Alyssum: A fragrant flower for the garden. Alyssum planting and care in the open field, according to all the rules

Basil - a wonderful universal seasoning for meat, fish, soups and fresh salads - is well known to all lovers of Caucasian and Italian cuisine. However, upon closer inspection, basil greens are surprisingly versatile. For several seasons now, our family has been drinking fragrant basil tea with pleasure. In a flower bed with perennials and in flowerpots with annual flowers, bright spicy plant also found a decent place.

Thuja or juniper - which is better? This question can sometimes be heard in garden centers and in the market where these plants are sold. He, of course, is not entirely correct and correct. Well, it's like asking which is better - night or day? Coffee or tea? Woman or man? Surely everyone will have their own answer and opinion. And yet ... But what if we approach without prejudice and try to compare juniper and thuja according to certain objective parameters? Let's try.

Red Cauliflower Cream Soup with Crispy Smoked Bacon is a delicious, tender and creamy soup that adults and children will love. If you are preparing a dish for the whole family, including toddlers, then do not add a lot of spices, although many modern children are not at all against spicy flavors. Bacon for serving can be prepared in different ways - fry in a pan, as in this recipe, or bake in the oven on parchment for about 20 minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees.

For some, the time of sowing seeds for seedlings is a long-awaited and pleasant chore, for some it is a difficult necessity, and someone thinks about whether it is easier to buy ready-made seedlings on the market or from friends? Whatever it was, even if you refused to grow vegetables, for sure, you still have to sow something. These are flowers and perennials, coniferous plants and much more. A seedling is still a seedling, no matter what you plant.

A lover of humid air and one of the most compact and rare orchids, pafinia is a real star for most orchid growers. Its flowering rarely lasts longer than a week, but it is an unforgettable sight. Unusual striped patterns on the huge flowers of a modest orchid want to be considered endlessly. In room culture, pafinia is rightly credited to the ranks of species that are difficult to grow. It became fashionable only with the spread of interior terrariums.

Pumpkin marmalade with ginger is a warming sweet that can be cooked almost all year round. Pumpkin has a long shelf life - sometimes I manage to save a few vegetables until summer, fresh ginger and lemons are always available these days. Lemon can be substituted for lime or orange for a variety of flavors - variety in sweets is always nice. Ready marmalade is laid out in dry jars, it can be stored at room temperature, but it is always more useful to prepare fresh products.

In 2014, the Japanese company Takii seed introduced a petunia with a striking salmon-orange petal color. By association with the bright colors of the southern sunset sky, the unique hybrid was named African Sunset (“African Sunset”). Needless to say, this petunia instantly won the hearts of gardeners and was in great demand. But in the last two years, the curiosity has suddenly disappeared from shop windows. Where did the orange petunia go?

In our family Bell pepper love, so we plant it every year. Most of the varieties that I grow have been tested by me for more than one season, I cultivate them all the time. And every year I try to try something new. Pepper is a heat-loving and rather whimsical plant. About varietal and hybrid varieties of tasty and productive sweet pepper, which grows well with me, and will be discussed further. I live in middle lane Russia.

Meatballs with broccoli in bechamel sauce are a great idea for a quick lunch or dinner. Start by cooking the minced meat, while bringing 2 liters of water to a boil to blanch the broccoli. By the time the cutlets are fried, the cabbage will be ready. It remains to collect the products in the pan, season with sauce and bring to readiness. Broccoli needs to be cooked quickly to keep it bright. green color, which, when cooked for a long time, either fades, or the cabbage becomes brown.

Home floriculture is not only a fascinating process, but also a very troublesome hobby. And, as a rule, the more experience a grower has, the healthier his plants look. And what about those who do not have experience, but want to have a home houseplants- not stretched stunted specimens, but beautiful and healthy, not evocative guilt by their extinction? For beginners and flower growers who are not burdened with a long experience, I will tell you about the main mistakes that are easy to avoid.

Lush cheesecakes in a pan with banana-apple confiture is another recipe for everyone's favorite dish. So that cheesecakes do not fall off after cooking, remember a few simple rules. Firstly, only fresh and dry cottage cheese, secondly, no baking powder and soda, and thirdly, the density of the dough - you can sculpt from it, it is not tight, but pliable. good dough with a small amount of flour will only come out of good cottage cheese, and here again see the paragraph "firstly".

It is no secret that many drugs from pharmacies migrated to summer cottages. Their use, at first glance, seems so exotic that some summer residents are perceived almost with hostility. At the same time, potassium permanganate is a long-known antiseptic, which is used both in medicine and in veterinary medicine. In crop production, a solution of potassium permanganate is used both as an antiseptic and as a fertilizer. In this article we will tell you how to properly use potassium permanganate in the garden and vegetable garden.

Pork meat salad with mushrooms is a rural dish that can often be found on holiday table in the village. This recipe is with champignons, but if you can use forest mushrooms, then be sure to cook it this way, it will be even tastier. You don’t need to spend a lot of time preparing this salad - put the meat in a saucepan for 5 minutes and another 5 minutes for slicing. Everything else happens almost without the participation of the cook - meat and mushrooms are boiled, cooled, marinated.

