It is called creeping hop, beer hop, curly hop, bitter hop... This powerful and beautiful liana has everything to be useful to a person. Hops are revered by many peoples of the world, it is a symbol of fertility, strong economy, prowess, happiness and longevity, it is depicted on coats of arms and coins. But many summer residents are not at all happy with him. Hops tend to grow rapidly, inhibiting the growth of cultivated plants around them. But is it really necessary to fight it?
Pork with Eggplant - A delicious stew with vegetables and spicy rice is easy and simple to cook for dinner or lunch. It will take about half an hour to cook, so this recipe can be categorized as "if you need dinner quickly." The dish turns out hearty, fragrant, spicy. Turmeric colors the ingredients in a beautiful golden yellow color, cloves, cardamom, garlic and chili pepper add savory notes to the dish. Choose lean meat for this recipe.
Seed propagation in the garden strawberry familiar to us, unfortunately, leads to the appearance of less productive plants and weaker bushes. But another type of these sweet berries - alpine strawberries, can be successfully grown from seeds. Let's learn about the main advantages and disadvantages of this crop, consider the main varieties and features of agricultural technology. The information presented in this article will help you decide whether it is worth giving her a place in the berry.
Despite the confusion that has accumulated over the past decades with the name "Christmas cactus", one of the most recognizable and colorful forest cacti, epiphyllums remain everyone's favorite. Leafless, with flattened stems, strikingly abundantly blooming, hybrid epiphyllums with their hanging shoots and delicate flowers do not require particularly difficult care from the owners. They can become the most colorful flowering succulent plant in any collection.
Merchant buckwheat with meat and pumpkin is a simple recipe for a delicious dinner or lunch. I advise you to bring it to readiness in the oven, although you can also on the stove. Firstly, it tastes better in the oven, as the buckwheat is steamed, it becomes very tasty, and the meat is tender. Secondly, the hour that it languishes in the oven can be spent on yourself or communicating with loved ones. Perhaps many will decide that buckwheat with meat is an ordinary dish, but try to cook it according to this recipe.
Often, at the sight of a beautiful flower, we instinctively bend over to smell its fragrance. All fragrant flowers can be divided into two large groups: nocturnal (pollinated by nocturnal butterflies) and diurnal, whose pollinators are mainly bees. Both groups of plants are important for the grower and designer, because we often walk in the garden during the day and relax in our favorite corners with the onset of the evening. We are never put off by the fragrance of our favorite fragrant flowers.
Pumpkin is considered by many gardeners to be the queen of the beds. And not only because of its size, variety of shapes and colors, but also for its excellent taste, useful qualities and a rich harvest. Pumpkin contains a large amount of carotene, iron, various vitamins and minerals. Due to the possibility of long-term storage, this vegetable maintains our health all year round. If you decide to plant a pumpkin on your site, you will be interested to know how to get the largest possible harvest.
Scotch eggs are amazing! Try to cook this dish at home, there is nothing difficult to prepare. Scotch eggs are a hard boiled egg wrapped in minced meat, breaded in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and deep fried. For frying, you need a frying pan with a high rim, and if you have a deep fryer, then it's just great - even less hassle. You will also need deep-frying oil so as not to smoke the kitchen. Choose farm eggs for this recipe.
One of the most amazing large-flowered tub cubanola Dominican fully justifies the status of a tropical miracle. Heat-loving, slow-growing, with huge and in many ways unique bells of flowers, cubanola is a fragrant star with a difficult character. It requires special conditions in the rooms. But for those who are looking for exclusive plants for their interior, the best (and more chocolatey) candidate for the role of indoor giant cannot be found.
Chickpea Curry with Meat is a hearty hot dish for lunch or dinner inspired by Indian cuisine. This curry is quick to prepare, but requires pre-preparation. Chickpeas must first be soaked in plenty of cold water for several hours, preferably overnight, the water can be changed several times. It is also better to leave the meat in the marinade overnight so that it turns out juicy and tender. Then you should boil the chickpeas until tender and then cook the curry according to the recipe.
Rhubarb can not be found in every garden plot. It's a pity. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins and can be widely used in cooking. What is not prepared from rhubarb: soups and cabbage soup, salads, delicious jams, kvass, compotes and juices, candied fruit and marmalade, and even wine. But that's not all! A large green or red rosette of plant leaves, reminiscent of burdock, acts as a beautiful backdrop for annuals. Not surprisingly, rhubarb can also be seen in flower beds.
Today, experiments with non-banal combinations and non-standard colors in the garden are in trend. For example, plants with black inflorescences have become very fashionable. All black flowers are original and specific, and it is important for them to be able to select suitable partners and a position. Therefore, this article will not only introduce you to the range of plants with slate-black inflorescences, but also teach you the intricacies of using such mystical plants in garden design.
