Linen yellow perennial. Growing perennial flax from seeds by direct planting in the ground - plant care

Long-term flax, so familiar to most of us, is often relegated to the background when choosing the right decorative flowers for the garden area. But in vain. After all, this plant has long been considered a real decoration of any home and its protector. Flax is a plant that is completely unpretentious, but at the same time able to bloom with incredible flowers. luxurious flowers. By the way, contrary to popular belief, linen does not have to be blue. Today you will learn about all the features of growing blue perennial flax in the open field: planting, care, use in landscape design(photo materials are attached).

Flax perennial blue: description, main varieties and varieties

Flax belongs to the genus of herbaceous plants, numbering about 200 plants that are diverse in appearance and properties. Most often, flax is represented by a small plant, reaching a height of about 0.5 m, with fairly thin, but strong stems and different size flowers (they are both small and large enough) of pale blue, white or pink-red.

Actively cultivated in the middle latitudes. plant prefers temperate climate, so you can most often find blue flax in North America, Africa, parts of Europe and Asia.

Among existing species and varieties of flax, the following can be especially distinguished (photo below):

• Oily. This ornamental variety of flax is home grown, often for the purpose of producing nutritious and incredibly healthy flaxseeds. The plant usually reaches a height of no more than 30 cm. The flowers are relatively small. Their color can be pale blue, yellow and even red.

oil flax

• Decorative. One of the most picky varieties of flax: growing it is a pleasure even for a novice gardener. In addition, it is from decorative varieties linen is produced durable natural clothing.
• Large-flowered. This variety of flax appeared in domestic gardening not so long ago and immediately became one of the "favorites" among gardeners - lovers of home flora. The plant can be called medium-sized - it usually reaches a height of 0.5 m. decorative linen very large, represented by a rich range of shades. Decorative flax is considered a perennial: favorable conditions in one place he can live up to 5 years.

large-flowered flax

• Flax is a perennial. This type of flax is considered the most common among all existing ones. Perennial linen is used to decorate flower walls, borders, etc.

Planting a plant in open ground

The plant cannot be called particularly picky about growing conditions, but still flax, regardless of variety or variety, needs a sufficient amount sunlight, therefore, the site for its planting must be chosen completely not shaded by houses or trees.

Advice. If you are a resident of a region where the sun is considered a rather rare phenomenon, it is, unfortunately, better for you to refuse to grow perennial flax.

The soil for planting flax can be almost any, but you are unlikely to be able to grow flax in a swampy area. The soil must be light, with a sufficiently deep occurrence of groundwater. Flax perennial will take root perfectly even on slopes (but not too steep).

Landing perennial varieties flax is best carried out indoors, but if the climate is warm enough, you can sow them immediately in open ground, and it is advisable not to deepen the seeds into the ground, but simply spread them out on the ground and spray them with water from a spray bottle.

flax bush

Outdoor cultivation is possible both in spring (when the temperature reaches a stable 20 degrees) and in autumn (when the temperature has not yet fallen below 20 degrees).

Advice. When growing perennial flax in open ground, be sure to take into account the cold factor: planting should not be carried out in wet or rainy weather, and after this process, the seeds must be covered with a small layer of soil, then insulated like an ordinary flower crop.

Plant propagation

Reproduction of perennial flax is carried out in several ways:

1. Seeds. As we already know, seed propagation is possible both in spring and autumn (when the seed material is sown in winter). Seeds are carefully laid out on the ground (without deepening into the soil) and slightly moistened with water. By the way, perennial varieties can be safely started growing even in summer period. When growing in containers (meaning a permanent place, since seedling method growing flax with subsequent transplantation is ineffective) open space carried out immediately after sowing.
2. The division of the bush. This propagation method is relevant for biennial plants. The process of separating several parts from mother bush usually carried out in mid-spring, or after the end of the flowering period - in August. Parts of the bush are usually planted at a distance of about 20 cm from each other. They require constant watering and protection from direct sun rays.