Cucumbers grow well not only in a greenhouse or conservatory, but also in open field. Cucumbers are usually sown from mid-April to mid-May. Harvesting in this case is possible from mid-July to the end of summer. Cucumbers do not tolerate frost. That's why we don't sow them too early. However, there is a way to bring their harvest closer and taste juicy handsome men from your garden at the beginning of summer or even in May. It is only necessary to take into account some features of this plant.

Every mistress of a summer cottage dreams of having a permanent blooming garden. To do this, many women spend almost everything free time in the country and try to grow beautiful flowers, create interesting flower beds and rockeries. To navigate what flowers should be planted in order to ensure long-term flowering in the warm season, it is necessary to study the properties of many plants. This sometimes takes whole years, and so you want to quickly grow beautiful flowers in the country and admire the lush and long flowering.

Probably many housewives summer cottages familiar with most beautifully flowering plants. Today we will talk about an unpretentious flower - alyssum. We will also learn how to grow alyssum yourself.

This flower has an unusual name. If you take this Greek word apart, you get the following "no to dog rabies." Perhaps in ancient greece with this beautiful flower people tried to cure rabies in dogs. There is no such data in any source, so it remains only to speculate.

Alyssum is an annual plant. Among the people you can hear another name for the flower - "beetroot" or "sea lobularia". In nature, there are about 100 plant species. Alyssum is native to Africa, Asia, North America and Europe. Alyssum is also growing in Russia. As a garden culture, this delicate flower has been known not so long ago, but despite this, its popularity is increasing every year. Alyssum refers to unpretentious plants, it is easy to grow, easy to care for, and beautiful bloom and a delicate honey aroma attracts bees and creates a unique atmosphere of home comfort in the garden.

Look at the photo, how beautiful alyssum flowers can be:

Alyssum belongs to undersized plants, literally covers every centimeter of soil and beautifully "lays down". Plant height from 15 to 45 cm. Shoots strongly branched, slightly oblong, oval-shaped leaves. Alyssum flowers are small, preferably light shades. There are varieties of this beautiful plant with bright colors - juicy crimson, red and purple hues, as well as delicate yellow and pink. Flowers are collected in small clusters. The plant begins to bloom in late spring and fades in autumn with the onset of frost. If the proper conditions are provided for the alissum, then the flowering period can be accelerated, and the duration can be increased. Some varieties of plants can continue to bloom even after the first frost.

Growing alyssum

This flower prefers stony soils. The plant loves light, it is resistant to hot climates, so it can be grown in the southern part of the country. Alyssum is not afraid of heat and drought. In a region with a harsh winter climate, plants should not be planted in open areas, but to provide light partial shade. In order for the plants to retain their frost resistance, it is necessary to choose the right place - sunlight should always fall on the plant.

Otherwise, alyssums are not capricious, they withstand drafts well, grow well on stony soil next to large boulders and other plants.

If you decide to grow these beautiful honey-scented flowers on your site, then you need to properly prepare the soil. It should not be raw, too dense and heavy. Annual or perennial representatives of alyssum will feel equally good in light soils generously enriched with fertilizers. This is necessary to achieve the brightness of the colors.

Soil acidity can be slightly alkaline or neutral.

How to grow alyssum from seeds

If you are interested and want to grow these flowers from seeds yourself, then be patient and have everything you need to grow.

There are two ways to grow alyssums from seeds:

1. Seedlings.
2. Without growing seedlings.

You can sow the seeds directly into the ground (in May, when the earth warms up well) to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm. You can sow generously, since the seeds are so tiny that it is impossible to plant separately. Therefore, after the first friendly shoots, it is necessary to thin out the seedlings well. If you plant alyssums in this way, then flowering can be expected almost at the end of summer. If you want to enjoy the spring flowering of alyssums, then you need to sow the seeds in the fall. The best time for planting is November. Just during the winter, the seeds will get stronger, the weak ones will die, and shoots of strong plants will appear in the spring, which will bloom in due time, that is, already in May.

How to grow flowers from seedlings

Most flower growers have already decided on how to grow flowers. Many prefer the method of propagation of alissums using seedlings. To do this, you need to buy a special soil for growing seedlings, it should be a light mixture with a low percentage of lime (pH 5.5). The soil is placed in a box for seedlings, seeds are laid out on top with a not very thick layer and sprinkled with earth. You can do otherwise and just gently press the seeds to the soil so that they are slightly “drowned”.

When creating favorable conditions for growing, you can get strong seedlings. So, it is necessary to create the right lighting for alyssums and the so-called greenhouse conditions. To do this, simply take a thick film or glass and cover our seeds. We withstand a certain temperature regime- from +10 to +15 o C, with light soil moisture and timely ventilation.

After 7 days, the first shoots should be expected. Sometimes, if all conditions for favorable growth are created, shoots may appear earlier. As soon as you see the first true leaf on the alyssum, it's time to introduce top dressing. For these purposes, complex fertilizers are used.

