Common cornflower and how to grow it

Many people call this flower a popovnik or meadow chamomile (there are certain differences from the usual one), but it is correct to call it a daisy. It can often be found both in flower beds and in compositions created by landscape designers, and in bouquets. Taking into account the ease of care, unpretentiousness and aesthetics of the plant, questions have become relevant regarding what features the common daisy has and how to grow it correctly.

Despite the great similarity between the daisy and chamomile, they are still different representatives of the flora.

The main features of the plant:

• short and thickened rhizomes obliquely ascending or horizontal type;
• adventitious buds are present both on the roots themselves and on the basal neck;
• basal leaves, which form a basal rosette, are ovoid and grow up to 15 cm;
• stem leaves are oval, sessile, taper to the petiole and may have sharp or blunt tops;
• stems are straight and rounded.

Particular attention should be paid to flowers. They are solitary, heterogamous and located on elongated petioles. The diameter of the inflorescences-baskets is determined by the varietal characteristics, as well as by the place of growth, and varies in the range of 5-10 cm. The formula for the flowers of the common daisy has two options, namely:

• false-lingual - ↑ H (3) T (0) P (2);
• tubular - ↑ H (5) T (5) P (2).

Taking into account the characteristics of the plant and its botanical description, we can conclude about the variety of varieties of this flower. Nivyanik varieties differ from each other in the height of the bushes and sometimes in the leaf arrangement. Moreover, they all have unique decorative properties.

The most popular are the following.

• Main Queen. The main feature is the compactness of the bush, the height of which does not exceed 0.5 meters. Against the background of dark green leaves, natural flower baskets look very expressive and attractive.
• Maxima Kening. We are talking about a relatively tall variety, the shoots of which are capable of reaching 1 meter in height. It is also distinguished by large inflorescences, the diameter of which is 10-12 cm. In this case, the petals are located both in 1 and in 2 rows. Another important feature is that some flowers have a bright yellow tubular core.
• San Souci. This variety is characterized by shoot heights ranging from 0.9 to 1 meter. Petals about 5 cm long around the yellow core are arranged in 6-7 rows. In general, the diameter of the inflorescences reaches 12 cm.
• "Silver Spoons". This variety stands out against the background of other bushes up to 1.2 meters high, as well as the original shape of the flower petals. The main feature of the latter is that they have a tubular base and do not bloom completely. As a result, such elements of inflorescences look like small spoons. The middle yellow flowers with greenish edges are large enough.

All of these types can become a true decoration of any site, but at the same time each of them has individual characteristics and is good in its own way. This variety allows each gardener to choose the most suitable option, taking into account personal preferences. In addition to those already described, the list of popular varieties includes such unpretentious representatives of a large family of clergymen as Real Glory, Victorian Secret, as well as Alaska and Silver Princess.

It is worth paying attention to new types of cornflower, which, in the context of the beauty of inflorescences, are not inferior to their older relatives. These varieties differ from the ordinary variety in the number of petals and their color palette. They are categorized as "great" and "greatest".

We are talking about the following plants with double and semi-double inflorescences.

• Aglaya. Representative of the varieties that belong to the largest daisy. The main difference comes down to double flowers, which are formed by narrow petals densely located around a small yellow core. This variety blooms actively throughout the summer, and under favorable conditions, until the end of September.
• Goldfinch. Many gardeners characterize this variety as the most decorative variety. The yellow tint of the terry daisy can change to cream as the flowers fade. Another important feature is the compactness of the bushes, which in the vast majority of cases do not grow above 0.6-0.7 m. It is also important to note that the Goldfinch chamomile, as this plant is often mistakenly called, blooms from June to August.
• King's Crown. This variety produces double flowers that have nothing to do with the common chamomiles familiar to most people. Petals, the size of which decreases as they approach from the edge of the flower to its core, are arranged in several rows.

Having carefully studied the description of different types of daisy and their key features, you can understand that it will not be difficult to grow such beauty on the site. At the same time, the seedling method from seed material is relevant for all varieties.

Sowing for seedlings falls from the end of February to the beginning of March. And the process itself includes the following actions:

1. laying a drainage layer of gravel or broken brick at the bottom of the tank;
2. filling the nutrient soil almost to the edges of the container (a distance of about a finger should remain to the edge);
3. watering the soil with warm water;
4. distribution of seed over the entire surface of the soil mixture;
5. covering the planting with soil (layer no more than 1 cm).

One of the key points of planting a flower bed is choosing the right place for flowers. It must be well lit and effectively protected from gusts of wind. You should also avoid locations with a close location of groundwater and with the likely accumulation of large amounts of water after the snow melts. The soil must be nutritious and pre-fertilized with organic matter. It is important to treat soil preparation with the utmost care.

