, be sure to make good drainage. But it is not a fact that in such conditions the flowers will take root.
Sowing rules
When to plant grenadine cloves for seedlings? Start this event in late March - early April. But first, prepare the substrate. For flowers, the usual store-bought mixture is suitable, but if you want to make the soil yourself, then mix soddy soil, river sand, humus and peat in a ratio of 1: 1: 2: 2. Be sure to disinfect the substrate. To do this, calcine it in the oven, hold it over steam or spill it with potassium permanganate. Otherwise, the flowers will die from pathogenic bacteria and pests that live in the soil.
It is important to know not only when to sow grenadine cloves for seedlings, but also how to do it correctly. If you are a beginner florist, then follow the instructions below:
- Fill a suitable container with prepared substrate.
- Fold a small piece of paper in half and fill this makeshift envelope with clove seeds.
- Sprinkle the soil with warm water from a spray bottle, carefully and evenly spread the planting material over the substrate, lightly tapping the paper with your fingers.
- Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of soil, 0.5-1 cm thick. Lightly level the planting surface with your fingers.
- Sprinkle the soil again with water from a spray bottle. Be very careful not to wash the seeds.
- Cover the landing with glass or a plastic bag.
Place the greenhouse in a warm place with a temperature of +18…+20 °C. Ventilate the landing daily and remove condensation from the shelter. Water the soil if necessary, preventing it from drying out. At this stage, the plants do not need light. Therefore, you can choose a dark place.
Seedling care
As a rule, when growing clove grenadine from seeds, the first shoots appear already on the 8-10th day. As soon as sprouts appear, move the container to a lighted place or place it nearbywith planting a phytolamp.
Seedling care consists in daily airing the greenhouse, removing condensate, and periodically moistening the soil. Keep in mind that it is impossible to allow the soil to dry out, but you should not get too carried away with watering, because this can lead to decay of the seedlings. And also remember that you can only moisten the substrate with warm settled water, and it is advisable to use a spray bottle for this purpose. Otherwise, you may damage the seedlings.
Raise the shelter as the plants grow. To do this, you can fix it on a wire. After a week of seed germination, thin seedlings if necessary, removing the weakest specimens.
When 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, dive seedlings into individual pots filled with a substrate with the same composition as for growing seedlings. If desired, the pick can be carried out in one container, but at the same time, a distance of 4 cm between specimens must be observed.
When 4 leaves appear on the seedlings, pinch the top of each plant. This will encourage the growth of side shoots. Be sure to treat the pinching place with a fungicide to speed up healing. And also feed young plants with a weak solution of nitrogen fertilizer.
With the advent of heat, young flowers can be planted in a flower bed. You will learn more about planting grenadine cloves and caring for them below.
Landing in open ground
You need to plant young shrubs in open ground no earlier than mid-July. But this event should be held before the beginning of August, otherwise the plants will notwill have time to take root before the onset of frost and may die. Prepare the site before the event. To do this, dig the soil and add a mixture of humus, wood ash, peat and superphosphate to it.
For planting, dig holes with a diameter slightly larger than the root system of flowers. Carnation grenadines need a lot of space, so keep a distance of 30-35 cm between specimens. Transplant flowers in cloudy weather or in the evening along with an earthy clod, being careful not to damage the weak root system. Water the flower bed after planting.
Irrigation
Carnation grenadine tolerates drought. But still, it is advisable to water the young bushes twice a month before the onset of autumn. At the same time, look at the weather, and if it rains, then cancel irrigation.
With the advent of spring, be sure to remove the snow from the flower bed, because excess moisture can cause root rot. Adult plants have enough rainfall and groundwater, so there is no need to water them. As a last resort, irrigate if it is a hot and dry summer.
Loosening and weeding
The next day after watering or rainfall, loosen the soil near the flowers. Otherwise, a dense crust will form on the ground, which will block the access of air to the roots. Do this with the utmost care. After all, flowers have a superficial root system. And also during the procedure, remove weeds, which not only drown out the growth of shrubs, but can also be a source of disease andpests.
Feeding
In order for the grenadine carnation to release as many flower stalks as possible, it is advisable to feed it with complex mineral fertilizers:
- Hold this event in the spring for the first time. For top dressing, use superphosphate, or ammonium nitrate, or any complete fertilizer that has more nitrogen than potassium and phosphorus.
- Feed the flowers a second time during bud formation. To do this, use superphosphate or a composition with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.
- Filt your last fertilization at the peak of your crop's flowering. At this time, plants spend a huge amount of nutrients on the buds, so they need additional feeding in the form of phosphorus-potassium compounds.
Apply fertilizer only after watering or rainfall so that the compounds do not burn the roots of the plant.
Cutting and support
When the side shoots of carnations reach 20 cm in length, it is advisable to pinch their tops. Then the shrubs will begin to branch more and turn into a lush flowering ball. If you are growing tall varieties, then tie the plants to a support during flowering. So you avoid breaking the stems. And also do not forget to regularly remove wilted flower stalks. You need to cut them in such a way that a stump up to 12 cm long remains.
Wintering
Carnation Grenadine is frost-resistant, but it is still desirable to prepare the plant for the cold. For thiscut the shoots, leaving stumps of 10 cm, and then cover the bushes with spruce branches or lutrasil. And also before that it is useful to treat the shrubs with pesticides that will protect the culture from rodents. In addition, do not forget to compact the snow in the flower bed in winter. This will be an additional measure of protection.
Do not rush to remove the shelter in the spring, because during the winter the root system of flowers is very exposed. Therefore, let the bushes recuperate a little after the cold weather, and only then remove the spruce branches or lutrasil. And also hold this event in cloudy weather so that the plants do not get burned from the bright rays of the sun.
Diseases and pests
Carnation grenadine is a plant with strong immunity, and with adequate agricultural technology, it is not afraid of diseases and pests. But if you systematically violate the rules of cultivation, then the culture can get sick. As a rule, this is caused by an excess of nitrogen and a lack of potassium, high humidity or a strong thickening of the plantings. In addition, organic fertilizers negatively affect the he alth of the plant, so they are not recommended for use as top dressings.
To avoid diseases and pests, it is enough to give the plant minimal attention. And it is also necessary to periodically treat the bushes with insecticides for prevention. Do not grow hyacinths, gladioli, tulips and irises next to carnations. These plants can become sources of various diseases.
In addition, it is advisable to change the place for the flower bed every five years. The fact is that over time, pathogens of viral diseases accumulate in the soil. And when theythe mass reaches a critical point, they hit the flowers. So take this feature into account and move the flower bed from place to place.
Reviews
Carnation grenadine enjoys well-deserved popularity among flower growers. Users note that this plant is unpretentious, takes root in almost any area, and even a beginner grower can take care of it. In addition, the variety has an attractive appearance and numerous fragrant buds, which give the shrub the appearance of a flowering ball.
Now you know all about growing carnation grenadine from seeds. Follow these guidelines and provide the plants with the right care, and they will surely thank you with their fast growth and numerous fragrant buds, which will undoubtedly become the decoration of your site.