The optimal age for picking seedlings is 2-3 leaves, but if the seedlings grow together and quickly, then you may not have to dive seedlings, since strong seedlings are immediately planted in prepared soil.

Planting seedlings. What to pay attention to

Seedlings grown in this way can be planted in open ground already at the end of spring or with the onset of summer. Alyssums will not be afraid of returning frosts.

For landing, you must select appropriate place- the site should be sunny, the soil is dry and drained, neutral or slightly alkaline with a high content of humus. The plant will feel good in an open, well-lit clearing, between stone slabs or blocks of stones.

Planting seedlings:

1. Given the fact that alyssums grow rapidly, seedlings need to be planted at a great distance. The best option- 40 cm apart. This is all conditional, because depending on the variety and type of plant, planting conditions may differ.
2. Prepare seedling holes in advance, taking into account that it should be slightly larger than the rhizome itself (plus an earthen ball).
3. When planting plants, it is important to adhere to the rules: there is no need to deeply deepen the flowers.
4. After planting the seedlings, it must be immediately watered abundantly, only very carefully, under the ground.
5. If you plant flowers in a flower bed, then when the bushes grow a little in breadth, they can be planted. To do this, carefully separate the plants and plant them in another place.
6. After 7 weeks from the moment the first shoots appear (when grown from seeds), the first flowering should be expected.

How to care for alyssum

As you already understood, if everything is done correctly, then there should not be any special problems with growing seedlings from seeds and planting plants in the ground. You can cope with planting alyssums in just half an hour. It is just as easy to take care of the plant. Alyssums are unpretentious in care, the main thing is to remove weeds in a timely manner, cut and feed the plants.

Watering alyssum

It is advisable to water the flowers regularly, and in the hot season - often and plentifully. Due to lack of moisture, alyssum may not bloom well, leaves will grow, but buds and flowers may drop. Given this rule, it is necessary to prepare the soil in advance before planting and ensure good drainage. Flowers do not tolerate stagnant fluid in the root system. The plant can get wet and soon rot.

How to understand if alissums need moisture or is it too early to water the plants? Look at the soil, if it is dry on top - this is not a reason to water. Take a shovel and dig once, at a depth of 3 cm you will see the condition of the soil. If it is dry, then it is necessary to start abundant watering, if it is still moist, watering can be postponed.

After the soil is moistened, you can begin to fight weeds, just weed grass will be well extracted from moist soil. Between the bushes of the plant, the earth must be well loosened. If during spring planting seedlings, you mulched the soil, then it will be much easier for you to fight weeds, but you still have to constantly loosen the ground.

alyssum fertilizer

A few words about fertilizers. To achieve beautiful bright flowering, it is necessary to fertilize alyssums in a timely manner. We can say that they love top dressing. When the growth of green mass is just beginning, perennials can be fed with fertilizer with nitrogen. For example, use Agricole-7. Take 1 tbsp. fertilizer and urea, dilute in 10 liters of water. Before flowering, any complex fertilizer can be applied to the soil.

Annual alyssums need to be fed more often - at least 4 times per season. The first time you need to apply fertilizer immediately before flowering itself, when the buds have already formed. Further, the frequency of feeding can be adjusted independently. With regular fertilization, alyssums will delight you with their lush and bright blooms.

Alyssum pruning

To ensure full growth and abundant flowering of alissums, you need to know that it is important to cut the plants on time. This must be done not only in certain time, but by all means. So, in the spring, if you have perennials growing, you need to remove flower stalks from last year. It is also worth ridding the alissum of dry and diseased shoots, removing dry leaves. After flowering in the summer, you must also free the plant from dry branches, leaves and flowers. In the summer, it is desirable to shorten the shoots by 8 cm, just this will serve as an impetus for the re-blooming of the alissum. In addition, over the summer, the bushes of the plant will grow strongly, and they will look unattractive in the flower bed, pruning will solve this problem.

Pest control

Alyssum belongs to hardy plants, rarely gets sick and is affected by pests. But if they are created unfavourable conditions for cultivation, then as a result of waterlogging of the soil, a disease such as brown rot may appear, then the plant will lose resistance to such diseases: powdery mildew, jaundice, viral mosaic.

Dangerous pests for alyssum - cabbage flea. It is very difficult to get her out. It lends itself to complete expulsion only in this way: in 10 liters of water, it is necessary to dilute 1 tablespoon of vinegar essence and process adult plants.

To harm beautiful flowering plant caterpillars can also, you can get rid of them only by treating the bushes with a decoction of pharmacy chamomile or a mixture of tobacco and laundry soap.

When is the best time to collect seeds?

You can start collecting seeds for further reproduction of alyssums already with the onset of autumn. The optimal time is the end of September, the first week of October.

Choose a dry day, no wind. Take a sheet or bedspread, spread it out in the yard and rub the alyssum flowers gently with your hands. As a result of mechanical friction, the excess will be removed, only seeds will remain. They need to be collected and dried in a well-ventilated area (only without a draft!). Dry seeds for storage can be folded into cloth bags.