3 delicious sandwiches - cucumber sandwich, chicken sandwich, cabbage and meat sandwich - a great idea for a quick snack or for a picnic in nature. Only fresh vegetables, juicy chicken and cream cheese and a little spice. There is no onion in these sandwiches, if you wish, you can add an onion marinated in balsamic vinegar to any of the sandwiches, this will not spoil the taste. Having quickly prepared snacks, it remains to collect a picnic basket and go to the nearest green lawn.
Depending on the variety group, the age of seedlings suitable for planting in open ground is: for early tomatoes - 45-50 days, medium ripening - 55-60 and late terms - at least 70 days. When planting seedlings of tomatoes at a younger age, the period of its adaptation to new conditions is significantly extended. But success in obtaining a high-quality crop of tomatoes also depends on the careful implementation of the basic rules for planting seedlings in open ground.
The word "periwinkle" is familiar, perhaps, to every person. Hearing this name, people usually imagine a mysterious flower endowed with magical powers. And few people, with the exception of enthusiastic gardeners, know what this plant looks like. Meanwhile, periwinkles are not uncommon in our household plots, decorating them with their delicate, bluish-purple flowers.
The plant has taken root perfectly in the gardens, having won the love of many flower growers. This is not surprising: the periwinkle is very unpretentious and is able to grow even in the most severe conditions, and its bright buds, which open in early summer, look great in flower beds. After the end of flowering, a pleasant green clearing of evergreen leaves and shoots remains. The culture has adapted even to the harsh climate of the Far North, and, perhaps, every gardener can take care of it.
What is mysterious in a small periwinkle? The fact is that since ancient times the flower has been endowed with magical powers, attributing to it the ability to exorcise evil spirits, detect demons, and protect the house from the wild elements. In European countries, with the help of a periwinkle, girls guessed at their betrothed and found out their fate, and Russian brides wove flower wreaths on the night of Ivan Kupala and threw them into the river.
However, modern science, which does not recognize magic and sorcery, has discovered many useful properties in a small flower. Due to the high content of various alkaloids, the plant is used in many medicines used to treat various tumors, as well as diseases of the blood vessels, blood and nervous system. The most famous drugs based on periwinkle are Vinpocetine, Vinkan, Vincator. Yes, and traditional medicine has long adopted periwinkle, using it for stomach problems, bleeding, toothache, etc.
[!] Alkaloids are not only useful, but also dangerous substances. That is why the periwinkle is considered a poisonous plant. Do not self-medicate with it, it can cause heart problems and other similar complications.
Amazing flower, isn't it? And here are some more facts and legends about the tender periwinkle:
- According to legend, a modest periwinkle once complained to a powerful goddess that no one notices him. The goddess took pity on the little flower and made its flowers larger and brighter, and in addition awarded the name Pervinka, meaning the victory of spring.
- It is believed that lovers, having torn and eaten a primrose leaf, will never part.
- Periwinkle has amazing vitality. A plucked flower in a vase will not fade until all the water has evaporated, and if you dig it into the ground, it will immediately take on new roots.
- The primrose adorns the monument of the French writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was very fond of delicate flowers, reminding him of a beautiful chosen one.
- Periwinkle or pervanche is the name of one of the colors in the blue palette. This bright lilac-blue tone is similar to the shade of the petals of a spring flower. Its digital code is #ccccff.
The Latin name - vinca - translates as "fetters, fetters, shackles." It speaks of the plant's ability to densely braid the earth. Sometimes the flower is called that - vinca. Among the people, the periwinkle received several nicknames: green, blueberry, fear-grass, violet of witches.
It is difficult to say where the periwinkle came from, now various types of plants can be seen in many parts of the world: Asia, Africa, Europe. In our country, wild-growing representatives of the genus are most often found in the foothills of the Caucasus, the Black Sea coast and in the south of the European part of Russia.
From the point of view of botany, the periwinkle (lat. Vinca) is a genus that includes herbs and shrubs, belonging to the kutrov family (lat. Apocynaceae). These are creeping plants, the height of which varies from 10 to 50 cm. Thin shoots are decorated with dense glossy leaves arranged oppositely. The flower stalks emerge from the leaf axils and end in single, five-petalled flowers with an elongated tube. The color of the flowers varies from white to bright purple. After flowering, a fruit is formed - a leaflet with a small number of seeds.
Types and varieties of periwinkle
There are five species belonging to the genus, and three of them are most often grown as an ornamental crop: small, large and changeable.
[!] A popular indoor flower or open ground annual - catharanthus (pink periwinkle) does not belong to periwinkles and is separated into a separate genus catharanthus (lat. Catharanthus).
(lat. Vinca minor). This is a beautifully flowering perennial herbaceous plant, naturally found, as a rule, in deciduous forests, where it settles under the canopy of trees or tall shrubs. Natural habitats - the Mediterranean, Great Britain, southern Europe, North Africa.
