Initially, in nature, wild carnation grew on the hills and mountain slopes of Europe and Asia. Today, more than five hundred varieties of these delicate beautiful plants with varied color palette. Flower lovers enjoy growing carnations in their gardens: they caress the eye with their lush color for a long period of time and exude a delicate and pleasant aroma.
Man-cultivated carnations are not quite similar to their “relatives” growing in nature. It differs not only in that the wild plant is a perennial, and the cultivated varieties are biennial, but also in its rich color palette, as well as the size and number of inflorescences:
- in addition to single-color flowers - white, pink, bright red, lavender, there are many two-color ones, with a variegated border, stripes and spots on the petals, with a bright center. There are varieties with up to four shades of color;
- bushes can be very miniature, up to 30 cm, medium-sized and tall - up to 1 meter;
- in the Turkish carnation, each flower is bordered by a small fringe, and the inflorescences themselves fit tightly to each other.
But plant development occurs the same way, regardless of the variety. Leaf rosette and root system is formed in the first year, the formation of peduncles and seeds - in the second year. Flowering duration is from one to two months. The Turkish carnation has an upright, hard, gnarled stem, and the leaves are narrow, long, bright green, sometimes with a bluish tint. Inflorescences are collected from 30 or more small flowers.
How to properly prepare the soil
To get strong and healthy plants, you need to know how to properly prepare seedlings for growing. Carnation seeds are usually sown in early February, and the quality of the soil largely determines how well the seedlings will develop.
Properly prepared soil is the key to successful development of seedlings
The easiest way to disinfect soil is calcination in the oven.
Before planting, the seeds are usually soaked, but this step can be skipped. At clove seeds good germination, on days 6-10 the sprouts hatch and after two or three weeks the weaker plants can be removed.
Seed selection
Turkish carnation enjoys well-deserved popularity among flower growers, so there are no problems with purchasing seeds. They are available for free sale, they can be taken from amateur gardeners, or ordered via the Internet from breeders.
- in the second year, the carnation forms flower stalks, after which, after flowering, small boxes with flat seeds inside appear at the end of summer. These small seeds spill out when touched lightly to the dry capsules;
- The collected seeds must be further dried and poured into paper or foil bags. So they can be stored in a dark and cool place for up to three years.
For your information: flowers grown from seeds do not always look like their “parents”. Sometimes the color scheme differs very significantly.
Landing dates
You can grow cloves from seeds at different times.
Table. Stages of working with cloves depending on timing
Deadlines | Type of work |
|---|---|
| Seeds are sown for seedlings in peat cups, plastic containers, mini-greenhouses. |
| Planting in the ground under cover. Seeds are sown in moist soil in a flower bed or flower garden, in a place where there is good daylight, and cover with film. |
| Planting seedlings. The grown seedlings are transplanted into open ground as soon as the threat of frost has passed. |
| Caring for seedlings and seedlings in open ground. In such conditions, the seeds take a very long time to germinate, but they form stronger leaf rosettes and tolerate the winter well, as a result of which the carnation blooms amicably next year. |
| Sowing before winter. It is carried out with dry seeds directly into the ground. There is no need to water them. But it is advisable to shelter from the cold with straw or fallen leaves, especially in regions with harsh winters. |
Rules for growing seedlings
Each climate zone has its own timing. Gardeners need to independently navigate the timing of sowing seeds. The main thing is that young plants are planted in open ground before the onset of heat. Cloves react negatively to transplantation. To avoid this, it is better to immediately sow 3-4 seeds separately in a separate peat glass. Then you won’t have to subject the flower to stress - just plant it in open ground.
For sowing cloves, you can also use peat tablets- this is how plants get the maximum nutrients and are not injured when planting in the ground
Let's look at how to properly grow Turkish cloves from seeds.
- The planting container must be rinsed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or doused with boiling water in order to eliminate the possibility of developing various types of infections.
- But the bottom is laid with drainage. To do this, you can use either purchased drainage mixture, gravel, pieces of polystyrene foam, or small shards of broken ceramics. The drainage layer helps to retain the required level humidity and does not allow the soil to accumulate salts of heavy metals.
- Next, you should lay out the soil mixture on the drainage to two-thirds of the volume of the container.
- Level the surface and place the seeds at a distance of up to 3 cm from each other.
- Seeds should be covered with soil up to 1.5 cm.