If you did not have time and missed the seed collection period, there is still time to return everything. Use a broom to sweep the seeds out from under the alyssum bush. Then you need to remove the earth and debris, dry the seeds and store in a dry place.

Interestingly, if everything is done correctly, then the alissum will winter well and even retain green leaves. It is necessary to throw snow on top of the plant to make a good snowdrift. That's all, if the winter is not too severe, then the plant will successfully overwinter.

Popular plant varieties

Alyssum marine

Marine lobularia or marine alissum. The plant is perennial, grows exclusively in warm climates, reaches a height of 8 to 40 cm. It spreads beautifully along the ground, forming a flower carpet of small fluffy bushes with fleshy silver-colored leaves. The flowers are small, with a pronounced aroma of honey. White and purple flowers are found in nature. Many varieties of alyssum have been bred with pink, red and lilac flowers. Flowering begins in spring and ends in autumn.

Alyssum golden

A spherical bush, the stems of which practically spread along the ground. The leaves of alyssum are narrow, the flowers are bright, yellow in hues, they are collected in dense brushes. Looks good on rocky terrain.

Alyssum snow carpet

Herbaceous annual plant. It grows no more than 15 cm in height. Differs in small flowers of different colors, which are collected in small inflorescences. Because of this feature, the plant got its name.

Seeds are sown from April to June. Flowering begins in June and continues until late autumn. To ensure continuous flowering, dry inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner.

Alyssum rocky

A perennial plant, it reaches a height of 30 cm. It grows in bushes, the diameter of the hemispheres is up to 40 cm. The stems are branched, the leaves are like felt, slightly oblong. Leaves can remain on the bush even after wintering. The flowers of the rocky alyssum are yellow, the petals are notched. Duration of flowering within 40 days, may bloom again at the end of summer.

Lobularia, beetroot, alyssum, aurinia, mason - it is not in vain that so many different names have been invented for one unpretentious plant. Low-growing bushes of one-year-old lobularia are covered with a lush honey cap from early summer to severe frosts. A fragrant flower is planted in balcony containers, boxes, used to create various compositions in flower beds, to complement rockeries and rock gardens.

