Decorative bow - planting and care in the open field
Content:
Ornamental onions are grown at home to decorate garden plots. The plant blooms beautifully and has an unusual spicy aroma and pungent taste due to its high content of essential oils. For healthy growth and abundant colorful flowering, it is necessary to properly care for the flower.
general information
A more accurate botanical name for the ornamental bow is "Allium". In nature, there are about 600 species of this plant. Half of them grow in the wild, the rest have been bred by selective breeding.
Decorative bow - allium
Allium is a flower that belongs to early flowering plants, it begins to bloom in May. However, there are several late-flowering varieties that have been bred specifically for cultivation in more severe climates. Therefore, today decorative onions can be grown in the Moscow region or even in the Urals.
Depending on the variety, perennial decorative onions can have different external characteristics. Most often this applies to the color palette of inflorescences.
Usually allium flowers have a purple color and a round-headed crown of the inflorescence. The Bulgarian species has beautiful pale pink flowers, the shape of the buds of this species is similar to bells. Due to its appearance, the flower is often not even associated with a decorative bow. Allium mix is a versatile variety that has a rich color scheme of buds: white, purple and yellow.
Allium giant
Ornamental bow: planting and care in the open field
If the decorative onion belongs to an early flowering species, it is better to plant it in the open ground in the autumn. When transplanted in this way, the plant will have enough time to take root and increase immunity to adverse environmental influences. Late flowering varieties will bloom in time if planted in the spring.
What you need to plant a decorative onion
First of all, before transplanting ornamental onions into open ground, you need to add some sand and organic fertilizers to the soil. Rotted manure or compost can be used as organic matter.
If possible, it is better to use ready-made complex mineral fertilizers that are sold in specialized stores.
Choosing the best place for a decorative bow
Ornamental allium onions are very demanding on light, so it is necessary to choose well-lit areas for growing it. The plant is best planted on hills and slopes, and choose the southern and eastern sides of gardens and orchards.
Ornamental onions grow well in fertile and loose soils, with deep groundwater. If a tall variety is planted, then you need to plant it deep into the flower garden.
Step-by-step planting process
Proper planting to promote quick emergence and healthy growth involves the following steps:
Planting bulbs
- In the beds, holes are made, with a depth equal to the length of two bulbs.
- The distance between each planted bulb is left no more than 30 centimeters.
- Each hole is watered with soft water.
- The bulbs are placed in holes (sometimes several bulbs).
- Fall asleep with a mixture of soil and fertilizer.
- Mulching is carried out with sawdust or peat.
In this way, both the planting of new acquired planting materials and the transplantation of old bushes can be carried out.
Reproduction of decorative onions
Onions are propagated in two ways: by seeds and vegetatively.
Propagation of allium onions by seeds
Seeds are formed in the place of inflorescences in late autumn. At the same time they are collected. Allium seeds can be planted in both spring and autumn. Planting time depends on the type of allium.
Seeds are harvested on their own in the fall
Some species and varieties sprout well in spring reproduction, while others in autumn. Before sowing, each seed is inspected for damage and disease. To increase immunity and ensure good germination, it is recommended to keep the seeds in a special saline solution.
The seeded holes are well tamped and watered. The first flowering occurs 3 years after planting. Some species and varieties begin to bloom only in the 5th or 6th year of their life.
Vegetative breeding method for ornamental onions
Vegetative propagation is carried out with bulbs and dividing the bush. To propagate by dividing the bush, you must choose a plant with well-developed shoots and a root system. Carefully separate the seedling and plant it in a new location.
Bulbs are buds that are separated from the mother bush and treated with growth stimulants. After they are planted in the ground. This method allows you to get new plants that will be completely identical to the original mother bush. Moreover, this process is faster than seed propagation.
Caring for ornamental allium onions in the garden
In addition to the correct planting of the allium in the open field, it is necessary to provide it with careful and attentive care. The plant loves light, moderate moisture and warmth. It is very important not to forget to carry out timely feeding.
With proper care, allium can surprise
Watering mode
It is necessary to regularly water, otherwise the leaf plates of the bush will begin to fade, turn yellow and dry out. However, over-watering can have a more detrimental effect on plant health. Bulb rot may begin, mold and mildew will appear. In such a situation, it is rarely possible to completely cure allium. Moreover, you will have to completely get rid of it so as not to infect the rest of the plantings.
Ornamental onions are watered as needed, when the topsoil begins to dry out. Irrigation water should be of moderate temperature, but not in any way cold. Particular attention is paid to water hardness - it is better to choose settled water.
Top dressing
Spring flower care should begin with feeding. As soon as the first shoots appear, mineral fertilizers are applied. Especially you need to monitor the content of potassium levels in fertilizers. Since a plant for healthy growth, first of all, needs this particular element.
Allium after flowering can also be fed, but this is not necessary. Again, potash can be added. The last feeding is required in the fall. Phosphorus preparations are added to conventional fertilizers.
Features of care during the flowering period
During flowering, you need to monitor the lighting. Only with good lighting does the plant bloom profusely and on time. There is no need to overmoisten the soil during this period, otherwise it will lead to a stop of flowering and shedding of the buds that have appeared.
Some growers during the flowering period feed with special complex fertilizers intended for flowering plants. The peculiarities of planting and caring for allium in the open field allow this approach.
Features of care during the rest period
In the fall, before wintering, the plant must be thoroughly fertilized with mineral and organic fertilizers. During rest, the bulbs will have time to nourish with useful nutrients and prepare for the new season in spring.
It is important not to damage the root system, otherwise the plant will not sprout next year. It is also necessary to cut off rotten shoots and leaves, leaving only a rosette at the base of the roots.
Preparing for winter
In southern and temperate latitudes, the plant is not sheltered in any way, and it tolerates winter well. You just need to remove the dried ground part of the bush. But for complete confidence, it is better to cover the allium outlet with sawdust or dry foliage, and cover it with earth on top.
Decorative bow is used to decorate flower beds.
In northern latitudes, it is recommended to dig up the plant every autumn after the ground part of the bush dries out. The description of the bulb wintering process in this way does not differ from the activities for other members of the family. The bulb is kept in a dark and dry room, and planted again in the spring in the old place. This procedure saves from the formation of fungi, mold, death of the bulb and the entire plant.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful and unusual flowers of the onion family is the ornamental bow, planting and caring for which in the open field does not require special knowledge and skills. The plant has many species with a different color palette of inflorescences that will decorate the flower beds and flower beds of any garden plot.
