Our grandmothers, growing garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, did not particularly worry about mulching. But today this agricultural technique has become fundamental in achieving high quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's a hassle. But practice shows that labor costs in this case pay off handsomely. In this article we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.
Succulents are very diverse. Despite the fact that “little ones” have always been considered more fashionable, the range of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it’s worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of prickliness, impact on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article we will tell you about the five most fashionable succulents that amazingly transform modern interiors.
The Egyptians used mint as early as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils, which are highly volatile. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article we will look at the most interesting varieties mint, and also tell you about the features of growing this plant in open ground.
People began growing crocuses 500 years before our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the harbingers of spring to next year. Crocuses are one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, flowering times may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article is dedicated to the earliest varieties of crocuses, which bloom in late March and early April.
Cabbage soup made from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, aromatic and easy to prepare. In this recipe you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. Early cabbage It cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as other vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup turns out tastier than freshly prepared cabbage soup.
Looking at the variety of tomato varieties, it is difficult not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners are sometimes confused by it! However, understanding the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself” is not so difficult. The main thing is to delve into the peculiarities of the culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest groups of tomatoes to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been valued by those gardeners who do not have much energy and time to care for their beds.
Once very popular under the name of indoor nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleus today is one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. It is not for nothing that they are considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are primarily looking for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant monitoring. But if you take care of them, bushes made of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.
Salmon backbone baked in Provençal herbs is a “supplier” of delicious pieces of fish pulp for light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The champignons are lightly fried in olive oil and then water it apple cider vinegar. These mushrooms are tastier than regular pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Wild garlic and fresh dill get along well in one salad, highlighting each other’s aroma. The garlicky spiciness of wild garlic will permeate both the salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.
A coniferous tree or shrub on a site is always great, but a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles various shades decorates the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils, released by plants, not only aromatize, but also make the air cleaner. As a rule, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and bushes. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require proper care and attention.
Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the canopy flowering trees have long become an integral attribute of welcoming spring in the country rising sun. Financial and academic year here it starts on April 1, when the magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese take place under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain species can be successfully grown even in Siberia.
I am very interested in analyzing how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and was an item of trade, lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century B.C. e. About 6 varieties of quince were known, and even then methods of its propagation and cultivation were described.
Delight your family and prepare themed cottage cheese cookies in the shape of Easter eggs! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - sift the flour, combine all the necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration as the pieces of dough turn into real ones. easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read our step by step recipe!
Among tuberous crops, there are not so many decorative deciduous favorites. And caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of interiors. Not everyone can decide to own a caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all, it requires care. But still, rumors about the extraordinary capriciousness of caladiums are never justified. Attention and care can avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And the plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.
We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply easy-to-prepare dish for you today. This sauce is one hundred percent universal, as it goes with every side dish: vegetables, pasta, or anything. Chicken and mushroom gravy will save you in moments when you don’t have time or don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Take your favorite side dish (you can do this in advance so everything is hot), add some gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.
Among the many different varieties of these most popular vegetables, we will tell you about three that are distinguished by their excellent taste and relatively unpretentious conditions growing. Characteristics of the eggplant varieties “Almaz”, “Black Beauty” and “Valentina”. All eggplants have pulp medium density. In Almaz it is greenish, while in the other two it is yellowish-white. They are united by good germination and excellent yield, but at different times. Everyone's skin color and shape are different.
LATIN NAME:Pulmonaria saccharata
DESCRIPTION: It grows compactly in southeastern France and northern Italy in forests and bushes in the Apennines. Forms large carpets 15-30 cm high. The leaf is evergreen, large (up to 27 cm long), wide (up to 10 cm), oval, matte green, with conspicuous silver spots. Summer leaves appear after flowering. The inflorescences are carmine, purple at the end of flowering, funnel-shaped, many inflorescences at the end of a straight stem covered with leaves. Blooms in April-May. Many varieties have been obtained from this species.
MAIN TYPES AND VARIETIES:
"Cambridge Blue"- blue inflorescences;
"Sissinghurst White"- white flowers, conspicuous, bush height 30 cm, diameter 45-60 cm;
"Mrs. Moon"- red-violet, lush, with graceful leaves on which silvery spots are visible.