It is a perennial creeping culture with erect or decumbent shoots, the average height of which is 20 cm, individual specimens can reach 40-50 cm. The leaves are dense, leathery, dark green above and silver-green on the reverse side of the plate, oval in shape. Single flowers, the shape of which is five petals on a long tube, are painted, depending on the variety, in cold shades, from white to bright purple. Their average size is 2-3 cm in diameter.
B. small This is perhaps the most popular garden periwinkle, known in horticulture since the 14th century. A large number of culture forms have been bred:
- variegated (f. variegata),
- white-flowered (f. alba),
- red-flowered (f. rubra),
- terry (f. multiplex).
- etc.
Of the varieties of small periwinkle, the following can be noted:
- "Illumination" (Illumination) - a variegated variety with yellow-golden leaves, decorated with a green border, and bright purple flowers.
- "Gertrude Jekyll" (Gertrude Jekyll) is a compact (about 10 cm) variety, characterized by dark green glossy leaves and a large number of small snow-white flowers.
- "Ralph Shugert" (Ralph Shugert) - oval dark green leaves with a narrow silver-green stripe along the edge and large purple flowers.
- "Azurea Flore Pleno" (Azurea Flore Pleno) is a terry variety, distinguished by delicate light green foliage and lilac-blue flowers.
- "Atropurpurea" (Atropurpurea) - a beautiful variety with bright pink-purple flowers.
- "Burgundy" (Burgundy) - a variety similar to the previous one, with dark burgundy flowers.
- "Blue Drift" (Azure snowdrift) - delicate violet-blue flowers and light green leaves.
- "Valley Glow" - bright green glossy leaves and snow-white flowers.
B. "Illumination", B. "Gertrude Jekyll", B. "Atropurpurea" These are just some of the most famous varieties. In fact, to date, a very large number of periwinkles of various colors and sizes have been bred.
(lat. Vinca major), like the previous species, is often grown in culture. Compared to the small one, it differs in larger sizes: the shoots reach an average of 40 cm, and their maximum length is 90 cm. The dark green leaves are oval-heart-shaped, and the flowers have five petals and a long tubular corolla. The diameter of an individual flower is 3-5 cm, the color of wild-growing specimens, as a rule, is pale lavender. Less frost-resistant, compared to small, species found in nature in southern Europe and northern Africa.
B. big In culture, the variegated form (f. variegata) is especially common, on the basis of which many varieties have been selected:
- "Expoflora" (Expoflora) - glossy bright green leaves with a light border.
- "Maculata" (Masculata) - the middle of the leaf plate is light, the shade darkens towards the edges.
- "Reticulata" (Reticulata) - the leaves are similar to the previous variety, the flowers are painted in bright lavender, brightening towards the middle.
- "Wojo's Gem" (Wojo's Gem) is a very interesting variety with leaves decorated with contrasting spots.
B. "Expoflora", B. "Wojo's Gem" (lat. Vinca difformis). This species is rarely found on the territory of our country, because. not frost resistant. Variable periwinkle is native to the Mediterranean coast and North Africa, so it is advisable to grow it only in southern regions with mild winters.
Under natural conditions, the periwinkle is changeable - a fairly large (about 50 cm) plant with creeping shoots, oval bright green leaves and pale purple flowers, reaching 4 cm in diameter. The shape of the petals is asymmetric, slightly resembling a spiral.
The most famous varieties:
- "Jenny Pym" (Jenny Pym) - an unusual color of the petals: rich pink at the edges and white in the center.
- "Ruby Baker" (Ruby Baker) - a variety similar to the previous one, with large dichromatic flowers.
- "Alba" (Alba) - snow-white flowers against the background of glossy bright green leaves.
- "Snowmound" (Snow Mountain) is another white-flowered variety.
B. changeable, B. "Jenny Pym", B. "Alba" Periwinkle in landscape design
Due to the lodging soft stems that can cover a large area in a short time, the periwinkle is considered an excellent ground cover. Dense plant mats look great at any time of the year: in spring and early summer they are decorated with many bright flowers, and after flowering they are a velvety green meadow.
Periwinkle can be planted not only in free horizontal areas, but also on slopes where tall crops cannot grow. Embankments reinforced with large boulders and planted with periwinkle will look especially impressive: the rough texture of the stone contrasts perfectly with delicate buds and greenery. Plant partners for periwinkle in such a peculiar rock garden can be helianthemum, saponaria.
Vinca can also be planted under tall trees or shrubs. An unpretentious flower will quickly tighten empty areas, forming a beautiful clearing. In addition, the undersized periwinkle is perfect as a foreground plant in complex multi-tiered mixborder flower beds.