- The container with seeds should be covered with glass or covered with cling film, and then placed on the windowsill so that there is enough daylight, but direct sunlight is excluded. sun rays.
- Carnation does not like to be filled with water. It is best to provide it with gentle watering: open the seedlings twice a week, ventilate them and moisten the soil from above with a spray bottle.
- After the first three leaves appear, the “greenhouse” can be removed.
Important: seedlings should not be grown at temperatures exceeding 12-13°C, otherwise they will begin to grow rapidly, which will have a negative impact on decorative qualities carnations.
Before planting young plants in the flowerbed, they need to be hardened off. To do this, you need to take the seedlings outside every day and keep them in the shade. First, the flowers are hardened for 2-3 hours, then the time gradually increases. The glasses with shoots “spend the night” near the open window, so the carnation can quickly adapt to new growing conditions. Before planting in open ground, plants can be fed. Carnation is very responsive to feeding. In May or early June, when night frosts are no longer expected, but weather most comfortable, young plants are planted in a flowerbed at a distance of 25-50 cm from each other.
To facilitate the rooting process, it is recommended to cover the planted seedlings with a film, which will need to be removed immediately after the plants have successfully taken root in the new location. A little time will pass and you will be able to enjoy a flowering carpet emitting a pleasant honey aroma.
Advice: usually all the carnations growing in a flower bed are at the same stages of development: flower stalks are thrown out at the same time, buds appear, then bloom together and then fade away. To preserve the decorative appearance of your flower bed for longer, you can trim off all the faded flower stalks at once. This will provoke a new wave of carnation flowering.
Growing cloves in open ground
Carnation is not a fussy plant, and its seeds can be sown directly in open ground. What soil will be most favorable for it? In nature beautiful flower It is found both on pebble-covered shores and on rocky slopes. But Turkish cloves do not like acidic soils. Therefore, it is worth checking the acidity in your flower garden and, if it is elevated, you need to add wood ash or slaked lime to the soil (0.5 kg per square meter). They should be applied in the fall, evenly distributed over the surface of the flower garden before the ground is dug up.
Important: you need to make sure that the lime is well mixed with the soil and that no lumps remain. Lime can cause burns to the root system of plants, causing them to get sick and may even die.
When choosing a place to plant a flower, you must consider the following basic requirements:
- cloves do not like excess moisture, so there should be no stagnation of water at the planting site;
- the plant feels comfortable in shaded places or flower beds, where the sun is observed only in the first half of the day;
- There should be no plants near the carnation whose root system develops quickly and suppresses neighboring crops.
How is seed sowing done in open ground?
- Before planting, be sure to dig up the soil and remove the roots of the weeds.
- Level the soil and cut even grooves up to 2 cm deep.
- Between the furrows it is necessary to maintain a distance of 25 to 30 cm.
- The depressions prepared for planting are watered warm water.
- The seeds are laid out every 7-8 cm and sprinkled with a layer of soil no more than 1 cm.
Before the shoots appear, the planting site must be covered with film and a small “greenhouse” must be arranged. The first green loops will have to wait a long time, but they will definitely appear. Make sure that the seedlings do not grow too close to each other. This can make them sick. The distance between plants should be at least 15 cm. If necessary, thin out the sprouts, removing the weakest ones.
Rules of care
In order for the lush color to please as long as possible, it is necessary to provide the beauty comfortable conditions growth.
Table. Rules for caring for Turkish cloves
| Types of jobs | Description |
|---|---|
| You can't overdo it. Here it is better to underfill than overfill. Water can stagnate and cause root rot. It is enough to water the flowers twice a week. If the weather is very dry, the frequency of watering can be increased. Watering should be at the roots. Drops of water getting on the leaves in hot weather leads to burns of the plant, and dry leaves appear on it. brown spots, which greatly spoils appearance flower. |
| Fertilizer for cloves can be bought in specialized stores and applied according to the instructions on the package. You can make the fertilizer yourself: take about 2 kg of mullein in a bucket of water, cover tightly, place it outside and let it ferment for a month. This homemade fertilizer is enough for all feeding. On a bucket clean water take half a liter of fermented mixture and carefully pour it between the beds. The first fertilizing should be done after the plant has become stronger and half grown. A second feeding is required during the formation of buds. The third time the soil is fertilized during flowering. |
| A prerequisite: the damaged plant must be isolated, because it cannot be treated and can infect its neighbors. The disease can be visually identified by the appearance of spots on the foliage, increased formation of shoots at the nodes of the stem, and light brown growths. A diseased plant may bush, but will not bloom, or the flowers will wither prematurely, not having time to open properly. |
| The threat to the above-ground part of the plant comes from caterpillars (they must be collected by hand) and thrips (they must either be poisoned chemically, or spray the flowers with garlic infusion). The root system is threatened by mice (any poison can be used), or root-knot nematodes (the detection area must be poured with boiling water and the infected plant must be burned). |
In addition to the methods discussed above, cloves can be propagated by layering. To do this, the stem of a healthy and strong plant must be placed on the ground. Secure the place of contact with the ground using a wire in the form of a pin. Cover this area with soil. The top of the plant remains in vertical position. When the cuttings take root, they can be separated from the mother bush.
