Tagetes are another representatives of the Astrov family. They have a wide variety of annual and perennial species. In Russia, they were the first overseas flowers, as they came here to South and Central America in the sixteenth century. The Indians used them for various ceremonies and rituals, and it was also believed that these cute flowers could cure various diseases. Now marigolds, or black-breasts, are distributed throughout the globe.
Description
Stems of marigolds form bushes that can reach a height of 130 centimeters. The leaves are divided into small feathers that have a bright green or dark green tint. The root system is fibrous, rather sprawling. Flower baskets come in all sorts of shades of brown, yellow and orange. Marigolds begin to bloom at the beginning of summer and delight gardeners with their bright baskets right up to the onset of the firstfrost. They have these flowers and a fruit where the ripened seeds are stored.
Tagetes tend to self-sow, and their seeds can remain viable for up to four years. It is generally accepted that marigold flowers have a strong spicy smell, but this is a misconception, since the fragrance comes from the leaves to a greater extent.
Types and varieties
As already mentioned, there are many varieties of these bright flowers, but only three species have reached the greatest popularity, which should be discussed in more detail below.
- Upright marigolds. These are perhaps the largest chernobryvtsy that generally exist in nature, since the height of the bush can reach one meter. Usually they are covered with terry monophonic inflorescences, the diameter of which is fifteen centimeters. Flowers vary in color from white to golden.
- Short marigolds. Their height rarely exceeds the threshold of sixty centimeters. These are very small bushes, which are covered with non-double and double flowers no more than eight centimeters in diameter. Here, flowers can decorate a flower bed for a long time, and their shades are not always uniform. The Carmen variety stands out in particular, where the corrugated petals have an orange-yellow center and red-brown edges.
- Thin-leaved marigolds. Thin-leaved marigolds have a special group, the cultivation of which brings pleasure to every gardener. Their main feature is beautiful lace leaves, which surprise not only with their appearance, but also with a pleasant thinaroma. And also the inflorescences are striking, which, despite their modest size, are so numerous that they create a real carpet in the flower bed. They come in reds, yellows, oranges, and browns that are simply mesmerizing when placed in the same flower bed.
Growing
Even a beginner in gardening can easily cope with such a task as breeding seedlings of marigolds for growing at home and in the open field. You can also propagate chernobrivtsy by digging a flowering bush. You can give an almost one hundred percent guarantee that the bush will be accepted, and the next year it will delight those around you with its bright flowering. Or you can use the traditional and easiest way - just sow the seeds.
If you plan to plant seeds directly in open ground, then wait until mid-May, during this period frosts are unlikely to return. With the help of a chopper in a flower bed, a furrow is made and well spilled with water, then the seeds of the black-breasts are laid out there and sprinkled with loose earth. In a few weeks, the first shoots will begin to appear at this place. If you think that they are too densely planted, then after waiting for the appearance of a few true leaves, you can simply seat them.
But if you do not want to take the easy path, then the article will detail how marigolds are grown from seeds for seedlings.
Preparation of planting material
If you don't have the seeds generously shared with youneighbor, you can buy them at any flower shop. Moreover, this will have to be done only once, because after flowering these flowers leave enough seeds for reproduction. It is not necessary to collect the seeds that have appeared not yet ripe and look for innovative methods of drying them. It is enough just to leave a few large heads right on the bush and wait until they ripen. Keep a close eye on the weather so that already dried seeds do not deteriorate during rain. So, ripe seeds can be collected and spread out in a warm and dry room so that those inside dry out. Recall that ready-made seeds can be stored for no more than four years, after this period, you can not wait for seedlings from them.
It is important to remember that almost all marigolds are hybrids, and in this regard, every fourth seed does not retain varietal properties. Some gardeners prefer to plant already germinated seeds. What is needed in order to grow marigolds from seeds at home using this method? You will need a saucer on which a damp cloth is laid out, and seeds are placed on it. Then this saucer is wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in a warm place. In three days, the seeds that are suitable for planting will hatch.
Time to plant seeds
Another question that interests gardeners, what are they growing from marigold seeds, when to plant? Chornobryvtsy need to be planted for seedlings, the sooner the better. If you want your flower bed to be decorated by everyone beforelisted types of these flowers, you need to know when to plant fine-leaved marigolds and all other types.
The first to plant erect chernobryvtsy is approximately the middle of March, and in two weeks you can sow stunted and thin-leaved ones. If you follow this technology, then all three species will bloom at the same time, in June. In general, there is nothing difficult in growing marigolds from seeds, however, there are some details that cannot be ignored.
Soil
First of all, you need to prepare the substrate, in which you will then place the planting material. You will need:
- Must - one part.
- Peat is one part.
- Sod is one piece.
- Sand - ½ parts.
It is imperative to decontaminate the soil. To do this, it is watered with a fungicide solution or a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. Do not forget that the bottom must be covered with a layer of drainage. You can use expanded clay, crushed stone or sand. The layer of any material cannot be less than three centimeters. It is also necessary to fertilize the soil with organic matter, but do not use fresh manure.
Disembarkation Technology
So, now we know all the subtleties about fine-leaved marigolds, growing from seeds, when to do it, but here's how, let's talk further.
Seeds for seedlings are planted in pre-prepared grooves. Each of them should be at a distance of two centimeters from the next. Seeds are laid out in these grooves and sprinkled with earth on top. After that, the planted seeds must be watered, but this must be done very carefully so that the flow of water does not wash out the seeds. It is better to use a sprayer for these purposes.