Blue flax care: watering and fertilizing regimen, pest control

So that in the summer the plant will please you with luxury, albeit not too long flowering, be sure to make sure that it receives complete care. Further on, what kind of care will be required for perennial flax when it is grown in open ground.

In order for the plant to remain healthy and "live" a full life, it is necessary to provide it with periodic watering, which, by the way, should not turn the soil surface into a swampy area.

Avoid stagnant water at the roots of flax

Remember that flax does not like stagnant water. A sufficient frequency of watering can be about 1-2 times a week (depending on the dryness of the period and the temperature characteristics of the region). Make sure the soil is always moist. But with the onset of autumn, it is advisable to reduce watering to a minimum, and then stop altogether.

In addition to watering, flax will also need periodic weeding, since weeds and excessive thickening of the plant do not have the best effect on appearance flax.

Top dressing cannot be called the weak point of perennial flax, so you can forget about the constant preparation of nutrient mixtures for the soil. V without fail must be paid organic feeding a few days before sowing seed material and add a little potash fertilizer there. During the season, it is advisable to apply liquid top dressing at least a couple of times. It is desirable to carry out the process of plant nutrition immediately after watering.

As for diseases, then flax has something to brag about, because the plant is not susceptible to any diseases. Is that a linen flea can sometimes attack him. Unfortunately, folk remedies are powerless in the fight against it, therefore, immediately when a small pest appears, it is necessary to treat the area with growing flax with a special chemical preparation.

Combination with other plants

In order for flax to take root well on garden plot and became a worthy adornment, remember that the best combination plants are observed mainly with crops that have a similar development pattern and growing conditions.

Flax in landscape design

The tenderness and prettiness of this plant does not leave indifferent even the most demanding gardener. Perennial flax is striking in its decorative effect, it has the ability to constantly renew itself, when fresh blue and white buds bloom to replace faded flowers, so the plant always looks one hundred percent fresh.

Growing this flower culture is quite simple, it does not require any super knowledge, for this reason they like to plant it as experienced gardeners as well as beginners. Let's take a closer look at this attractive flower and understand how to properly plant and grow it.

If bread in Russia was given the honorary title of "Head", then flax among the ancient Russians was considered the "Soul". Its history and practical application man goes back to ancient times, numerous legends and myths of Ancient Egypt and India are associated with him.

It was linen that was used when embalming the bodies of the dead, all clothes for many centuries were woven from this practical material, poor people wore coarse fabric, and the rich used finer fabric for sewing their clothes.

What is the value of flax for a person

• Flax seeds are also highly valued, from which oil is produced, rich in proteins and carbons, organic acids and enzymes, as well as vitamins. Flax seeds are used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. Flaxseed oil has diuretic properties and is good for relaxing.
• There is a direct connection between the use of seeds and cancerous growths in the breast, the tumor stops growing if you use this most valuable product every day.
• It has been proven that for people who have the intention to lose weight, flax can do a very good job, it contributes to the conclusion toxic substances and toxins, which means that the metabolism is normalized, and extra pounds go away more intensively.
• plant culture found wide application in cosmetology, seed oil makes the skin elastic and healthy, the hair silky and shiny, and the nail plates are even and strong. Shampoos, creams, gels and other body and hair care products are produced on the basis of linseed oil.
• In order to normalize the hormonal background, women during the climatic period are recommended to use flax seeds. At the same time, the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, excessive sweating, are noticeably smoothed out, and the woman feels more stable.
• The plant has also found wide use in the culinary industry, it is added as an oil in baking and cooking many dishes.

It is difficult to list those miraculous properties that cause a beneficial effect on the human body. Even ancient people, recognizing the benefits of flax, treated it with respect and equated it with banknotes.

plant description

The plant belongs to the Flax family from the genus Flax, it grows in many regions the globe, this may include: Western Siberia, UK, Europe. Mostly flax can be found in the steppe and meadow areas.

