Levkoy - planting and care in the open field

Levkoy (Matthiola) grows naturally in warm climates (Southern Europe, Africa, Asia). It is an ornamental plant with beautiful fragrant flowers.

The first description of the culture dates back to the 16th century. The culture was named after the doctor, botanist P. Mattioli. In the last century, Levkoy was held in high esteem and was found almost everywhere. Today, for some reason, interest in him has subsided somewhat. But true lovers are engaged in the cultivation of a flower and often use it to decorate flower beds. Moreover, planting and caring for levkoy in the open field is not a difficult task.

Levkoi are able to decorate any flower garden

Botanical characteristics

Mattiola (another name for levkoev) is a herbaceous dwarf shrub. The height of the culture, depending on the variety, species, group, varies from 0.2 to 0.8 and even 1 m. Leaves, similar in shape to a lancet or diamond, can be covered with hairs. The border of the leaf plate can be serrated or solid. The culture blooms from June to November. Coloring of buds from white, yellow, pink and burgundy. In a faded bud, there is a pod with narrow-winged flat seeds.

Popular species and varieties

To date, there are about 650 varieties of Levkoy known. There are levkoi-perennials, there are biennials and annuals. They are subdivided into fifty more species. There is also a division by flowering time, types of buds and stems.

The modern classification distinguishes them into separate groups by purpose:

• bouquet. They bloom in the summer with medium-sized colorful flowers. The height of the Levkoy is about 30 cm, the diameter of the bud is 4 cm. All stems are approximately the same length, which is very convenient for cutting;
• bouquet gigantic. These plants grow up to 0.6 m in height. Representatives of the group are multi-petal and late flowering. The flowers are large (5.5 cm), collected in a long raceme (20 cm). Lateral shoots bloom later than central ones;
• quedlinburg levkoi. These are columnar, bushy late high, early low and early high bushes. The former are more in demand due to their large bright colors. There are more than 70 varieties in this subgroup. The most popular of them are Gelb, Lazurblau, Rubinrot;
• erfurt. They have been breeding them since the 18th century. These are undersized lush bushes. Leaves and buds are medium in size;
• large-flowered treelike. Very tall bushes (about 1 m). The peculiarity of the plant is that the branch from the root grows single and begins to branch closer to the top. Flower brushes are tight, and the buds themselves are large, juicy-bright in color. Famous representatives of the Illusion subgroup, Tsartroza, Diana;
• levkoi tree-like single-stemmed, or Excelsior. Tall plants with double flowers. The most interesting in the subgroup are Levkoy Gelgelb with pale yellow buds and Sanatsation with burgundy ones;
• levkoi single-stemmed pyramidal. They can be tall, medium and dwarf. They are all united by the shape of the crown of the bush, which is pyramidal. The most popular varieties are Rubin, Sapphire, Arctic;
• Levkoi are pyramidal, spreading. A distinctive feature of the subgroup is remontability. The flowers are large and bright.

Mattiola multicolored

A separate group is distinguished:

• gray levkoy - Matthiola Incana (subspecies Giant lavender). This is a typical species, the flowering period of which is from the beginning of summer to frost.Available in a wide range of colors;
• royal mix. On one bush, brushes of different colors;
• fragrant levkoy. Nondescript flowers with a very bright aroma;
• Thumbelina. A dwarf variety with bright multicolored clusters.

Growing Levkoy from seeds

Before sowing, the material should be prepared, that is, the seeds should be soaked in water for a day, laid out on a damp cloth and removed in the cold for stratification. For this, 2-3 days are enough.

Levkoy seeds

When and how to sow

For seedlings, Matthiola perennial (Matthiola Longipetala) is sown at the end of winter. For this, the planting containers are filled with a soil mixture consisting of turf and sand in a 3: 1 ratio. Seeds are sown to a depth of 0.5 cm. Then covered containers or pots are placed in a dark, warm place.

Seedling care

When sprouts appear, the film must be opened and the seedlings must be rearranged in a sunny place (preferably under a lacy shade). The optimum room temperature is 10-12 ° C. Good fit:

• closed terrace;
• loggia;
• veranda;
• unheated room in a residential area.