Due to its docile nature, rapid growth and bright flowering, this culture is often used in urban gardening, both outdoors and in dishes: planters and containers. Some gardeners who do not want the flower to grow too much also plant periwinkle in containers.
Periwinkle Care
Before placing an unpretentious wine on your site, you should learn about some of the features of the flower:
- Periwinkle is a perennial, and in one place it can grow for at least 10 years. However, over time, the plant runs wild, and varietal forms turn into ordinary ones, losing their decorative effect.
- The flowering time of the periwinkle in the middle zone of our country is from the end of May to the beginning of June, the average duration of flowering is about a month.
- As mentioned above, this ground cover grows well and can even behave aggressively, capturing all new areas. In strict regular flower beds, the spontaneous growth of periwinkle should be limited.
Location, soil
Vinca can be planted in almost any area, both illuminated and shaded. The perennial is able to withstand both bright sun and shade. However, in order for the culture to flourish, it is better to choose a place with partial shade, in which case the hot rays will not burn the delicate leaves.
When placing a flower, you need to pay attention to the level of groundwater. Stagnation of cold water in the spring leads to rotting of the roots and death of the plant.
As for the soil, it should be fertile (rich in humus), as well as loose (water and breathable). Before planting periwinkle, a substrate with a high content of sand should be enriched with humus, and, on the contrary, too dense clay soil should be diluted with a small amount of sand.
Watering, feeding
How to water the periwinkle depends on the weather: on hot, dry days, there should be enough moisture, if the summer turned out to be rainy, additional watering is not required.
A beautifully flowering perennial is able to do without top dressing, it has enough nutrients obtained from soil and water. However, if desired, the plant can be fertilized using universal mineral mixtures or organics.
Pruning, wintering
To preserve the decorative effect after flowering, the tops of elongated overgrown shoots should be cut or pinched. Truncated stems will stop growing in length, increasing the lateral processes. Thus, the curtains will become more lush and green.
In general, vinca, especially small ones, is considered a winter-hardy crop that can withstand light frosts. In particularly cold winters, the above-ground shoots of perennials may freeze slightly, however, the root system, as a rule, is preserved, and new shoots appear in spring.
Periwinkle is large (variegated forms) and variable - less frost-resistant species. In the middle lane, it is desirable to cover them, using dry fallen leaves or spruce branches for this. It is especially important to protect plants in snowless cold winters.
reproduction
In culture, and in nature, the periwinkle reproduces in several ways:
- cuttings,
- layering,
- seeds.
The first two are considered less labor-intensive, seed propagation is a little more difficult.
Semi-woody cuttings from the root or apical shoots are cut in the spring, before flowering or in the middle of summer, after it ends. They are dug in a shaded place in light soil, watered and waiting for rooting. After the appearance of a sufficient number of roots, young periwinkles can be transplanted to a permanent place. Planting scheme (distance between individual plants) - 20x20 cm.
Long shoots in contact with the ground are able to take root themselves. In horticulture, such rooted shoots are called layering. It is not difficult to imitate the natural process: you need to choose a sufficiently long stem, bend it, pin it to the ground with a metal bracket and sprinkle a small amount of soil on top. In the future, this shoot will give roots, after which it can be cut off from the mother plant and transplanted.
Periwinkle can also be grown from seeds that are often commercially available.
[!] Perennial, obtained from seeds, blooms, as a rule, only the next year.
Usually, seeds are planted immediately in open ground, in the spring, after the threat of night frost has passed. They should not be buried deep: due to their small size, they may not ascend. After the emergence of seedlings, the sprouts should be thinned out a little, leaving only the strongest. Further care consists in timely watering and weeding of seedlings.
Diseases and pests
Among gardeners who cultivate perennials, periwinkle is considered a plant that is resistant to most diseases. The only disease that the flower is susceptible to is rust, a fungal infection, the main symptoms of which are an orange coating on the leaves and shoots. Spraying with modern fungicides with a double repetition after 2 weeks will help to cope with it. To stop the spread of the fungus, the affected parts of the plant should be removed and burned.
Agree, this delicate flower is unusually beautiful, and the halo of mystery, of course, adds to its charm. Grow periwinkle with pleasure and enjoy its wonderful spring flowering.
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Dense, shiny, as if waxed, leaves, despite the snow and winter, lining the entire territory that they managed to capture over the summer with a fresh green carpet. Miracle? No, barnacle!
Although in folk beliefs associated with this evergreen ground cover, miracles are indispensable.
Periwinkle is called both the flower of love and the violet of the witch, many magical properties are attributed to it, promising unheard-of wealth and the extraordinary power of love.
But even a skeptic who does not believe in magic will not remain indifferent when he sees thick carpets of evergreen leathery foliage strewn with the most delicate cinquefoil inflorescences.
Both professionals in landscape design and gardeners who take their first timid steps into the world of flowers appreciate and love this spectacular ground cover plant for its high decorative qualities and amazing unpretentiousness.