• It is a herbaceous culture with a vertical and somewhat lignified root.
• The height of the plant can sometimes reach 80 cm, the shoots are directed upwards, but sometimes they bend at the base and therefore grow to the side.
• Leaves size: 3 mm wide and 5 cm long, pointed with small teeth from the edges.
• The flowers have a blue or white tint, small, their diameter is only 3 cm, located on pedicels. Flowering begins in mid-summer and continues until the end of August.
• The fruit is a capsule containing tiny seeds. Its length is about 7 mm.

Flax perennial is able to decorate any garden, it is magnificent both in group plantings with other flowers, and in an independent colony. When the wind sways blue flowers, the illusion arises that this sea ​​waves. The plant goes well with annuals, it is sown in rock gardens and flower beds. It is used for cutting, in bouquets flax looks romantic and tender.

Types of perennial flax

It is known that there are two types of flax: perennial and annual, we offer several varieties of perennial crop:

• Hard-haired flax - up to 40 cm high, blooms at the beginning of the season, has delicate blue and lilac flowers, in vivo it can be found in the meadows and in the steppe expanses of Ukraine, throughout the European territory, in Asia Minor, and, of course, in Russia.
• Austrian species - up to 50 cm in height, blooms in May, and completes the formation of buds in June, flowers in the form of blue inflorescences, able to branch.
• Tauride flax - is distinguished by yellow inflorescences, in which up to 20 pieces of flowers are collected.
• Yellow flax - up to half a meter high, bright yellow flowers appear in June - July.
• Fine-leaved linen - a shade of pinkish, white, lilac. This is a compact bush up to 50 cm, the base of which is lignified.
• Siberian flax - it is characterized by small blue flowers, it is also called alpine, common in alpine meadows and rocky slopes.

In stores, we often find the most common varieties: "Heavenly", "Sunny Bunny", "Brilliant", "Blue Carpet".

How to plant seeds and care for seedlings

The ideal place for this culture would be an open sunny area, and if there is one in your garden area, then by all means sow flax there. He does not like any shelters, penumbra, his favorite place is where there is always a lot of sunlight.

Any soil for perennial flax is suitable, it is unpretentious and quite hardy, but still consider the following facts:

• airy soil is best for him;
• seeds should not be planted in lowland areas;
• if the soil is shallow ground water, it is better to make a small mound before planting flax.

Perennial flax is planted in open soil, both in spring and in autumn period, the main thing is that the air temperature at the same time be not lower than 15 degrees.

Step-by-step instructions for planting flax

• Before planting the seeds in the soil, dig it up by removing the roots. weeds and fertilizing: one square meter you will need about 5 kg of compost, a tablespoon of superphosphate and the same amount of potassium sulfate.
• Make small grooves after leveling the ground and sow planting material without deepening it. The soil should lie on the seeds in a thin layer, if you allow the seeds to sink too deep into the soil, they may not sprout at all, or the germination period will increase. Thus, the plant will lose strength and be weak.
• Moisten the ground with a spray gun, do not water with a watering can, as some of the seeds will certainly be washed out of the soil.
• After about two weeks, the seeds will sprout, which, at a height of 5 cm, must be thinned out. The distance between flowers should be at least 15 cm. These recommendations should be especially taken into account when planting bush varieties.

How to care for perennial flax

Long-term flax will not cause you much trouble, because its natural habitat is steppes and mountain meadows, it is able to withstand both drought and low temperatures. This is a surprisingly resistant plant, independently providing itself with both moisture and nutrients. But, your garden is not steppe expanses or mountain ranges, and varietal seeds will require a little attention on your part.