Turkish carnation is a hardy plant and does not require special care. During the growth and development of plants, the flowerbed must be weeded and cleared of weeds. A lush, fragrant carpet of flowers will decorate any flower garden.
Video - Turkish cloves. Growing and care
Turkish carnation is a biennial plant, so every year you need to sow seeds or propagate plants by layering and cuttings. There are no such problems with perennials, and many gardeners prefer them. One of the most popular perennials is ampelous lobelia. What kind of flower this is, how it is grown and what care it requires, you can read on.
Since ancient times, the carnation has been considered a symbol of constancy, justice and goodness. Many gardeners willingly grow it in their garden or on the windowsill. This flower captivates the eye with its multi-colored “carpet”. Even indifferent gardeners cannot resist its beauty. It has been grown since the 16th century and is loved for its unpretentiousness and intricate colors of bright flower caps, characterized by abundant and long flowering.
growing from seeds
Carnation is a biennial plant up to 70 cm high. The flowers have very different and complex colors with interesting patterns on patterned petals. The most popular terry varieties. In the first year, only a rosette and leaves appear, and only in the next year do flowers appear. You can plant it as seedlings in early spring, and even better before winter, covered with film. The interval between plants is maintained at 20 cm, but if you want to get a dense “carpet”, then you need to plant them much closer. Seedlings are planted in cloudy weather for better bush development. Young carnation seedlings are afraid of frost, so it is worth covering them with mulch, spruce branches or sawdust for the winter; in addition, in this way you will protect the plants from being eaten by rodents. Turkish cloves, which are not difficult to grow from seeds, are also an excellent honey plant, having a subtle sweet aroma. How to care for the plant?
Care
Timely watering and weeding is, perhaps, all that is required for such an extraordinary flower as the Turkish carnation. Growing it is so simple that with
Even beginners in gardening can cope with it. However, as most people prefer sunny places, but will also quite agree to grow in partial shade. She is also unlikely to refuse feeding and fertilizers and will thank you with large flowers collected in dense inflorescences-baskets.
Reproduction
Turkish cloves, the seeds of which ripen in large quantities, also have excellent germination for several years. After the plant has flowered, cut off the umbrella with the seeds and dry them well in warm sunny weather. It can also be done in this way: during flowering, the carnation forms a new leaf rosette, which will bloom the next year.
Gardeners are very fond of such unpretentious plants as Turkish cloves. Growing from seeds is not at all difficult. All you have to do is not cut off all the flowers, and they themselves will grow into thick greenery next year. Despite this, it is happily grown in flower beds, planted along paths or just under a window, that is, wherever Turkish carnation will grow. Growing from seeds, however, can lead to the fact that it can grow uncontrollably throughout the entire area if the flower baskets are not cut off in advance. These plants add a pop of color and blend well with other neighbors. In addition, Turkish carnations make excellent bouquets that retain their freshness for a long time, which, for example, noble roses cannot boast of.
For many centuries, carnations have been highly popular among flower growers in various countries. It attracts not only its beautiful appearance, but also its smell: during flowering, the culture emits an aroma reminiscent of the one produced by the buds of the clove tree, which are used in cooking as a spice. This explains the name of this plant.
The origin of the name clove is quite interesting: translated from Greek it means « divine flower» or "flower of Zeus". Therefore, the desire of many flower lovers to plant carnations in their flower garden is understandable. However, the success of this event largely depends on the gardener’s awareness of the rules for growing, caring for and propagating this crop in open ground.