The Latin name for periwinkle is Vinka, which means “to wrap around”.
The name is explained by the plant's ability to cover any area and surface, even vertical ones: perennial roots cling to the slightest opportunity to move further, higher.
At the same time, periwinkle, as a perennial groundcover, is not an aggressor, perfectly combined with other ornamental crops.
And if the wine grows next to a retaining wall or other sheer surface, it easily takes on an ampelous shape.
Large periwinkle - Vinca major - the most large-leaved (up to 8 cm) and quite high (about 25 cm). Twice a year, in spring and autumn, it blooms with blue inflorescences.
Designers identify two of the most popular variegated, variegated, Vinca major varieties:
Vinca Variegata (Vinca Variegata) - with light spots along the edge of the leaves 
Vinca Maculata - leaves with a light spot in the center and a dense green border 
Vinca Reticulata (Vinca Reticulata) - also a variegated form with juicy lilac flowers and a much lighter heart 
Periwinkle small - Vinca minor - does not grow up, but in breadth: its stems, spreading in different directions, stretch for a meter or more, forming a dense continuous cover.
Varieties differ in the color of small flowers:
- Alboplena - white terry-shaped inflorescences;
- Bowles' Variety - deep blue color, very long flowering;
- Argenteo-variegata - like a variegated periwinkle, it has juicy green leaves with light spots. The flowers of this variety are blue, of a very delicate tone;
- Atropurpurea - already from the name one should expect purple colors;
Unlike relatives, the pubescent periwinkle - Vinca pubescens - sheds foliage for the winter.
It also differs in that the flowers rise above the carpet of greenery, which is formed from the interweaving of stems, young shoots, and leaves.
Flowers are painted blue.
The evergreen pink periwinkle - Vinkarosea - is already a semi-shrub with high, almost up to half a meter, vertical shoots.
It got its name from the color of the flowers. Blooms from spring to autumn.
Other names for pink periwinkle are also found in the literature: cayenne jasmine and catharanthus.
Varietal diversity is also determined by variations in flower color:
- Albus - white flowers without impurities of shades;
- Ocellatus - a bright red heart on a white flower;
- Cooler is a whole palette of shades from soft pink to deep red;
- Parasol - on a snow-white inflorescence, the core is dark red. This variety has a smaller height - about 40 cm.
Description of the perennial plant Vinca herbacea - herbaceous periwinkle - can be found in reference books of medicinal plants.
Infusions are used to treat wounds, skin problems, diabetes, stomach ulcers.
Deciduous variety. Violet-blue inflorescences bloom for a month in early summer.
Growing periwinkle is an activity for the lazy
This perception of periwinkle - a plant for lazy gardeners - is due to the fact that a more unpretentious culture still needs to be looked for.
It grows in almost any conditions, on almost any soil, care is minimal, and it also helps to get rid of weeds. Of course, with such a set of advantages, he gained immense popularity for himself.
But the grower, accustomed to achieving the best results, will still try to create the most comfortable conditions for this unpretentious plant, for which he will be rewarded in full.
Location selection
Creating thick emerald bedspreads in flowers on any surface, the periwinkle does not like stagnant moisture, prefers well-lit areas, but not direct sunlight.
Although for variegated varieties, illumination is a fundamental criterion: the more light the plant receives, the brighter the light stains on green leaves will be.
In shaded places, the variegation of color will fade.
But varieties with plain leaves feel quite comfortable in the shade.
During the autumn shearing of the periwinkle, the cut fragments of the shoots are used for cuttings.
Cuttings with 3-4 internodes are suitable for propagation.
They are dipped for 20-30 minutes in a solution of a root formation stimulator or covered with dry powder ("Kornevin") and planted in prepared holes.
Planted vertically, above ground level it is enough to leave 2-3 leaves.
When planting several cuttings, you should immediately maintain a distance of about 30 cm between them. Planted cuttings are well watered.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
This method of reproduction of the periwinkle occurs in the spring, when the snow has already melted, the soil has warmed up a little, but the plant has not yet entered the stage of active growth.
Division of the periwinkle bush The bush is dug up, the mother plant and lateral processes are separated so that the roots are on each part.
Pre-treatment with a root stimulator will help the divisions take root faster and more painlessly.
In holes dug 30 cm apart, delenki are planted, straightening the roots, falling asleep with earth with the addition of peat and sand, tightly compressing and compacting the soil.
Water well after planting.
Reproduction by seeds
Propagation by seeds is required only when the periwinkle is a new plant in the garden or you want to start a different variety.
Seeds of the popular groundcover are sold in specialty horticultural supply stores.
But if possible, it is easy to collect the seeds yourself.
How to collect and save periwinkle seeds
The fruits of different varieties - a pair of leaflets in the form of a cylinder - differ slightly in color and shape, but they all ripen in September.