• First of all, provide the plant with watering, but not to fanaticism, moderation is needed here. Moisten seedlings should be at least 2 times in seven days. Flax does not like being flooded and the soil turns into a swamp, so be guided by climatic conditions. It is good if the water is rainwater or, in extreme cases, settled.
• In order for the plantings to look neat and not take on a sloppy look, remove weeds.
• If you pamper the plants with additional feeding, it will only be grateful to you. Several options are suitable for this: an infusion of their mullein, fermented grass, as well as a complex fertilizer, which includes trace elements.
• Flax is well protected from insect pests, and yet there is a danger of attacks on flax flea plants. Here you will need the help of insecticides, which can be easily purchased at a gardening store.
• Reproduction of perennial flax can be carried out by the seed method and by dividing the bush. The last way best used after the last flowers have faded or in early spring.

Here are the simple rules that every gardener who intends to plant this non-capricious and cheerful plant on his site should know.

Conclusion

• Long-term flax has been known to mankind since the earliest times, the history of its occurrence in human life spans several millennia.
• Flax is a plant with beauty and usefulness. Its use is not limited to decorative qualities, it is widely used in medicine, cosmetology and cooking.
• This unpretentious plant will decorate the garden, park, square, its delicate flowers in combination with annuals and perennials flower crops will please the eye for quite a long period.

Among flower growers, the annual is very popular. flax large-flowered, and it grows on my site flax perennial. There are a lot of varieties of such flax. There are among them linen with red, blue and even yellow flowers. I like blue linen, it is very similar to fiber flax, from which, by the way, they make linseed oil and linen fabric.

The decorative form of flax has albeit thin, but, nevertheless, strong erect stems, narrow leaves and amazing heavenly blue flowers in five petals, which open before lunch and only on a bright sunny day.

The petals fall off so quickly that a blue carpet soon forms under the plant. But every day more and more flowers bloom, so continuous flowering lasts from May to July.

Flax perennial - landing

Seeds of perennial flax varieties " sky blue bought a few years ago just out of curiosity: I wanted to add a little bit of blue to my many flower beds. I chose the brightest places for planting, as I read that flax loves the sun.

Digging up the soil in spring, I introduced about 3-4 kg of compost, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium sulfate, superphosphate and Agricola fertilizer (for flowering plants). I leveled the ground with a rake and spilled it well. As soon as the soil warmed up to 20 ° C, I made small holes, put a few seeds in each, covered it with garden soil and spilled it again with water. Two weeks later, the first shoots appeared. Seedlings grew by leaps and bounds, and very soon I was thinning them out. She left a distance of 20 cm between the seedlings. The extra seedlings were planted in a tighter group so that the bushes did not lean to the side.

Perennial flax: care

Linen perennial prefers wet soil so I watered the plants regularly. And one early summer morning, making the usual round of her flower kingdom, I was happy to notice that my flax had blossomed. It was a wonderful sight: beautiful blue flowers, collected in forked inflorescences, warmed by the sun's rays and caressed by a warm breeze, swayed slightly, as if greeting me. It seemed as if the sky itself had descended to earth to draw rapturous attention to itself.

Now flax grows everywhere with me, because it reproduces well by dividing the bush.

Perennial flax also propagates by self-sowing. It happens that the place that the sprouted seed has chosen is prepared for completely different plants, and then I boldly transplant flax. He tolerates the transplant perfectly, and there is practically no care for him. It is not even necessary to tie it up, although it grows up to 60 cm in height.

The main thing is that the soil is fertile, watering regularly, and after flowering, do not forget to remove the inflorescences. In autumn, I cut the plants completely, I don’t cover them with anything, because flax is a cold-resistant crop. But still every year it becomes more and more. So far, this does not really bother me, because there are plenty of people who want to have a piece of heaven on the site.

And I am happy to share the grown self-seeding with all relatives, friends and neighbors.

On a note:

If the summer is not too dry, flax can be watered about once a week. In autumn, the plant does not need watering at all, it should dry naturally. It is enough just to cut flower shoots. Fertilizing is very important for flax, you can use liquid forms, enriching the soil with them when watering. The total number of nutritional procedures is 2-3 times during the season. Mandatory requirement is weeding, because weeds do not have the best effect on flax cultivation.