Capacities must be placed in a warm place where the air temperature will not fall below twenty-two degrees. Constantly keep the soil moisture under control, it should not dry out. You will notice the first sprouts in a week. It's time to move the containers to a more lit place. The air temperature can be safely reduced to fifteen degrees.
Seedlings
Marigold seedlings for outdoor cultivation can only be planted when you are completely sure that night frosts will not disturb them. This is due to the fact that the homeland of the Chornobryvtsy is warm countries, and they do not tolerate cold temperatures well. And also it is impossible to plant those seedlings on which there are not yet three true leaves, and their root system is not powerful enough. Their full readiness for planting in the soil occurs approximately at the end of May or beginning of June. Try to choose a loamy and neutral soil. It should be nutritious enough not to have to be fertilized and well hydrated.
Depending on which variety you choose for planting, the distance from one seedling to another is also calculated. If your marigolds are high, then the distance from individual to individual and between rows is forty centimeters. The middle species are seated at a distance that is ten centimeters less than this and the lowest will feel fine at twentycentimeters from a neighbor.
After a successful planting, it is necessary to water the plants often and abundantly. Although many say that Chornobryvtsy are drought-resistant, they need constant moisture. If this is not done, then the flowers will be small, and the bushes themselves will grow "clogged".
Care
As mentioned earlier in the article, marigolds grow well in bright light, but they will also feel fine in partial shade and even shade. However, those flower growers who want to achieve lush and abundant flowering should plant them in the place where the sun is always there. When the flowers enter the active growth stage, they need frequent and plentiful watering, but as soon as you see buds begin to form on the bushes, watering should be reduced. Otherwise, the process of decay may begin if water stagnates in the roots, and you will not see beautiful bright inflorescences.
They don't need feeding, but if you take the initiative yourself, then the Chornobryvtsy certainly won't refuse. For fertilizer, it is recommended to use complex formulations. The first top dressing is done when the seedlings reach a height of ten centimeters, then during the period when the first buds are released, and for the last time with the beginning of flowering. What must be done is to remove weeds and loosen the soil, otherwise the marigolds begin to suffocate. If you notice that the bushes have begun to grow strongly, then you can trim. Remove faded parts to bloom more abundantly.
In protection against insects andthese flowers do not need diseases due to their aroma, which repels everything that can harm. But besides themselves, marigolds can also protect nearby plants from such problems, so many gardeners plant them around the entire perimeter of the site. But if the weather remains wet for a long time and it rains often, slugs and snails may appear, which need to be disposed of. Place jars of bleach on the beds, and its smell will scare away uninvited guests.
But the dry summer is dangerous because the spider mite infects the Chornobryvtsy. But you can also get rid of it. To this end, the plants are sprayed with an infusion of onions, red hot peppers and yarrow. As a prevention of its occurrence, it is recommended to humidify the air around the plants. To do this, it is enough to spray water around the flower bed several times a day.
As for diseases, gray rot may appear. It is impossible to get rid of it, so you will have to remove all damaged plants and as soon as possible. Otherwise, they will infect neighboring marigolds and not only.
Properties of marigolds
Marigolds can not only please your eye with their flowering, but also bring quite a lot of benefits. Therefore, their cultivation in the garden can be called mandatory. First of all, they contain lutein, which is an excellent prevention of cataracts. In addition, if you study several recipes from traditional medicine, you can find very effective ways to combat diabetes and inflammation of the pancreas. If you collect flowersmarigolds, dry them and insist, you can cure stomatitis, which is a common problem for newborn babies, as well as serious diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. Such a tincture will be very effective for colds, and with its help you can quickly cleanse the blood.
Preparing such a healing infusion is not difficult at all. For one tablespoon of dried flowers, you will need a liter jar of boiling water. The flowers are poured and infused for three hours. After that, it is necessary to strain the resulting infusion and consume one glass once a day thirty minutes before meals. The course of treatment is three months.
When taking a bath, add a decoction of marigolds to the water to relieve stress, relax the nervous system and just calm down. Even modern experts recommend such procedures for neurosis and frequent depression. The inhabitants of South America to this day actively use marigolds for cooking. They add them as a seasoning to various dishes and sauces. The Caucasians even gave this seasoning their name "Imeretian saffron" and sell it in powder form in their markets. Housewives add this powder to satsivi, pilaf and other national dishes. And in France, these flowers have long been grown on an industrial scale, and not for ordinary residents.
It should also be noted several recipes recommended by famous cosmetologists of the country:
- A balm that will give your lips softness. You will need two tablespoons of dried and chopped heads of marigolds, which must be mixed with a thirda glass of olive oil and a tablespoon of apricot oil. The resulting mixture should be infused for a week in a dark place. After that, the raw material is well squeezed out, and the lips are lubricated with the resulting liquid when necessary.
- Face lotion. For one glass of boiling water, you will need two tablespoons of crushed inflorescences. It is infused all night and after that you need to strain well. A tablespoon of vodka and a teaspoon of lemon juice are added to the liquid. Keep the lotion in a cool place, the refrigerator is best suited for this. Apply to the face three times a day.
- Another good remedy that removes any irritation from the surface of the skin. Pour one and a half cups of hot water into a saucepan or other iron container and pour two tablespoons of chopped heads into it. Bring it all to a boil and leave to infuse for three or four hours. Then the broth must be filtered, add two tablespoons of water and squeezed juice of one large leaf of aloe. The resulting broth is stored in the refrigerator and twice a day they wipe the inflamed places with it.
As you can see, the gardener does not need to create conditions for growing marigolds, which would require special efforts. It only takes a little attention to keep your flower beds bright and fragrant.