I collect ripened seeds, be sure to dry them. Store them in a cool dry place in cloth bags.
Sowing seeds in open ground
In warm regions, where mild short winters and early spring, it is possible to plant periwinkle seeds in open ground.
Shoots will feel more comfortable on a semi-shaded bed. Seeds can be planted in spring and autumn, before winter.
To do this, in a prepared bed, cleared of weeds, loosened, fertilized with compost or rotted manure, seeds are sown in grooves between which 10 cm, planting them into the soil up to 3 cm deep, and between the seeds - about 30 cm.
In the spring, the earth is saturated with moisture, which allows the sprouts to hatch faster, in the fall, after sowing, it is necessary to monitor the soil moisture.
Seedlings grow up very quickly, when 4-5 leaves appear on the stems, they can be transplanted to a permanent place in the flower garden.
Sowing seeds for seedlings at home
Periwinkle seeds are sown for seedlings in the spring, exact recommendations on sowing dates should be found on the seed bag, since the timing of planting seedlings in open ground depends on local climatic conditions: the further north the region, the later the seedlings are planted and, consequently, later the seeds are sown.
Before sowing, the seeds are treated in a manganese solution to disinfect and increase immunity.
Instead of potassium permanganate, you can use stimulants "Epin", "Zircon".
For seedlings, any universal soil, peat tablets, is suitable.
You can plant in seedling boxes or individual cups. After sowing, the substrate is well watered, and the container is covered with a film or heat.
Before the emergence of seedlings, the seedling container can also be in a dark place, but it is important to provide heat, at least + 23 ° C.
As soon as sprouts appear, the periwinkle needs not only heat (the temperature should be lowered by 2-3 degrees), but also light.
The film (glass) must be removed from time to time for several minutes, increasing the duration of air procedures, and after a few days this protection is no longer needed.
After the appearance of 4-5 leaves, seedlings grown in a common box or container should be split into separate pots, in which the plants will develop before transplanting into open ground.
Transplanting periwinkle seedlings in open ground
The answer to the question of when to plant a periwinkle in open ground in spring also depends on the conditions of a particular season: if the ground has warmed up, weather forecasters do not promise night frosts, then the time has come to plant seedlings.
Usually round-the-clock positive temperatures in the Moscow region are set in mid-May, beyond the Urals - by the beginning of June.
Seedlings are placed in holes, between which 30-35 cm. For row spacing, at least 10 cm is allocated.
If planted in a checkerboard pattern, then the ground cover culture forms a continuous carpet much earlier.
Reproduction by layering
This is the easiest way to propagate the periwinkle: you just need to sprinkle the shoot with earth and keep the soil moist in this place so that the stem gives roots.
When the roots grow back, the plant will begin to strengthen in place, the stem is carefully cut before and after the rooted fragment, a new bush is dug up and transplanted.
The newly planted layers are watered, and very soon it begins to independently develop the territory.
For a more comfortable adaptation period in a new place, the layers can be covered with a transparent plastic bottle of a suitable size, creating a kind of greenhouse.
Under these conditions, the soil is protected from drying out, which will allow the periwinkle to quickly build up the root system and begin active growth of the aerial part.
Features of periwinkle care
Outdoor periwinkle care is minimal, as the plant does not require special conditions and close attention from the gardener.
Watering
Drought-resistant perennial needs abundant watering only in the first stage of life - after planting.
In the hot dry months, a zealous grower waters flower beds and other flower beds, which means that the periwinkle gets life-giving moisture for a long and abundant flowering.
If the vinca ground cover solos (curb or carpet planting), then one watering per week will be enough for him.
top dressing
Periwinkle, undemanding to the composition and nutritional value of the soil, does not require separate fertilizer, but will gratefully respond to feeding with more lush greenery and an abundance of flowers.
To feed the decorative perennial in spring and autumn, the soil is fertilized with organic matter: humus, compost, rotted manure.
During the season twice - before flowering and during the period of the most abundant blooming of inflorescences - they are fed with urea, mineral fertilizers.
It is enough just to sprinkle a few granules before watering.
Trimming and pinching
Young plants are pinched to stimulate the development of new shoots, and mature thickets may need sanitary pruning of dead or damaged stems.
Planted in a flower bed of a strict form or well-defined contours, the ground cover can go beyond the boundaries and violate the grower's intention.
In these cases, pruning is also required.
Disease prevention and pest control
Vinka in all varietal diversity is a fairly resistant plant to attack by pests and diseases.
The reason lies in the dense leathery leaves, the toxicity of the juice.
The best prevention from problems is the attention and care of the gardener.
Periwinkle does not need much, and if the culture is provided with everything necessary, then the naturally strong immunity of the plant will be able to withstand adverse conditions.