Description of Turkish cloves
This plant can often be seen in flower beds. It was able to attract attention back in the 16th century, when it attracted the interest of flower growers with its bright flowering caps. Today, many varieties of carnations have been developed, which are distinguished by a rich range of colors.
If desired, you can find plain white and different shades of red hybrids. Many experienced gardeners grow two- and three-color plants, the petals of which are decorated with original patterns. Moreover, this feature gives them special attractiveness and originality, because such patterns can be very diverse, looking like borders, eyes and intricate figures. Carnation petals look no less original. In stores you can buy varieties with five petals, as well as hybrids with double flowers. The first carnation flowers bloom in the first weeks of summer and delight throughout the month.
To achieve the most beautiful flowering Turkish cloves, you need to choose the right area for planting, where must prevail fertile soil . Suitable places for growing are well-lit areas, although it would not be a mistake to plant it in partial shade. If there are no other options, Turkish cloves can be grown on sandy and loamy soils, but first you will have to add fertilizer to them. The soil is fertilized immediately before planting using compost or humus, ash, mineral fertilizers.
When digging a site for planting Turkish cloves, it is enough to penetrate 25-30 cm deep. After this, the bed needs to be leveled and watered, if necessary. Then a thick cloth is laid over the bed and left in this condition for two weeks. Next, you can start planting flowers.
You need to sow Turkish clove seeds in furrows up to 1.5 cm deep. Furrows should be made no closer than 15 cm from each other. After sowing, the furrow needs to be watered and covered with a layer of soil on top. Next, the earth needs to be lightly compacted. There is no need for additional watering; you can limit yourself to a shelter made of dense fabric, which is kept until the first shoots appear.
You can sow clove seeds in spring or autumn. Moreover, in each case, seed sowing is carried out according to the same scheme.
Caring for Turkish cloves
Let us remind you once again that it is recommended to grow cloves in well-lit areas where there is fertile soil. However, this plant can easily die from winter cold. First of all, this is dangerous for young plants. In addition, a serious danger to Turkish cloves is waterlogging and stagnation of water.
Plants experience the greatest stress in early spring, since temperature fluctuations are often observed at this time of year, since during the daytime the temperature can reach summer levels, and frosts often occur at night. To protect the carnation during this period, it is necessary to use a cover made of spruce branches. The need for it disappears at the moment when the last wave of frosts has passed.
At the end of flowering, it is necessary to trim the stems and fertilize the soil. Such events launch the process of formation of new shoots, which will allow wait for secondary flowering cloves, but this only happens in certain varieties. If you strictly follow the rules for growing Turkish carnation, then it will be able to delight you with its bright buds for 6 years. Neglecting the rules of care can lead to the fact that in three years, and perhaps even earlier, you will have to look for a replacement.
To prevent the plant from experiencing a need for moisture, watering should be carried out at least 1-2 times a week. In dry years, the amount of watering is increased. It is necessary to water the carnation along the ground, avoiding drops of water falling on the flower. Otherwise it will cause burns.
Fertilizer and feeding of Turkish cloves
Growing Turkish cloves from seeds involves regular feeding.
- for the first time, fertilizers are applied at the moment when the plant reaches a height of 10 cm. For these purposes, a special solution is used, the preparation of which requires 10 liters warm water dilute 1 tbsp. l. nitrophoska and 1 tbsp. l. Agricola Forward;
- in the phase of bud formation, a second feeding is carried out. As a fertilizer, a solution is used, for the preparation of which you need to dilute 1 tbsp in 10 liters of water. l. potassium sulfate and the same amount of superphosphate;
- the third time, fertilizers are applied at the flowering stage of the carnation. To do this, prepare the following solution: you need to take 1 tbsp. l. fertilizers "Agricola for flowering plants"and dilute in 10 liters of water.
Plant propagation
The main methods of propagation of this perennial plant is sowing seeds and using cuttings. In the latter case, the event can be successfully completed provided that a certain procedure is followed exactly:
You can get new Turkish carnation bushes cutting method. To do this, select shoots on which inflorescences have not yet formed in the current season.
You can also plant bushes that have grown in open ground as a result of self-seeding. In this case, there will be no need to hold special events, since it will be enough to choose a suitable location. But you need to keep in mind that carnation seedlings grown by self-sowing usually do not retain the properties of the mother plant.