There are over 100 species of annuals and perennials. herbaceous plants, known as the alissum plant, a class of dicots. Garden culture strikes with an abundance of colors. Depending on the variety, alyssum comes in pink, red, yellow, purple, lilac and white. Fragrant and pleasant-smelling flower, with a strong honey aroma, proper care reaches an impressive size in width, forming a thick carpet or a lush ampelous hat. On dense branching stems are small inflorescences with four petals and long leaves lanceolate form. After withering, the fruits appear in the form of a pod. Alyssum has a fibrous root system of a bundled shape. Common varieties and types of alyssum Alyssum belongs to small perennial and annual plants of the cruciferous group. The birthplace of garden culture is located in the southern part of Europe. Despite the abundance of plant varieties and species, only a few groups of semi-greening alissums are used for decorative purposes. Until recently, marine lobularia was included in the list of the genus of alyssums. After the recognition of the sea alissum as the most popular annual in culture, the flower was isolated in separate view plants. Alyssum marine Alyssum sea (A. maritium) is one of the most famous plant species. The miniature dimensions of the horticultural crop are about 20 cm in height and up to 30 cm in width. Inflorescences have a variety of colors - yellow, pink, white, lilac. Sea alyssum grows rapidly, after shearing it forms a flower carpet. At favorable conditions the plant can propagate by self-sowing, the need for planting arises only after two to three years. The flowering period is one of the longest - from May to September. Sea alyssum has a wide variety of varieties: Bentama is one of the largest representatives of the alissum genus, the height of the plant reaches 40 cm. The flowers are painted in a bright white shade. Schneeshturm and Weiss Riesen belong to this category of culture. The compact variety is distinguished by its miniature size. White inflorescences bloom on a crop only 12-15 cm high. The most popular varieties are Capet of Snow, better known as Alyssum Snow Carpet and Violetkenigin with compact purple flowers. The main advantage of the variety is a strong honey aroma. The prostrate lobularia grows no more than 10 cm high, dense inflorescences are collected in small brushes. The most common varieties are Konigsteppih purple, Rosie O Day - alyssum pink, and Schneeteppich abundantly branched white representative with abundant flowering. The motley form of alyssum is represented by small purple and yellow flowers, the height of the culture is up to 15 cm in height. A bred hybrid of Tetra Schneetreiben with abundant large white inflorescences. New varieties of sea alissum include about 12 groups, which differ not only in unusual colors, for example, the apricot shade of New Apricot alissum flowers, but also in the intensive flowering of ampelous and ground cover representatives of the subspecies. Alyssum rocky Perennial alyssum comes from central and eastern Europe. Plant height can reach 30 cm. Leaves dyed gray various shapes, remain on the stems even in severe frosts. The flowering period is short and early - from April to May. Only 6 varieties of rocky alyssum have been bred: Compactum is distinguished by its miniature size, the height of the shoots is up to 20 cm. Plenum - rock aurinia up to 30 cm in height. Flowers are terry, with a golden tint. The long flowering of the variety is longer than that of the main category. Dwarf variety Procumbes. The shoots resemble a creeping carpet, the height is only 8 cm. The variety Dudley Neville has a pronounced yellowish hue with a brown tint. Citrinum - flowers of lemon-colored beetroot. The most popular variety of rocky alyssum is the Golden Wave. The lush plant reaches sizes up to 20 cm in height. The flowering period occurs only a year after planting the alissum. Alyssum mountain or Gmelina Alyssum gmelinii (Alyssum gmelinii) - perennial species lobularia green-gray. Stems and leaves covered with villi, rhizome thinly woody. Yellow flowers more than 5 mm in diameter, fruits (pods) are round and elongated. Seeds of 2 in a nest. Blooms only 2 months from April to early June. Widespread culture in steppe zone, sandy hills. Alyssum pyrenees Alyssum Iberian (A. pyrenaicum, or Ptilothrichum pyrenaicum) - perennial brought from the Pyrenees. Reaches a height of no more than 15-20 cm. The inflorescences are large, pubescent. The flowering period is all summer. Alyssum silver Alyssum is a perennial with small leaves, green above, ashy below. A giant among the classic varieties of beetroot, it can grow up to 80 cm in height. Flowering period - from May to mid-July, lemon-colored inflorescences. Alyssum Lena Herbaceous perennial with branched stems up to 20 cm in height. The variety is distinguished by numerous shoots with dense foliage. Allisum blooms with yellow multi-flowered tassels, the diameter of the inflorescences is more than 5 mm. The birthplace of the Lena beetroot is from East Asia to Eastern Europe. Alyssum breeding Alyssum does not require special conditions for growing, the plant is quite unpretentious, however, when creating an optimal environment, a horticultural crop can retain its decorative effect for a long time. Location For the landing site of lobularia, the main thing is to choose a well-lit place. In partial shade, the plant will bloom unevenly and intermittently. Most varieties of alyssum are winter-hardy, so it is better to give preference to fertile, light, well-drained soil with an average reaction. The ideal place for growing alyssum is slabs or stones warmed up in a sunny place. For landscaping the site, you can plant an alissum on a fertilized, rich nutrients ground. But in such conditions, the plant will lose numerous inflorescences. Planting seeds There are several ways to plant a plant. One of the simplest and effective methods- growing alyssum from seeds. It is better to sow alissum in open ground in early spring, after the retreat of the morning frosts. The sowing procedure is quite simple - alyssum seeds are scattered over the surface of drained soil and lightly pressed down with a hand, it is not necessary to close up the soil, since alyssum will need a lot of sunlight for fast and proper germination. If the place of crops is covered with a film, seedlings will appear in 5 days. Alyssum picks from open ground are not done, therefore, seeds should not be sown thickly at first. Thickened sowing of alyssum can cause damage to the fungal disease of plants - powdery mildew. If you grow alyssum seedlings, the plant will begin to bloom earlier. The most favorable period for sowing is late winter, early spring. The growing procedure is very simple: choose a special box or peat cassettes with cells; fill the container with moist, drained, nutritious soil; gently sprinkle the soil with alyssum seeds; easily pressed by hand; watered; polyethylene is used as a cover for the container, preferably transparent; place crops in a lighted and warm place. The growing season is about two months. Propagation by cuttings Alyssum is also grown vegetatively. Propagation by cuttings is carried out at the beginning or at the end of summer, provided that the plant is kept in a warmed greenhouse or a special winter garden. Cut shoots are rooted in the prepared soil mixture, provide shelter and active watering. The resulting alissum plants are planted at a distance of at least 30 cm between adjacent crops. The division of the bushes Reproduction by bush division of alyssum rarely gives the desired result, however, under all conditions, the plant can take root. The timing of the separation of the bushes coincides with the period of planting seeds - not earlier than April. Old bushes are dug up, cut into several parts (delenok), while taking into account a sufficient number of strong shoots at the beginning of development. The resulting delenki are planted in a specially prepared place. The distance between the parts is about 30 cm, carefully watered. Features of caring for alyssum Plants of the genus Aurinia are used for landscaping borders, flower beds, grown in open ground. Alyssum is one of the unpretentious and undemanding plants, a horticultural crop is planted on sunny side plot and to decorate faded places alpine slides. top dressing During the period of active growth and flowering, alyssums need nutritious soil. For perennial subspecies of beetroot, it is enough to fertilize in early spring, provided that the plant is planted in light and high-quality soil. Annual representatives need repeated fertilization for the entire summer period- about four dressings, the first of which is performed before the flowering of alyssum. If perennial lobularia grow on poor soil, organic matter can be added according to the scheme intended for annual plants. After weeding and soil drainage, the plants receive the necessary light, loose, water- and breathable soil. Watering Does alyssum need frequent watering- controversial and controversial issue. Provided that the soil is fertile and nutritious, the level of precipitation in the summer is not below average, the alissum does not need additional watering. If an excess of moisture forms in the soil, even in the smallest amount, the root system of the plant can get wet. Therefore, even under the condition of a slight drought, it is worthwhile to wait a little with watering. In especially dry seasons, periodic watering is best provided to preserve the decorative effect and extend the flowering period. Annual representatives of the alissum genus, regardless of weather conditions, need systematic watering and a high level of soil moisture. pruning All varieties and types of lobularia require regular removal of shoots. The pruning procedure promotes strong growth and lush flowering of alyssum. All types and subspecies of horticultural crops are shortened to 8 cm. Rocky alissum is an exception. For anti-aging pruning after the inflorescences wither, all shoots are shortened by a third. Pests and diseases Lack of proper care for alyssum can lead to plant disease. The most common flower disease is root rot. The symptom appears immediately, the leaves turn yellow on the plant. To save the beetroot, a transplant is performed to another prepared place. The root system is pre-washed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate - a pink hue. Despite the endurance of the alyssum, due to the wrong conditions, the culture loses its protective properties and stability. Wilting of shoots and inflorescences occurs, powdery mildew appears, asters jaundice. The plant can die from pests - cruciferous fleas, cabbage moths, turnip whites. After the defeat of the plant, there is little time left to save the alissum. You can get rid of pests with the help of special chemicals according to the dosage indicated in the instructions. Alyssum in flower arrangements Garden culture is combined with many annuals and perennials, ampelous and ground cover plants - petunia, Turkish carnation, pelargonium, sulfinia, surfinia. Alyssum is planted on alpine slides, rockeries, in mixborders. Representatives of high varieties are cut and combined with roses, irises, forget-me-nots and tulips. Alyssum photo Alyssum in landscape design Ampel pots with alyssum Burachok in the interior of the site Alyssum combined with conifers Lobularia - the main decoration of the garden