Plants are planted in open ground at the end of May, taking into account the weather conditions. It is important to start hardening the seedlings about a month before planting. Containers with young growth are periodically taken out into the street, gradually increasing the duration of such "walks". At the final stage, seedlings are placed in the prepared holes, and after their embedding, they are watered abundantly.

The good news for gardeners, especially beginners, is that the poper is a picky plant. Caring for flowers comes down to proper watering and the timely introduction of the necessary dressings. In addition, an ordinary cornflower will need to perform agrotechnical measures traditional for the genus and family.

Constant dampness and lack of sunlight will be extremely negative on the plant's immunity. They most often become the causes of dangerous diseases, and we are talking here about fungal infections. In such situations, as a rule, the best solution is to dig up and destroy the affected individuals, and sometimes their neighbors.

Do not forget that weeding and thinning should be one of the components of caring for a cornflower. Removing thickening plantings helps those that remain to grow and develop more actively. At the same time, the decorative properties of plants are significantly improved. Weeding for preventive purposes is carried out at intervals of 4-5 years.

In addition to all of the above, it is important to remember that all varieties of cornflower actively reproduce by self-seeding. This can lead to rapid plant thickening. An effective means of preventing such negative consequences will be the timely removal of wilted flowers. The main thing is to do this before the seeds ripen.

Slightly acidic and neutral soils are optimal for the daisy. But at the same time the most ordinary, unpretentious in this context. On the other hand, you should take into account the general recommendations for the whole kind. Swampiness will have an extremely negative effect on the plant. It should be borne in mind that the flower is as sensitive as possible to moisture stagnation, as well as to a lack of illumination.

Ideal conditions for a flower will be at least 6 hours of exposure to direct sunlight. That is why it is worth, when choosing a future habitat, to give preference to open areas. An equally important point will be competent and timely feeding.

As already noted, the daisy does not tolerate waterlogging. But at the same time, it is important to remember the rules for watering the crop. Irrigation of the flower should be regular but moderate. Here, the key factor will be the weather conditions in a particular period. In other words, it is necessary to focus on precipitation and ambient temperature. In summer, in the heat, moisturizing is required every morning and evening. If we are talking about a cool season with precipitation, then the number of irrigations is reduced to minimum indicators.

Timely application of the necessary fertilizers is the key to the full development of the farmhouse. In this case, feeding is required to alternate, taking into account the period of flower growth:

1. in early spring, at the stage of active vegetation, fertilizers with an increased concentration of nitrogen are used;
2. mullein and other organic matter are introduced after the first decade of May;
3. after two weeks, you will need to add nitrophosphate using the foliar method;
4. on the eve of flowering, it will be necessary to add ash or bone meal;
5. when the plant has faded, repeat the first two points.

Preparing the described plant for the winter period will not require significant effort and time. All the necessary agrotechnical measures will be reduced to pruning the stems, leaving peri-root rosettes and sprinkling with leaves (you can use any material for shelter).

In the natural environment, the aboveground part of the plants dies off by itself, and the root system and seeds are preserved. It should be noted that the basal leaves of first yearlings remain during wintering. It should also be noted that the daisy has good resistance to long and severe frosts.

In nature, the described plant reproduces by self-sowing, as well as vegetatively. The second option provides for abundant growth. One of the key features of the daisy is its good fertility, which in itself determines the nuances of its reproduction in the plots.

If desired, within one season, you can collect up to 5000 seeds from each bush for seedlings or directly planting in the ground. With this in mind, growing a seed house from seeds is considered the most obvious and effective option. As a rule, in spring the material is sown directly into open ground. An alternative can be sowing a cornflower in greenhouse conditions.

Experienced gardeners prefer and strongly recommend growing the described flowers in two years. By dividing the bush, they are propagated in the spring. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. carefully dig up the bush;
2. carefully divide it into parts so that from 1 to 4 fresh buds are formed on each fragment;
3. make holes 0.2 m deep with an interval of 0.35 m (it is necessary to take into account the size and life form of future bushes);
4. delenki are planted.

Another effective and well-proven method is propagation of a poplar by cuttings. In this case, small sockets with a part of the root system present on them are used, which are placed in a previously prepared loose soil.

Nowadays, the original design of summer cottages and household plots is very popular. Some of their owners use the services of specialists in the field of appropriate design, while others prefer to do everything on their own. But in any case, a plant such as a popovnik will allow you to decorate the territory with minimal costs.

Nivyany in garden plots look especially good in groups, in mixborders and, of course, in flower beds. Another good solution would be to plant them in tandem with daisies. In addition, the neighborhood with delphiniums, cornflowers, as well as bells and poppies will be harmonious.