Pests, such as the flax flea, are also dangerous. Folk methods control is not always effective, but chemicals successfully cope with the problem. Unfortunately, charming linen is not very durable, however, this does not prevent him from remaining a favorite in modern flower beds. perennial species quite moisture-loving, but tolerate cold well. Flax in ornamental gardening is beautifully combined with other annuals in group compositions, rock gardens, flower walls, and mixed borders. » An ideal choice for decorating Moorish lawns with cornflowers, daisies, marigolds and meadow clover.

Lenok- it's perennial herbaceous plant. The height of the stem reaches from thirty to one hundred centimeters. Lenka flowers are collected in large racemes, from gray-yellow to yellow-orange. It blooms for a long time, from late spring to early autumn. Distributed in all territories of Ukraine with the exception of the Crimea.

Most often, Lenok is found in the field, near the road, among other herbs, like a weed. Lenok refers to medicinal plants. For medicinal purposes, the whole plant is used, except for the rhizome. To do this, the flowers and leaves of Lenk are cut during the flowering period, dried in the open air or in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and then used in decoctions and tinctures. Interestingly, the already dried plant smells rather unpleasant. It has a sharp, salty-bitter taste. Of the entire mass of cut flowers in dried form, no more than twenty percent remain.

For medicinal purposes, either Lenka alcohol tincture is used, or dried flowers are brewed and taken orally from various diseases, make lotions to sore spots, applying a swab dipped in tincture.

Lenok ordinary - care:

Lighting:

Lenok grows equally well both in the shade, for example, next to shrubs, and in open area such as in fields, hills, dry slopes, light forest clearings or roadsides.

Temperature:

Grows in temperate continental climates, best when warm summers with little rainfall, unpretentious and not sensitive to drought, as it refers to weeds.

Watering:

Lenok does not require special watering, natural watering is enough for the plant, although in a particularly dry summer, in order to collect high yield Perhaps it would not be superfluous to periodically water.

Humidity:

Lenok does not need high humidity soil, it grows well in open areas, resistant to drought.

Top dressing:

There is no need for additional feeding, he has enough of those minerals that he takes from open ground. Moreover, Lenok is used as a medicinal plant; it should not be fertilized with any mineral or chemicals, since they are all concentrated in the plant and this can only be harmful to health.

Transfer:

Since the plant is herbaceous and grows only in the wild, it should not be repotted, as this may lead to the death of the plant.

Reproduction:

Lenok propagates by seeds. After the plant has faded, it forms an oblong box, large enough, in which flat, black seeds ripen. In autumn they can be harvested and sown in early spring, once the night frost has passed. Optimum temperature for germination from +6 °С to +8 °С, ideal from +20 °С. It germinates in April-May, blooms all summer, bears fruit from September to October.

Some features:

Officially, medicine does not recognize Lenok medicinal plant but known a large number of folk remedies for all kinds of diseases with the help of lenok tincture. However, Lenok is widely used in Tibetan medicine. Also, a decoction of Lenka in milk helps to escape from flies in the summer.

Lenok ordinary - diseases and pests:

Since Lenok is a weed, it has no pests.

For alpine slides, large flower beds, mixborders and individual group plantings, for cutting and arranging bouquets, large-flowered flax will be an amazing bright discovery for you. Growing from seed is easy and has a high success rate.

Large-flowered flax: description

This is with decorative flowers, belonging to the genus Linen from the Flax family. It reaches a height of up to 110 cm, but most often growth is limited to 30-60 cm. The stem of flax is erect, branched. The leaves are sessile, alternate, lanceolate with pointed tips. bright flowers form an inflorescence shield, which has a fairly loose structure. The natural habitat is the northwestern part of the African continent (Algeria). Flax was introduced into cultivation in 1820, and since then it has been actively cultivated as an annual.