After a couple of days, the seedlings should be watered. After another couple of weeks, a dive into individual containers is carried out. For growing plants, a composition in a 2: 2: 1 ratio of:

• turf;
• leafy land;
• sand.

When the air and soil warms up, seedlings can be transplanted into open ground.

In order for the Levkoi flowers to grow healthy and delight with exuberant flowering, it is advisable to feed them with a composition of:

• water - 1 l;
• boric acid - 0.3 g;
• copper sulfate - 0.3 g;
• manganese sulfate - 0.1 g;
• zinc sulfate - 0.1 g.

Home seedlings need hardening (7-10 days before transplanting). You can first open windows or doors for a short time. Before planting, seedlings must withstand round-the-clock ventilation.

Planting perennial Levkoy flowers in open ground

It is better to plant seedlings in open ground with the onset of warm days, when the return frosts have already receded. In Central Russia, this is the end of May. Young plants are rather fragile and delicate, therefore evening hours should be used for planting work.

The site for the Levkoy is chosen to be sunny with a low occurrence of groundwater. Cruciferous predecessors are not allowed. Such soil is also not suitable for sowing seeds, since there is a high probability of damage to seedlings with a black leg.

As for the soil, it is preferable:

• soddy loamy;
• sod-sandy loam.

Planting pits are located 15-30 cm apart, depending on the variety. The bushes are planted in heavily spilled holes (in earthen slurry). The filled pits are well compacted.

Watering and loosening the soil

The crop reacts very strongly to irrigation deviations. It can disappear with prolonged drought and overflow of water. Therefore, irrigation should be regular and rationed.

After each watering, weeding and loosening of the root zone are relied on.

Reproduction methods

The culture is propagated by seeds. To enjoy flowering all summer long, you will have to sow them every 15 days.

Levkoy ordinary

A common levkoy is a flower that has a single-row bud, and sometimes double flowers are obtained from its seeds. They are sterile, but some can germinate.

Top dressing and transplanting

For this organic culture, it is enough to feed with ash. But in the spring it is advisable to add minerals. Complex mineral feeding will be optimal. During the flowering period, levkoy especially needs potassium-phosphorus supplements.

With a long-term cultivation option, feeding is excluded only in the first year.

If the location is unsuccessful, the plant can be transplanted. The root is dug out with a large clod of earth and in this form is transplanted into a new hole. The plant should be watered two days after transplanting. The rest of the care is normal.

Pests and diseases

Of the insects, mattiola, or levkoy, most often suffers from the cruciferous flea. For minor lesions, you can use a solution of wood ash. They should spray the entire plant, including the underside of the leaves. If the scale of the disaster is large, you will have to use chemicals, for example:

• decis;
• aktara;
• actellik;
• bankcol;
• intavir.

Of the diseases, Levkoy suffers from a black leg. In a diseased bush, the lower part of the stem turns brown and black. The disease is not amenable to treatment. It is easier to prevent it. Hom tillage before planting the crop will help with this.

How to prepare for wintering

In cold climates, Levkoy can only be grown as an annual crop. Before freezing, the bushes are completely pulled out and disposed of. The bed under the levkoy is dug up in preparation for the next season.

In areas with mild winters, it makes sense to leave the plant before winter. Only perennial levkoy should be trimmed to zero. The trimmings remaining on the flowerbed will provide sufficient cover.

Flowering period and care after

Depending on the variety, the flowering of the plant lasts from June until frost. After that, the plant is removed if it is an annual, or cut to zero if it is biennial or perennial.

If you need to collect seeds, you should wait for the pods to ripen. Mature ones are brown in color.

Terry Levkoy

Use in landscape design

Levkoy looks good in mixed flower beds, especially in the company of highly variegated neighbors, but it is also suitable for group plantings. In this case, one should adhere to a clear gradation of plants by growth.

They are also ideal for Moorish lawns. Fragrant mattiola fits organically into garden beds with herbs. Matthiola two-horned is especially good in this role.

An important property of this culture is the wonderful aroma of buds. If you do not want to plant flower beds with it, you can grow them in portable containers and put them near your living quarters. A heady aroma that penetrates the window on a summer night will add a special charm to the latter.

It is wonderful that there is such a plant as levkoy. Planting and caring for it requires minimal effort. Even a novice gardener can handle them. The main thing is to adhere to the rules described above.