To break through this defense under the force of the ubiquitous powdery mildew and rust, which are caused by the activity of fungal spores.
If yellow-red or whitish stains are found on the leaves and shoots, urgent treatment with fungicidal preparations is required: Fitosporin, Topaz.
Periodically, it is necessary to inspect the lower part of the leaf plate, where scale insects or aphids can settle.
To combat pests, insecticides are used - "Aktara", "Fufanon" - and folk remedies will not be superfluous, including onion and garlic infusions, pollination with ash or irrigation with an ash solution, a solution of laundry soap.
Preparing for the winter
Properly preparing the plant for winter is the last stage of crop care in the season. This also applies to the evergreen wintering periwinkle, especially to its variegated varieties.
For the winter, the periwinkle must be mulched with humus or compost, covered with spruce branches, covered with leaves.
It is especially important to create a reliable shelter for young plants and varieties with variegated leaves.
In the conditions of central Russia, not every periwinkle will survive the winter, even if there is good shelter and heavy snowfalls, this is especially true for varieties of periwinkle large, cataranthus (varieties of pink periwinkle).
And in Siberia, all types of vinca are cultivated as annuals.
If you cut cuttings in the fall, plant them in pots or containers at home, then in the spring it will be possible to make up for the loss of periwinkle in the fight against winter colds at the expense of home specimens.
Periwinkle in landscape design
Rapid growth, spectacular glossy green leaves, long periods of abundant flowering, the ability to cover any surface are qualities that allow periwinkle to be very widely used in decorating a site and decorating an interior.
As a ground cover plant, vinca is used in contrasting or monochrome borders and borders, as a plant of the lower tier - in mixborders and flower beds.
The ability to grow on almost bare stones makes it possible to grow it in rockeries and alpine hills. 
For carpet plantings, you can plant a mixed periwinkle "Sicily. A mixture of colors, which can turn an unsightly piece of land into a colorful palette.
By planting vinca in near-trunk circles, the gardener solves three problems at once:
- There are no weeds where vinca grows;
- Covering the soil with a dense carpet and not needing a lot of moisture, periwinkle creates a protective layer to preserve soil moisture around fruit and ornamental plantings;
- Decorative function in the shade of tree crowns.
To decorate terraces, verandas, arbors, loggias and balconies, the interior of a residential building, ampelous periwinkle F1 - Catharanthus roseus (Vinca rosea) is planted in hanging planters.
In the interior compositions of potted flowers, the compact variety "Kiffa" is magnificent, which is distinguished by large inflorescences.
Combination with other plants
Early bulbous (hyacinths, blueberries), goryanka, primrose, geyhera, irises, forget-me-nots are considered to be one of the best options for neighborhood with periwinkle.
A pillow of glossy leaves with delicate flowers will be a worthy background for daylilies, ferns, low conifers.
Whatever the first garden periwinkle is, it will be the first.
Because you will definitely want to know other varieties, come up with a composition for variegated or plain emerald varieties, try a new combination in a flower garden or grow a beautiful rug between shrubs.
There is some magic in this seemingly simple plant.
Looking at the delicate, unpretentious flowers above the waxy evergreen cushion of leaves, you catch a combination of transience and eternity, merged into one.
We recommend to know:A beautiful cottage is the dream of every summer resident. For a resident of a modern metropolis, a dacha is almost the last refuge of nature and an opportunity to bring their creative impulses and fantasies to life. Everyone wants their site to be unique and comfortable, so that the eye rejoices in their favorite beds and flower beds, and the neighbors look with envy and delight.
Of course, you can hire a landscape designer, but it’s much more interesting and enjoyable to make a beautiful cottage. Each of us has a craving for creativity, which we are far from always able to realize, so why lose the unique opportunity to express ourselves and do everything on our site the way we ourselves want. Let everything in your country house be the way you want it to be. Photos of beautiful dachas on our website will help you generate new ideas in dacha design.
How to make beautiful in the country? The main advantage of any dacha and its own decoration are. It is important to plant plants correctly, because in a large area they will be visible from all sides and your mistakes will be much more noticeable. Water, air, heat and light are the main factors on which the development and growth of plants depends. They are closely related and do not replace each other. Therefore, in order to make the cottage beautiful, it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for the plants. Indoor plants with poor lighting need a low temperature. It is better to plant more unpretentious plants of the same species than to try to grow exotic but capricious species. How to make a cottage beautiful
Shrubs are less demanding to care for, so they are perfect for decorating your summer cottage. An excellent decoration of your site can be a pond, which, if necessary, can be used for irrigation, because the water in the pond warms up perfectly in the sun. Looks great in the country forest corner. Shady space will give you a lot of joy on hot summer days. How to make beautiful in the country
When creating a beautiful cottage with your own hands, do not forget to choose plants suitable for your site. Moisture-loving plants planted in dry soil can wilt and die. Most plants do not like excess moisture as well as its lack. With very strong and frequent watering, the root system of plants begins to suffer due to the lack of oxygen, as a result of which it weakens, the plant becomes ill and, soon, dies. Therefore, soils that can retain water after watering or rain are not used for growing flowers or they create special soil drainage.