There are several ways to grow alyssum from seeds:

Sowing in April for seedlings

The seeds are very small. Therefore, they should not be buried in the soil, carefully placed on its surface and slightly pressed. For better adhesion, before sowing, you can sprinkle the surface of the earth with water, adding potassium permanganate to it to prevent diseases. It is better to cover the container with future seedlings with glass, film or any transparent material.

At a temperature of + 16-20, the first shoots appear in a week and a half. It is better to water fragile seedlings in a pan so as not to break them with water pressure, and not to provoke a disease with a black leg. Watering should be moderate, the plant does not like excessive moisture.

Picking is carried out after the formation of 3-4 good leaves. A few days after planting the sprouts in separate containers, you can start feeding with complex fertilizers. From the beginning of May, the seedlings must be hardened, taking them outside for a few minutes every day. Alyssum can be planted in open ground at the end of May. Seedlings will begin to bloom in a month and a half.

Sowing in early May in open ground

Alyssum for beautiful and abundant flowering from June until the frost needs an abundance of sun and soil not very saturated with organic matter. The more nutritious it is, the more energy will be given to building green mass at the expense of flowering. The plant feels more comfortable in dry soil than in too moist or in places with a high location of groundwater. But this unpretentious beauty is especially reverent towards the sun, refusing to bloom profusely, stretching out in the shade or partial shade. Therefore, it is necessary to start growing alyssium from seeds after careful selection of a suitable site.

On the watered surface of the soil, do not scatter the seeds very densely. Gently slam them to the ground with your palm. It is not necessary to bury, you can pour a small amount of sand on top. Before sprouts appear, it is better to water the seeds with a spray bottle so that they are not washed out with water. Alyssum needs to be fed no more than twice a season with complex mineral fertilizers.

Two to three weeks after sowing, the sprouts should be thinned out, leaving at least 20 cm between them. Otherwise, excessive thickening can provoke diseases, such as powdery mildew. Alyssum grown from seeds in the open field will bloom two months after sowing.

Planting alyssum for the winter

Some gardeners practice sowing alyssum immediately after collecting seeds, in August-September. If the plant overwinter, then seedlings will appear very early, bloom a few weeks earlier than their counterparts sown in the spring. But there is a high probability of freezing of all planting material due to its shallow location. Therefore, it is necessary to make a decision when to start growing alyssum from seeds, taking into account the duration and temperature of the upcoming winter. As a last resort, you can always fill in the gaps with spring sowing.

Features of plant care

Any plant, even as undemanding as alissum, needs care. Let it be insignificant and not burdensome, but without periodic watering in dry summers, growth will slow down, flowering will be scarce, short-lived. The absence of infrequent, but no less necessary, mineral supplements will also significantly affect not only the decorativeness of the plant, but also its vegetative ability.

Watering

Alyssum is very often used to create alpine slides due to its endurance. Even very slight rainfall is enough for the plant to feel quite comfortable. In too dry summers, occasional watering should be done to maintain abundant flowering. The amount of water should be negligible, the tender stalks of alyssum are prone to wetting and rotting from an excess of moisture. Water should be taken at room temperature, settled or rain. You need to pour it directly under the bush so that moisture does not get on the flowers. This procedure is best done in the evening.