| Optimal growing conditions (location, soil, winter hardiness): |
Location: |
In a semi-shaded or shaded, cool place. The plant does not tolerate heat and is relatively moisture-loving. It is necessary to allocate more space - they tend to “spread”. |
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| Soil: | |
They prefer sandy loam or loamy, alkaline or slightly acidic, loose soils containing humus. |
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| Winter hardiness: | |
| Winter-hardy without shelter. Before winter, it is advisable to mulch with peat. | |
| Features of agricultural technology (planting and care): |
Landing: |
| Planting is carried out to a depth of 2 - 4 cm, planted at a distance of 15-20 cm. When planting, the roots are shortened. The ground around the planted plants is mulched with humus, and to reduce moisture evaporation, they are covered with non-woven material for several days. | |
| Care: | |
Water in dry weather. Add humus regularly. During the season, feed once in mid-summer, during the period of intensive growth of new leaves, with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer (15-20 g per 10 l), spending this amount per 1 m2. If necessary, cut off overgrown shoots with a shovel. |
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| Reproduction: | |
| Lungworts are propagated by dividing the bush and cuttings of rhizomes. It is best to divide the plant and plant in July-August, after flowering, the death of old leaves and the formation of new rosettes. | |
| Usage and partners: | Usage |
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This perennial rhizomatous herb belongs to the Buranchikovy family. The plant is especially interesting early spring when numerous flowers appear. The color may vary depending on the species - blue, purple, bright red. The flowers are collected in a curl inflorescence. Leaves in a rosette, elliptical in shape. Thanks to these leaves, the plant is decorative to late autumn. All lungworts are cold-resistant. The most common species in culture are: red lungwort, soft lungwort, angustifolia lungwort. Lungwort prefers shaded or semi-shaded places. It is undemanding to fertility, prefers loose alkaline or slightly acidic soil. IN special care the plant does not need regular watering and fertilizing. Although lungwort is cold-resistant, it is advisable to mulch the plantings with peat before winter. The plant reproduces at the end of summer by segments of rhizome with a renewal bud. It should be planted shallowly (about 3 cm) at a distance of 15-20 cm. The soft lungwort reproduces well with fresh seeds. Red lungwort grows naturally in the forests of the Carpathians. This is a long-rhizome plant with bright red flowers. It blooms profusely from the beginning of May for a month. In cultivation, the plant grows intensively and forms a dense cover about 30 cm high. The leaves are light green and shiny. In cold, wet weather it can be damaged by powdery mildew. The softest lungwort grows naturally in the forests of Europe, the Caucasus, and Altai. This short-rhizome plant grows slowly and forms a bush about half a meter high. The leaves are large, silvery-green, pubescent, forming a rosette. Peduncles with numerous bluish-purple inflorescences rise above the leaves. Blooms profusely from late April to mid-June. It often happens that it blooms again at the end of August. The seeds ripen at the end of August and provide numerous self-seeding. Unlike previous types grows better on open place, but shading is not a hindrance for her either. This is a short-rhizome plant about 30 cm high. Large, dark green basal leaves are beautifully colored with white drops. All parts of the plant are densely pubescent. This species has leaves decorative look until the snow, in the spring they are replaced with new ones. In May, the plant blooms with red flowers, which gradually change color to blue-violet. Active growth of new leaves begins after flowering. Many gardeners grow this species mainly because of the beauty of the leaves, and to speed up their renewal, the flower stalks are cut off. Sugar lungwort winters well under snow, is undemanding to soil, does not require frequent replanting, grows quickly, and is easily divided. It is better to divide and replant in early spring, but it is also possible in the fall. Lungwort angustifolia grows in dry forests of Europe. This long-rhizome species is the most drought-resistant and light-loving compared to other forest species. Grows well in sandy soils. This lungwort blooms in early spring with bright blue flowers. Forms a loose cover about 30 cm high. We can recommend red and narrow-leaved lungworts as ground cover plants for shaded areas. Sugar lungwort will decorate mixborders and rockeries and create a nice border. The softest lungwort is good in the flower garden, both in shading and in more open places. Lungwort is combined with kupena, zelenchuk, ferns and shrubs. If you like big, showy leaves... If you like to experiment with new plants... Take a closer look at Lungwort! Lungwort (Pulmonaria) belongs to the borage family. Its homeland is the Eurasian continent. Almost all existing varieties of lungwort originate from several species: this Lungwort obscure (Pulmonaria obscurus a), sugar lungwort , or spotted (R. saccharata), Lungwort angustifolia (P. angustifolia), dacian lungwort (P. dacica), or the softest (P. mollissima), Lungwort officinalis (P. officinalis), red lungwort (R. rubra). Every year new varieties appear, the most famous are "Diana Clare", "Spilt Milk", "David Ward", "Majesty", "British Sterling", "Samurai". The lungwort is very beautiful. She has big ones different colors leaves. There are pure green ones, there are noble silver ones, there are spotted ones, as if splashed with a careless brush. In addition, it blooms early and is distinguished by delicate inflorescences - the first bell flowers are pink at first, then become blue-violet or blue. There are varieties with relatively large, monochromatic flowers. Lungwort is a good honey plant. Its leaves are used in folk medicine, in England they are used for food. There it is specially grown as a salad plant. Another advantage is shade tolerance: the list of shade-tolerant plants is not too long. Can be a worthy competitor to the recognized queen of the shadow - hosta. Hosta begins to grow late, and lungwort is one of the first. After the first frosts, the hosta completely loses its decorative effect; the lungwort is practically not afraid of them. Lungwort feels good in the garden under the crowns of trees and shrubs. In nature, most species grow on fertile, sufficiently moist soils, so our usual garden soils She's quite happy with it. Lungwort is non-aggressive. It grows quickly, but the clumps remain quite compact. At the same time, it is durable - the bush lives for about 30 years. Easily propagated vegetatively. But there is no need to divide its bushes often. Lungwort is a long-lived plant. In nature, vegetative propagation begins after the transition to flowering and continues throughout almost the entire growth period. Old sections of the rhizome die off over time, and the bush disintegrates. When propagating from seeds, it is difficult to keep the variety pure. Cross pollination. If you want to experiment, sow it and you will get a whole range of colors, and maybe you will become the owner of a unique specimen. Lungwort is a myrmecochore: its seeds are distributed by ants. Sometimes its seedlings can be found in the garden in the most unexpected places. The rules for growing lungwort are simple:
Do not bury plants when planting. Do not allow the soil to dry out. If some part of your site is located in the shade and your favorite flowers suffer from lack of light, try replacing them with lungwort. It is enough to see a few photographs of this flower, and your doubts will disappear. And if the photo was not enough, then this article will help you make a final positive decision, from which you will learn how easy it is to grow lungwort in open ground, and how unpretentious it is in care and reproduction. All you have to do is choose a variety and start planting. Lungwort: varieties and varietiesAlmost all varieties of lungwort have an ability that is very rarely found in other flowers - they change the color of the corolla during the flowering process. Blooming pink, the corollas gradually change color to blue. There are 15 species of lungwort. The most decorative of them, most often found in flower beds:
Planting a plantLungwort prefers loose soils rich in humus. Sandy loam or loamy soils are good. For a flower garden, choose a place where there is no direct sunlight, because it is in the shade that the lungwort blooms brighter, and the patterns on the leaves become clearer. The optimal time for planting is spring. During this period, the soil is most saturated with nutrients, and the absence of frost allows young plant adapt to a new environment.