Diseases and pests of Turkish cloves
They want Turkish cloves and have such useful qualities as disease resistance; some varieties can be affected by diseases spread by sucking insects. This risk is highest in southern regions growing this plant. The first signs of infection of this perennial plant are slow growth, the presence of a mosaic color on the leaves, as well as their subsequent deformation. These diseases are combated by completely destroying infected bushes, which must be done to avoid the spread of the disease to neighboring bushes.
Heterosporiasis
Certain types of garden carnations can also be affected by heterosporiosis. This disease is caused by fungi; as a result, small gray spots can be seen on the leaves and stems. In some cases, a red border may be present. Gradually, the spots become lighter in color and begin to merge.
Where clusters of spots form, the flowers begin to thin out, and over time the leaves turn yellow and die. Considering the high survivability of the fungus, even after the complete death of the plant, you need to remove all residues, then spray the neighboring bushes with Bordeaux mixture or copper chloride.
Spider mites and aphids
When growing garden carnations from seeds in open ground, it may be attacked by pests such as spider mite and aphids.
- to prepare it you will need 1 kg of potato tops, which need to be filled with 10 liters of water;
- then the mixture is infused for 1.5 days;
- Before direct use, you need to add one tablespoon of liquid soap to the tincture.
Cloves in combination with other plants
When growing carnations in flower beds, you can add other ornamental plants. However, it is best to choose sun-loving perennials as neighbors. Turkish cloves will feel good together with alpine aster, Carpathian bell and rudbeckia. What these perennials have in common is that they have the same soil requirements, watering and lighting.
Conclusion
Growing cloves is not a problem, because last years specialists were able to accumulate a lot of knowledge about the features of its cultivation and care in the open ground. And, despite the fact that it does not cause much trouble for the gardener, you still need to take into account certain rules and follow them. First of all, you need to prepare a suitable place for planting, because carnations grow well only on fertile soil.
Place for carnations should be well lit, and after planting it is necessary to provide it with regular watering. During the growth process, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the carnation, because at the most unexpected moment it may be attacked by pests. Therefore, it is important to quickly notice changes and immediately begin to take the necessary measures.
In most of our gardens you can find bright, multi-colored, patterned abundantly blooming flower– Turkish cloves ( Dianthus barbatus). Its neat, variegated bushes look especially impressive on lawn compositions in combination with ornamental grass or other types of Turkish carnation itself.
Did you know? Turkish cloves are not only beautiful to look at, but also have an alluring, subtle, spicy scent.
A little about Turkish cloves
The Turkish carnation has the following description: it is an ornamental biennial or perennial flower with densely flowering spherical inflorescences of various shades. The petals are delicate and can be single or double. The color of the petals is very diverse - there are monochromatic types, and there are those combining 3-4 shades. The color of the inflorescences is white, pink-white, raspberry-red, white-dark pink, white-gray-pink, white-violet, raspberry-white, red-burgundy, purple-white, burgundy-black, etc.
Important! The Turkish carnation blooms in full force only in the second year after planting. In the first year, the plant takes root and grows basal foliage.
Leaves– narrow, long, lanceolate, with a characteristic green-blue tint. Stem– erect, strong, with fine knobbiness. In terms of height, the Turkish carnation can be short - up to 14-15 cm in height, and tall - 45-55 cm and even up to 65-70 cm in height.
Choosing a place to grow Turkish cloves
The plant is unpretentious and does not require any specific growing conditions. Turkish cloves are equally suitable for growing in the garden, in a flower bed or in a large open flower bed. The only thing is that the flower does not like strong sun, and it is recommended to plant it so that in the afternoon the plant is in partial shade. Although in our climate, Turkish carnation grows well and tolerates summer heat and direct sunlight quite well. It is advisable to plant the plant at some elevation, in an area where rainwater will not stagnate.
Preparing the soil before planting
Turkish carnation is one of the few flowers for which the soil, or rather its composition, does not matter much. But it loves sandy and sandy loam soils with slightly alkaline or neutral acidity. It is better, of course, if the soil is fertile, but if not, you can additionally fertilize it with organic matter or mineral fertilizers. The main thing is that the soil is well drained and there is no stagnation of water. 2-3 weeks before sowing, dig up the area to a depth of 20-25 cm, and then carefully level it. If necessary, fertilizers are added when digging - this can be either mineral fertilizers or compost, humus, or wood ash.