Formation

To form a beautiful and neat appearance, the alissum should be trimmed periodically. Pruning will provoke the formation of new shoots, prolong flowering. In total, there should be about three cuts per season. The last shortening of the shoots should be carried out immediately after the end of flowering, so that by winter the plant has time to build up a green mass.

Do you want to make your garden or summer cottage unique? Plant a perennial alyssum in it. This flower is unpretentious to climatic conditions, easy to grow and does not require special care. Its decorative effect has long been appreciated by lovers of the original landscape design. It is customary to decorate borders with alyssum bushes, arrange flowers along the terrace or walls of the house, it looks very nice in a separate flower bed. Its delicate fragrant flowers adorn the garden until deep frosts and, in addition, exude a strong honey aroma. Alyssum can be successfully grown as an annual plant on a balcony or loggia.

Getting to know Alyssum

Alyssum (Allyssum) is a ground cover perennial shrub from the cruciferous family. It is also known under other names - sea lobularia, rocky or sea alissum, beetroot. There are about 170 species. It is widely distributed throughout Russia, as well as in Europe and Asia.

The plant is stunted, 10-40 cm in height, with sprawling semi-lignified stems. The leaves are small, oval or egg-shaped, covered with a delicate whitish fluff. The root system of alyssum is compact, fibrous, located close to the soil surface. Fruit - small size seed-filled pod.

The main decorative effect of the plant lies in small flowers collected in large racemose inflorescences. The most commonly grown rocky alissum (A. montanum) is easily recognizable by its bright yellow flower petals. This plant is the smallest of all the families. Alyssum sea (A. maritimum) is also popular with gardeners - its stems are taller and branched, and the flowers are painted in shades from snow-white to bright red and deep purple. Landscape designers prefer to grow rocky alissum with a bright sunny color in city beds - it is believed that it is easier to compose it in color with other plants.

Growing alyssum from seeds

The main stages of cultivation on garden plot alyssum plants:

• planting seeds for seedlings in a home greenhouse;
• seedling monitoring;
• planting and care in open ground before and after flowering.

The main thing you need to know in order to properly plant alyssum when growing from seed is when to plant it, in what time frame.

An important role is played by the choice of seed material. If you buy it in a store, you need to carefully inspect the packaging. It is important to pay attention to the following points:

1. The seed bag must not be damaged.
2. On the front side of the package must be an image of the variety. If you want to buy a sunny rocky alissum, you need to choose a bag with a photo of this particular species. Often seed producers mix varieties of different colors, so be careful.
3. Pay attention to when the seeds were collected. The fresher they are, the better the germination. The maximum term is 3 years from the date of collection.
4. buy material better in autumn, immediately after harvesting the pods. Before sowing, store the seeds in a dark, cool place, in no case in a plastic bag.

If you are collecting alyssum pods yourself from mature plants, you need to let them dry completely. It is better to scatter them on paper in a dark place and forget for 2-3 weeks. Then the pods need to be removed from the shell, pour the seeds into paper (not plastic) bags and put away until spring. If you collect seeds from different varieties, you need to mark them so that later you don’t have to guess where the alissum is rocky and where the sea.

Despite the fact that the plant tolerates light frosts well, in northern regions Russia is not recommended to sow seeds in open ground. It is better to grow seedlings at home and only then plant it on suburban area.

Preparation and sowing can begin as early as February. For an alissum plant, planting at the optimal time is the main guarantee of further growth and continuous flowering. If the care of the seedlings is correct, by the time of planting, small bushes with well-developed buds should form.

Containers for seedlings can be selected both wooden and plastic. Since the plant has a shallow and very compact root system, even small plastic cups. The main thing is very light and fertile soil. Experts recommend purchasing flower shop special soil for beautiful flowering plants. You can prepare the soil yourself - take equal parts of soddy, leafy and humus soil and add 2 parts of coarse-grained river sand. Good loosening effect charcoal and pine sawdust. It is important that the soil is low in lime (pH 5.5-6.2).

Before planting, the soil should be slightly moistened. Seeds are scattered on the surface of the soil at a short distance, without trying to bury them in the ground. You just need to lightly press them with your palm. You can sprinkle a little sown seeds with sand. The containers are covered with transparent glass or polyethylene and immediately exposed to bright light. Young sprouts may appear within 7-10 days after sowing. A week after spitting the seeds, the film or glass is removed.

The best temperature for sprouting alyssum is 22-25°C, but you need to make sure that there are no sudden changes in temperature and drafts in the room. The soil must always be kept moist, but it is better not to water it, but to spray it from a fine spray bottle. It is important that the moisture in the ground does not stagnate; the emerging roots should not be allowed to rot.

If the seeds are planted too densely, then after the seedlings have 3 well-developed leaves, they need to be picked into separate pots. Or simply thin out, removing weak plants and leaving only well-developed, strong specimens.

After 6-7 weeks, with proper care, the budding of the plant should begin. If this did not happen, then significant errors were made during the landing process. If the seedlings are stretched in growth, have a pale appearance, you can try to pinch the top. The procedure will help the plant in the formation of side shoots.

If you notice weak side shoots without buds, it is better to pinch them too or cut them off by a third. By the time of planting in open ground, a compact bush with several well-developed buds should form.