Large-flowered flax: cultivation

From seeds of small size, if desired, you can grow a beautiful perennial plant. Flax has an unpretentious character, is resistant to cold, tolerates even weak frosts. It is preferable to choose sunny, well-lit areas for it. It will grow on any garden poor soil, but preferably without stagnant moisture. On the territory of Russia with cold climatic conditions we recommend choosing exactly large-flowered flax. Growing from seeds is very easy. Germination is almost 100%, and the plant spreads up to the taiga zone.

Before planting, the site must be dug up, it is recommended to add humus or compost (3-4 kg per 1 square meter). As well as a tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Then mix everything thoroughly and level with a rake. It is best to shed the soil well and leave for a couple of days, and only then proceed to planting. This can be done in two ways: seedlings or directly into the ground. Choose the one that suits you best.

Flax (red) large-flowered growing from seeds seedlings

Sowing is recommended in mid-April, as the plant develops quite quickly. Use light soil that is permeable to air and moisture. Pour it into small boxes in an even layer of 5-8 cm and moisten with a spray bottle. Do not bury the seeds, but gently scatter them over the surface, sprinkle with soil on top with a layer of 1 cm. It is best to make a small greenhouse and close the box with polyethylene. Be careful with waterlogging - this is what large-flowered flax does not like. Growing from seeds (photo) is a fairly fast process, seedlings will appear in 7-10 days. As soon as the seedlings have the first pair of true leaves, they should be dived into separate pots, about 7 cm in diameter and the same depth. Linen has a strong root system rod type, so we recommend not to tighten with seating. The further, the more difficult it will be to separate the plants from each other without damaging them.

Sowing seeds in the ground

This method also has the right to exist and is simple. You can sow seeds in early spring (April-May) or late autumn, which is called before winter. Prepare the soil in advance, in the way that has already been mentioned above. Then make neat grooves at a distance of 10-15 cm, 4-5 cm deep. Spill them properly with water. Do not press the seeds, but just spread them out in an even layer and sprinkle a small amount of soil on top. When seedlings appear, they must be thinned out, leaving a distance between plants of 5-8 cm.

Basic rules for caring for flax

If you want, as they say, plant and forget the plant, then choose large-flowered flax (Rubrum). Growing seedlings from seeds or immediately in the ground will not cause difficulties, and care is even easier.

• Choose light soils without stagnant moisture and cold drafts.
• The plant is resistant to heat, so additional watering is required only in case of extremely dry summers.
• During the season, make 2-3 top dressings with complex mineral fertilizers, and the plant will delight you with lush flowering.
• Flowerbeds where flax grows need to be weeded, like any other.
• After rain and watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil so that a crust does not form, especially on heavy soils.

What other plants for the "lazy" can be planted in the garden?

There is not always time to take care of the garden and flower beds, but everyone wants to have their own fragrant corner on the site. Someone will say that this does not happen, and any plant requires attention. Of course, this is true, but the degree of care and its thoroughness differ. If you are rarely in the country, then not only large-flowered flax will suit you. Growing from seeds of some other species will also come in handy. Pay attention to the openwork gypsophila. Perennial will cover the earth with an even carpet. You can also use an annual analogue - graceful gypsophila, it grows quickly and blooms luxuriantly.

Our traditional cornflower is simple and charming at the same time. Now many varieties have been bred not only with blue color, but also white, pink, purple. In addition, the plant will delight you with a double wave of flowering - June and September.

We recommend choosing fragrant iberis or matthiola, flaxseed, alissum, braiding everything with an even cloth, calendula (not only pleasant, but also useful), nasturtium for both horizontal and vertical gardening, morning glory.

If you need easy care, but effective and unusual plant look at the bright and cheerful large-flowered flax. Growing from seeds at home will help you get high-quality seedlings and plants that have grown stronger by the time they are planted in the ground.