Sowing Turkish clove seeds in open ground
There are two periods when you can sow Turkish cloves in open ground - early spring and mid-autumn. Before spring planting seeds, usually mid to late April, the soil is loosened and moistened. Lay grooves 1-1.5 cm deep, water the depressions with water, sow seeds, sprinkle with soil and water with a watering can with a sprayer. Or they water the seeds themselves in the hole, sprinkle them, but do not water them, but cover them with thick cloth or film until germination begins. The distance between seeds is 1.5-2 cm, the row spacing is at least 13-15 cm.
How to plant Turkish clove seeds – should you soak them or not? Before planting, the seeds can be soaked in water for several hours. room temperature, but you don’t have to do this. If you did soak them, then after draining the water, you need to lightly dry the seeds with a towel or napkin so that they do not stick together when sowing. In winter, the plant is sown in late September - early October.
Important! Turkish cloves, when grown from seeds in the fall, have one peculiarity - neither the seeds nor the soil are moistened with water. Sow the seeds completely without watering in dry soil.
To insulate autumn crops for the winter, they cover them with spruce branches, straw, and hay, which are removed in the spring.
Combination with other plants
Turkish carnation goes well with almost all perennial unpretentious flowers and herbs. Suitable for alpine slides, outdoor flowerpots, creating multi-colored complex compositions in gardens and flower beds, decorating verandas and balconies. Looks great in a bouquet and is often used as a vase flower.
Did you know? Turkish carnation blooms for a long time - it decorates a garden or flowerbed for up to 28-30 days.
Caring for Turkish Carnation
Turkish carnation is not capricious, hardy, and caring for it is, in general, simple - picking, weeding, proper watering. After sowing, germination occurs within 10-14 days. After 3 weeks, the grown seedlings dive (in the evening), leaving a distance between them of no more than 5-7 cm. After slightly moistening the soil, you can again cover the sprouts with film or cloth for several days. After sowing the seeds and before germination, the soil should be constantly moist. Next, water the seedlings as the soil dries.
Watering, weeding and loosening the soil
Water the plant only as needed. Both young crops of Turkish cloves and adult plants get sick and die from constant dampness.
Important! Excess moisture is detrimental to a growing and mature plant. Watering Turkish cloves should always be moderate.
Weeding is done if necessary, removing weeds and carrying out shallow loosening of the soil. They also loosen the soil after each watering and fertilizing.
When and how to fertilize
Fertilizing Turkish carnations is carried out to accelerate growth and friendly, abundant flowering. You can begin to fertilize sprouts that have reached a height of 8-10 cm. For this, use superphosphate, potassium sulfate or universal fertilizers for flowering plants. Feed the Turkish carnation again at the very beginning of flowering when the buds appear. Dosages of all nutritional medications are according to their instructions.
Shelter for the winter
After the plant has flowered, it is pruned - the inflorescences are cut off and the bush itself is shortened a little (by 5-7 cm). And in the fall, before the onset of frost, they are covered with spruce branches or sprinkled with peat, hay, and straw for insulation.
Did you know? Popular varieties Turkish carnation - “Scarlet Beauty”, “Black”, “White Queen”, “Bayer”, “Diabunda-F1”, “Indian Carpet”, “Summer Fantasy”, “Nigricans”, “Noverna F1”, “Noverna-Clown” -F1", "Little Willy", "Egyptian", "Mirage", "Ondine", "Dynasty-F1", "Purple Mountain", "Color Pattern".
Diseases and pests of Turkish cloves
Turkish carnation, like any other plant, is susceptible to some pests and diseases. The main enemy is root rot (fusarium), which occurs due to damp soil. If the plant is sick, it is uprooted and burned, and the area is treated with a garden fungicide disinfectant. There is also one like this fungal disease Turkish carnation as heterosporiosis - gray-red spotted lesions on leaves. At the first signs, diseased plants are destroyed, and healthy ones are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture,
Turkish cloves is a long-time favorite of gardeners. It is difficult to imagine any flower bed without this charming flower of a wide variety of shades.
In addition to beauty, the Turkish carnation has a number of other wonderful qualities- unpretentiousness, cold resistance and shade tolerance.
These undeniable advantages ensured the love of flower growers for carnations for many years.