For the garden, it is necessary to prepare a sunny area and special attention should be paid to paving, do not use recycled materials. This will be especially important if your garden is viewed from the second floor, you risk spoiling the view from the window for yourself and your neighbors. Smooth and beautiful paths will allow you to personally feel the spring and autumn. It is during this period that they will be responsible for the attractiveness of your dacha.
Ground cover perennials not only have outstanding decorative qualities, but also prevent the growth of weeds and the drying of the soil. Plants are unpretentious, do not require special care, grow well and develop in the shade and in the sun. The root system of these species grows in breadth, and not in depth, as a result a picturesque carpet is formed, it is especially beautiful during the flowering period.
Ground covers and garden design
Plants for this type of garden are represented by both perennials and vines, bulbous, herbaceous, low-growing shrubs. With their help, you can arrange a background for, plant in rockeries, they look good along the paths, in combination with other colors - in the flower beds.
For an open, spacious space, Rogers is suitable. In small areas, carnations, lilies of the valley, varieties of sedum, and other miniature plants look cute.
Tips from experienced gardeners:
- perennial ground cover flowers of different species are best planted in groups so that the color of the leaves, inflorescences, shape and height contrast with each other;
- plants of the same species look good, planted as a frame for a flower bed or in large groups in the form of "carpets";
- when planting, it must be taken into account that the ground covers quickly grow in width, connect and form a single array;
- the population must be controlled if there are no plans for it to occupy the entire area.
Ground cover care is simple: every year the plants are weeded and the soil is mulched. At the end of the summer season, leaves and shoots that have died and lost their beauty are removed. The “living carpet” does not need especially frequent feeding.
The best varieties of ground cover perennials
Sedum or stonecrop
A drought tolerant perennial plant, there are different types that can be combined. Stonecrop is suitable for creating a rock garden. It can be planted in a flower bed, lawn, in a flowerpot, used to create a rockery. Beautiful semi-shrub sedum with raspberry or pink flowers, in combination with greenery or in single plantings along paths, on gravel.
Sempervivum or young
A plant with a rosette similar to a real rose consists of dense leaves. Flowers in beauty are in no way inferior to leaves - original inflorescences with pink or purple flowers. Looks especially interesting in flowerpots.
Younger.
saxifrage
Areas with small flowers or picturesque moss-like tussocks are all saxifrage. The name of the plant speaks for itself, cute inflorescences really enliven rock gardens. The most famous and popular types of saxifrage:
- colaris;
- saxifrage-young;
- cotyledon;
- saxifrage lush;
- mossy saxifrage.
Saxifrage.
Carnation
Semi-shrub ground cover with delicate, elegant flowers. Flowers can be white, red and pink, diameter - 3 cm, double or semi-double. Cirrus carnation is more like a cobweb. The flower is good in single plantings, in a gravel garden, among rubble and pebbles, on sand, in rock gardens. The plant loves sun and moist soil.
Spices
Fragrant herbs not only allow you to make delicious and healthy tea, but also decorate the garden. The most famous cultures:
- mint;
- Melissa;
- rosemary;
- oregano;
- sage.
All of these types of plants have decorative leaves, bloom beautifully, look good along the path and in the flower bed. Sage is especially beautiful, its high “arrows” will decorate a bright corner in the garden.
Periwinkle small and large
An unpretentious flower, able to grow in one place for a long time, forms a carpet of graceful leaves and pale blue flowers. Breeders have bred varieties with red, crimson and pink flowers. It can grow on rocky soil, in the shade. From the periwinkle, you can create beautiful ones, decorate the ground under the trees and along the paths.
The large periwinkle is a semi-shrub, its flowers are larger, reaching 5 cm in diameter. The plant looks good in plantings near the fence and along the paths.
Loosestrife
Meadow tea is another name for loosestrife and can be used as an ampelous or ground cover plant. Loosestrife bushes form beautiful compositions, decorate, a flower bed, a rock garden.
Ground cover species of juniper
Bushes planted in the center or at the corners of the flower bed will give it an exotic touch. Creeping species of this coniferous plant can be used as a ground cover. The "lying" juniper looks good in the company of other conifers, as well as planted in splendid isolation. The green carpet beautifully sets off the gray stones.
Even such a limited list of ground cover perennials can create wonderful corners in the garden for relaxation and contemplation.
Each gardener has his own preferences and his own understanding of beauty. Planting material, sold in specialized stores, makes it possible to make your site unique.
Photo of ground cover plants
May lily of the valley. 