Plant lungwort in a sunny place, and it will delight you with bright, lush blooms Lungwort does not tolerate stagnant water, so it is very important that the area is well drained. Also, keep the area well clear of weeds.
Lungwort careThis perennial plant is unpretentious in care. In spring, you need to trim off old dried leaves and mulch the soil to retain moisture longer. The lungwort likes to water abundantly, but not excessively. Especially during dry periods, as well as during bud formation and flowering. Lungwort must be replanted no more than once every 4 years, otherwise its bushes simply lose their attractiveness.
Mulching the soil will help the plant consume moisture optimally It is better to cover the lungwort for the winter. Although some varieties can tolerate severe frosts, it will be safer if the plant overwinters under a small layer of leaves or peat. Fertilizer and feeding of lungwortA week before planting lungwort in open ground the soil needs to be fertilized. To do this, you can add humus when digging. In mid-summer you can feed your plant mineral fertilizers. For this 20 g complex fertilizer must be dissolved in a bucket of warm, clean water. Plant propagationPerennial lungwort reproduces in several ways: Dividing the bush. This method allows you to preserve all varietal qualities perennial plant. At the very beginning of spring, the bush is dug up, the root is divided into parts and trimmed. The resulting divisions are planted at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other. Do not forget that you need to plant at exactly the same depth at which the plant was before dividing. If you couldn’t divide the flower in the spring, don’t despair, you can do it in early autumn, after flowering has ended. Sugar and long-leaved lungwort are most often propagated by dividing the bush.
Pattern: lungwort Rhizome segments. This method is used to propagate medicinal, red, shaft-shaped and narrow-leaved lungwort. To do this, at the end of the season, several parts are separated from the root so that each of them has a bud. Afterwards they are planted to a depth of 4 cm. Advice. Leave more space for these species, because they tend to grow greatly. From seeds Lungwort is propagated very rarely; the only species that effectively grows in this way is the softest lungwort. Moreover, the seeds must be collected in the same year in which planting will take place. And all other species, when grown from seeds, very often lose their maternal characteristics, and bloom only in the second or third year after planting.
Diseases and pestsOne more the positive side care for lungwort is that this flower is practically not susceptible to diseases and pest attacks. The only danger that can befall your plants is slugs and snails. They appear when the soil is too wet. Pull the weeds regularly and avoid over-watering, and you will not have any problems with lungwort.
Lungwort bush: combination with other plantsLungwort gets along well with other plants. It works well next to the shade-loving hosta. However, you need to remember that some types of lungwort grow quite actively, so it is worth making larger gaps between plants so that your plantings do not turn into a jungle.
Lungwort combined with hosta Lungwort bush in landscape designLungwort is an ideal plant for natural garden. Many consider this flower the most beautiful of all forest inhabitants. He looks very natural among coniferous trees, forming a dense carpet dotted with colorful bright flowers. Soft borders made from lungwort look neat. This perennial goes no less harmoniously with various shrubs. Try planting lungwort in the shade of derena or bladderwort.
Lungwort in landscape design This flower is indispensable for spring garden in combination with blueberries, daffodils, crocuses. And in flower beds with later plants it will look harmonious with astilbe, kupena and phlox. Lungwort is a beautiful flower in its beauty and unpretentiousness. Growing it will not bring you any trouble, but its flowering will give you a lot of positive emotions. After all, it is not so often that you can find flowers that can change color during the flowering process. In addition, flowers can be found even on one lungwort bush. different shades. Decorate the shady corners of your garden with lungwort and let it delight you from the first warm days of spring. Lungwort on a personal plot: video
Types of lungwort: photo
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