What do we know about the garden beauty
Turkish clove or in Latin Dianthus barbatus It belongs to the clove family and is native to the mountainous regions of Southern Europe.
On garden plots the flower is grown as biennial. In the first year it grows leaves and lush rosettes, and in the second year of life it blooms in all its glory.
Small flowers of Turkish carnation are collected in bright lush inflorescences, fragrant pleasant aroma.
Each flower has four bracts with a shaggy border along the edge, reminiscent of a beard. For this feature, the flower acquired another name - "carnation bearded".
Turkish cloves are impressive huge variety of colors. White, crimson, pink, red, burgundy and other shades of its flowers are decorated with unique patterns in the form of strokes, spots and borders.
Withdrawn many varieties plants with both simple and complex inflorescences collected from double flowers.
Meet short(up to 20 cm in height) and tall(up to 80 cm in height) types of Turkish carnations. Most often, the flower is grown from seeds, which are planted directly in open ground or in a container for seedlings.
Growing from seeds in open ground
Turkish clove seeds Already in May or early June you can sow in open ground. Two weeks before planting, it is necessary to prepare the soil.
You need to dig it up, loosen it and water it, and then cover it with film. Place for a plant It is advisable to choose sunny or semi-shaded conditions with fertile humus-rich soil.
In cool weather, removing the film from the prepared soil, we can start to planting seeds. You need to make grooves located at a distance of about 15 cm from each other, sow seeds in them and sprinkle them with earth.
Wherein distance between seeds should be 2 or 3 cm, and the planting depth should be 1 cm. After sowing, moisten the soil with lukewarm water from a sprayer and cover it with non-woven material.
As a rule, seedlings appear within 10 days. 18 or 20 days after germination need to dive seedlings to a new place. Recommended distance between seedlings - about 7 cm, and the interval between rows - 15 cm. Seedlings must be covered again with protective material. It is advisable to carry out the picking in the evening after 18 o'clock.
In August young bushes Carnations should be transplanted to a previously prepared permanent place. The distance between young plants should be about 30 cm.
To protect against severe frosts it is necessary to cover the bed with carnations with spruce branches. Next year already in June you will be able to admire lush inflorescences Turkish cloves.
You can also sow the seeds plants in October for the winter, but always in dry soil. The seeds must also be dry.
Before frost you should cover the bed with the seeds with peat or humus with a layer of 10 cm. spring time emerging seedlings must be protected from sunlight.
Growing seedlings from seeds
Start off sowing seedlings Turkish cloves follow in March. It is advisable to prepare the soil for seeds yourself from the following components:
- 2 parts peat;
- 1 part river sand;
- 2 parts of turf land.
Before boarding it is necessary to steam or freeze the soil. Next, you should take care of the drainage layer and holes at the bottom of the container. Then you need to sow the seeds into the moistened soil, sprinkle them with a little sand and place them under a film.
Optimal temperature about 18 °C and moderate watering are important conditions for the successful emergence of seedlings.
Seedlings with emerging shoots must be placed in a bright and cool place with a temperature of 12 °C. It is advisable to provide seedlings with additional lighting until mid-March.
After the true leaves appear, you can pick seedlings into separate small containers. After 5 leaves appear, it is necessary to pinch the seedlings at the growth point.
Plants can be planted at the end of May in open ground, maintaining a distance of about 30 cm between them.
Caring for Turkish Carnation
To make Turkish carnation pleasing to the eye abundant flowering
, you should not forget to weed, water and feed it in time, as well as loosen the soil around the plant.
Water the flowers preferably at least 2 times a week, and more often on hot days. About 15 liters of water are required for 1 square meter of flower bed.
It is important not to overwater the cloves to avoid root rot, and also to avoid getting drops of water on the rosettes of flowers.
The second time the plant is fed during flowering liquid fertilizer for flowering plants. The third feeding is carried out at the end of summer with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.
Pests and diseases
Turkish clove susceptible to attack And . If pests are detected, the plants must be treated with insecticides.
Due to waterlogging and stagnation of water, it is possible root rotting And sockets carnations. To prevent this from happening, you need to loosen the soil around the plants more often and remove the affected shoots in a timely manner.
Turkish carnations - truly unique flowers . They are so unpretentious that they can easily take root in any corner of the garden.
A bright and colorful carpet of Turkish carnations will give flower arrangements will bring unique charm to your garden amazing holiday feeling.