Alissum "Snow carpet": description, planting and care

A lot of gardeners and florists prefer ground cover plants. And among them, in turn, alissum is distinguished for its extraordinary charm. It is necessary to find out what is characteristic for it and what are the subtleties in handling this plant in order to get the optimal result.

It is worth starting a conversation about alyssum "Snow Carpet" with the fact that it is one of the most commonly used ground cover crops. A characteristic feature of the plant is its unpretentiousness and ease of care. In the vast majority of cases, alyssum flowers are white. But there are also pink, yellow and purple varieties. There is one more subtlety: the often encountered opinion that alissum and lobularia are one and the same is deliberately wrong.

In-depth botanical research has shown that these are different species, and the external similarities between them are largely accidental. However, for everyday cultivation, this difference does not play a special role. Curiously, the closest species to Alyssum is cabbage. At the same time, the flower cannot boast of culinary qualities and is used only for decoration purposes.

The shoots of this culture are durable. Already in July, they become lignified. The leaves are relatively small, up to a maximum of 0.02 m in length. They are characterized by an elongated shape and alternate placement on the stem. Each leaf is slightly pubescent and has a gray-green color.

The flowers contain 4 petals. They are grouped in racemose inflorescences. The plant turns out to be an excellent honey plant and significantly increases the pollination of neighboring plantings. Despite the very low (0.08-0.1 m) bush height, the only alissum plant covers an area of ​​up to 0.25 sq. m.

Therefore, even at a distance of 0.4 m, an unbreakable floral carpet is formed; but even after the flowers die off, alyssum will not lose its attractiveness. The fact is that new inflorescences will form continuously until the onset of cold weather. If seedlings are used, and autumn is warm enough, alyssum blooms calmly from late May to early November.

Culture can develop on the ground, regardless of its fertility. Even on stony ground, it hardly loses its characteristic charm.

It is not at all necessary to take seeds for planting in the store. "Snow carpet" allows you to collect planting material in each season for the next year. Varietal characteristics will persist for a long time. And yet every 5 or 6 years it is better to change the culture (to carry out a crop rotation), combining this with the renewal of the planting material. This is the only way to save flowers from degradation.

Seeds will have to be collected at a strictly defined time. Important: they must be removed even if this material will not be used. Otherwise, alyssum will multiply chaotically, self-seeding. Collection time comes in September. It is inappropriate to postpone it until October and beyond.

A common mistake is tearing the bolls one at a time. This is simply not practical. It would be much better to spread solid fabric or agrofibre under the bushes, and then grind the inflorescences by hand in their usual place. The collected seeds are dried by keeping them in a well-ventilated place. LIt is better to put the seeds in cloth bags, ensuring the air temperature is from 18 to 20 degrees and the relative humidity is up to 70%.

You don't need to do anything extra. For your information: Alyssum seeds are very low in density. They sometimes account for up to 1000 pieces per 1 g. Therefore, it is best to choose the quietest days for collection and disembarkation.

When planting, you should follow a number of useful recommendations.

• Only in warm regions can you take the risk and try to plant the culture directly into the ground. Flowering should come at the end of May, and planting on seedlings is carried out 45 - 50 days earlier. If alyssum is planted in open land, flowering will begin at a later date. Seed germination lasts up to 3 years. Seedlings of the "Snow Carpet" are planted in deep containers so that there is at least 0.1 m of soil.
• The best option has long been recognized as individual disembarkation in plastic containers. The soil is picked up lighter and carefully loosened. For alyssum, aeration of the roots is extremely important. The composition of the soil is selected at your discretion. At the same time, they try to make it have a neutral or slight alkaline reaction.
• Even very acidic soils can be used, but only after liming. Important: it is better to disinfect any soil by evaporation in a water bath. An alternative is to freeze the soil in a freezer. This procedure will require waiting for several days. Planting seeds deep into the ground is not encouraged - they germinate poorly without sunlight.
• The earth must be moistened with water in advance. The planting material is distributed evenly. Then it is slightly pressed down. After waiting 2-4 hours, the plantings are again watered with warm water. The container is kept under a film at a temperature of 18 degrees in bright sunlight.
• It is better if the seedlings are illuminated by LED phytolamps during dark hours. It is recommended to water the soil, avoiding overdrying it. You can wait for the sprouts to come out in about 7 days. The seedlings are fed every week. They begin to do this, focusing on the appearance of leaves. Optimal feeding - nitroammophos with a reduced proportion of nitrogen or nitroammophos of the "B" series.
• It is necessary to dive alyssum seedlings after the appearance of three true leaves. A gap of at least 0.05 m is left between the seedlings in a new container. Transplantation into open ground is carried out approximately a week before flowering. Alyssum can only be planted in open places where there is not even the slightest shadow.
• The recommended pattern is 20x20 cm. The holes in depth should reach 0.03-0.05 plus the height of the root ball. The newly planted alissum is tamped and watered abundantly. Immediately thereafter, all lateral shoots are cut off.

Care when growing alissum from seedlings does not differ from the same procedure when breeding it with seeds. Be sure to irrigate the land and feed it. Removing the protective mesh is advisable when the plant rises to 0.05-0.07 m. A very important role is played by systematic thinning, without which the flower bed cannot be properly formed.

Alyssum is extremely drought tolerant. During the heat, the lack of water often leads to the rejection of both flowering flowers and buds. But over-irrigation is also not recommended, as stagnant water is very harmful. Abundant watering is carried out only when you are sure of the high permeability of the soil. The frequency of watering is selected taking into account the condition of the land.

The Snow Carpet needs water when the soil is 0.03-0.05 m deep. Usually this situation occurs every 4 or 5 days. You can water the plant only with warm, settled water. If there is no urgent need, water the alissum in the evening. Each time thereafter, loosen the soil 0.05 m and mulch it.

Adult alissum is not recommended to be fed with organic matter.The optimal choice is complex mineral compositions, the same as for seedlings. Top dressing is laid 4 times during the flowering season. The first feeding is timed to coincide with its beginning.

Alyssum will have to be cut regularly, otherwise it will not form new inflorescences. At the same time, they get rid of dried up diseased shoots. The reaction to their removal is detected very quickly. Just a few days will have to wait for the formation of new shoots and flower buds. You can help the flower as much as possible by combining pruning and feeding in time.

Alyssum almost never gets sick. It contains a significant amount of alkaloids and flavonoids that suppress pathological organisms. However, the danger is represented by fungal infections. A particular risk is associated with late blight infection. The use of products containing copper helps to fight it.

Powdery mildew is helped by spraying with a one-percent Bordeaux mixture. The cruciferous flea and the white beetle are the main pests of alyssum. They fight them by spraying the plant with a mixture:

• vinegar diluted in water;
• infusion of chamomile;
• some soap.

Alissum "Snow Carpet" is a frequent visitor to the flower bed of a summer cottage or near the house. The peculiarities of the development of the plant make it possible to use it in the tapeworm format. Then you will have to make out a "spot" of at least 0.5 m in diameter.

This culture is appropriate in any rockery and rock garden, including in the neighborhood with marigolds and phloxes. A frequent design trick is to plant an alissum near a large stone.

You can also find the plant in the mixborder and in the rabatka. It will go well with large crops and flowers of the bulbous family. Alyssum can be highlighted or surrounded by perennials, depending on personal taste.

"Snow carpet" looks good in the balcony pots. And in an ornamental garden, they usually try to place it along the paths.

See below for tips on growing alissum.