To accelerate the development of the plant and the formation of buds, you can feed the alissum with a complex mineral fertilizer. The dose indicated on the package should be halved. Connoisseurs believe that the best fertilizers for this plant are nitrogen and potassium.

If they allow climatic conditions, then in late April - early May, you can start hardening seedlings. They can be exposed to the open air for a short time. If you are growing alyssum in a harsh climate and there are no opportunities for hardening, you need to ventilate the room daily for a long time.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Well-formed seedlings with a large number of buds in central Russia can be planted in open ground as early as the end of April. In the northern regions, it is better to postpone the transplant until May.

Alyssum is a photophilous plant, so it is better to plant it on the sunny side of the site. It will also not wither in the shade, but the inflorescences will be smaller and not so bright. The soil should be light, loose and fertile, in no case acidic. Experts advise to add lime, humus and fertilizers saturated with calcium to the ground at the place of the proposed planting of the plant since autumn.

Alyssum bushes grow rapidly in width, so they need to be seated at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. If the bush is well developed, it can be divided into several parts by carefully cutting root system.

Immediately after transplanting, the bushes need to be watered abundantly.

If the climate allows, the seeds can be sown immediately in open ground. In this case, the site intended for alyssum is dug up in the fall and the necessary fertilizers are applied. In the spring (mid-May-early June), the earth is well loosened, coarse sand is added if necessary. Seeds are sown sparsely, they are not buried in the ground, they are only slightly pressed to the soil with their palms. The site is well shed warm water. In bright sunlight and high temperature air seedlings may appear after 4-6 days. When the seedlings grow up, they are periodically weeded, leaving an interval between plants of at least 15 cm.

plant care

Alyssum is an unpretentious flower, easily tolerates small frosts, and is not picky about watering. For normal growth and flowering, natural precipitation is enough for him. On very hot days, if there is no natural shade, the plant may droop slightly, lose its freshness. At this time, you need to water the planting with plenty of water, but you need to monitor its temperature. The water should not be too cold - the roots of the plants may become cold, the bushes will lose color. Alyssum is watered either early in the morning or in the evening after sunset.

Alyssum does not need constant feeding. It is enough if it is planted in fertile land. If the soil is stony, infertile, you can add complex mineral fertilizer to it 1-2 times per season. It is important to ensure that it does not get on the leaves, you should try to feed only the roots of the flowers. Fertilizers Agricola, Rainbow, Flower are considered the best for alyssum.

The main care is regular pruning faded shoots. After timely pruning of the shoots, the plant with renewed vigor is taken for flowering. However, many flower growers advise not to shorten the stems by more than 8 cm.

If you want to grow alyssum as a perennial, after flowering, it must be thoroughly pruned and covered for the winter. In the spring (at the end of March - beginning of April), the shelter is removed, if necessary, the plantings are cut and thinned out. Apply liquid fertilizer and water periodically. The plant should bloom by early summer.

If you have a too harsh winter and there is a risk of planting freezing, it is better to remove all faded bushes, having previously collected seeds from them. On the next year you can grow new specimens - both by seedlings and by direct sowing in an open run.

Diseases and pests

Despite the unpretentiousness, this plant is prone to various diseases:

1. Alyssum's main enemy is water. Stagnation of moisture in the ground will inevitably lead to gray rot, rotting roots and death of flowers.
2. Frequent disease - powdery mildew. This is a fungus that mainly affects the leaves. Looks like white, wet to the touch, plaque. Damaged leaves must be removed immediately, and the bushes themselves should be treated with a 1% solution of colloidal sulfur.
3. white rust is also a fungal disease. Occurs due to dampness in too dense plantings. In this case, the alissum is thinned out by removing diseased specimens, and the rest are treated with copper oxychloride or Topaz.

Of the pests, caterpillars, cabbage moths, turnip whites and cruciferous fleas most often encroach on alissum. Treating the planting with a suitable insecticide will help correct the situation.

Flower arrangements with alyssum

If you breed alyssum in seedlings, you have a great opportunity to form your own rock garden or rockery on the garden plot. This plant is perfect option to create compositions on stones.

Alyssum looks great in cracks in masonry walls, in breaks in paving slabs, as well as between boulders and large fragments of stones. Tall varieties are good in the design of borders. Ground cover plants can be placed along the edges of a flower bed with tall flowers and shrubs. Alyssum flowers look good next to viola (night violet) and forget-me-nots, they go well with carnation, pelargonium, levkoy, heliotrope. Alyssum is also good as an independent element of decor - its numerous flowers can create a unique living carpet with a wonderful aroma.

Despite the fact that alyssum is an outdoor plant, it can also be successfully grown on a balcony. 3-4 bushes, planted in a pot, eventually form a beautiful hat. The flower takes on the appearance of an ampelous one - the shoots hang along the edges of the container and seem to envelop it with a multi-color fragrant carpet. Watering and pruning is carried out as needed. The only negative is that the plant does not tolerate winter indoors. Therefore, when grown on a balcony, it must be planted every year.