So I bring to your attention a simple, but very long recipe for cooking ...
If you want the beautiful astilba to settle in your dacha, planting and leaving in open ground will not constitute special difficulties. It is quite unpretentious, but very decorative. This perennial blooms luxuriantly, feels good even in constant shade. Astilba comfortably tolerates cold Russian winters (up to -37 ° C), practically does not get sick, and garden pests not particularly interested in her.
Photo of blooming astilba:
For originality, lush beauty, everyone loves it, professional, novice gardeners, just lovers.
Astilba - description, appearance and features
What is astilba? This is a perennial plant from the Saxifragaceae family, with openwork foliage and beautiful fluffy panicle inflorescences.
When does astilba bloom? It blooms from the first days of summer. How long does astilbe bloom? The most active plant blooms for about a month. The flowering process itself continues until August. Not only flowers are decorative, but also long-leaved dark green leaves growing on erect stems. The color scheme of lush panicles is rich in a variety of shades: white, cream, pink, lilac, red. The delicate aroma of astilba is somewhat reminiscent of the fragrance of bird cherry.
The birthplace of the flower is Japan and Asia. The number of varieties reaches 200 varieties. There are dwarf varieties, for example, Lilliput. There are tall varieties, for example, Ahrens hybrids. Compliance with simple agrotechnical rules, even for a novice gardener, allows you to grow a lush, eye-catching plant - which is why this culture is so loved by many. For perfect height, the development of astilbe needs a shadow, but not too strong. The so-called "lace" shadow from the crown of trees is what you need.
Astilba photo:
Astilba will make any corner of the garden cozy With the onset of cold weather, the aerial part dies off, and the overwintered root gives new shoots in spring. A notable feature of astilba is that its rhizomes grow from above. Thus, buds are tied on the upper part of the root system, which are exposed, therefore, they require annual topping up of the soil. Every year their size increases, forming new roots, while the lower part gradually dies off. Panicle flowers reach from 10 to 50 cm in length, when the flowering period ends, boxes with seeds inside remain in their place.
The height of the astilba plant depends on the variety. There are tall varieties, there are dwarf varieties. For comfortable cultivation, it is preferable to give your choice to tall varieties - those that grow up to 50-80 cm. They are more viable, tolerate climatic changes and temperature extremes well.
As mentioned above, there are many different different types of this plant, but most gardeners liked the Japanese astilba. This variety is also called Montgomery - a hybrid bred by the German breeder Georg Arends in 1837.
Astilbe Montgomery Arends hybrids are the brightest, most beautiful, unpretentious, they grow well on any soil, are resistant to cold, bloom for a long time (about 40 days). In addition to Montgomery, Gloria, Deutschland, Europe, Rheinland are popular with gardeners.
Japanese astilba grows up to 80 cm high, has ornamental leaves, its flowers bloom early. After the flowers fade, they do not lose their decorative qualities, do not spoil the overall picture of the garden, and are often used to make dry bouquets.
Where to plant astilba
Where to plant astilba in the country, in the garden? The best place- in the northern part of the site. This is the best for her comfortable place. Where to plant astilba in the sun or in the shade? Choose shady places or areas near the pool, pond (if you have one). Only some varieties of astilba prefer sunny areas. When planting, be sure to consider the proximity of plants, for example, hostas growing nearby will not only be in harmony with the leaves or flowers of the astilbe, but will protect it from overheating in hot summers. For those varieties that bloom in the midst of summer, you need to select only shaded places.
The planting process is best started in early May / early June.
What kind of soil does astilbe like? It can grow in almost any soil. But especially loves loam, fertile soil soil saturated with potassium-phosphorus additives.
If the ground is highly acidic, it is recommended to add a little wood ash before planting to lower the pH level, and dolomite flour can also be used for this purpose.
You also need to pay attention to the variety, the timing of its flowering. Early, late varieties will feel equally comfortable in a sunny, shaded place. high lay ground water, as well as periodic stagnation of water in the area are highly undesirable for astilba. To root system did not get wet, you will need to equip drainage or plant plants on a hill.
Make sure that planting material(roots) did not have rotten or dead fragments. Roots should not be too wet or dry.
Please watch a video selection of astilba photos.
Astilba - care and landing
How to plant astilba? How to plant astilba? The place on the site should be prepared before planting: dig up, uproot the roots of shrubs (if any), remove weeds, fertilize the ground with manure or add peat (about 2 buckets per 1 square meter). Pits for bushes should be about 30 cm deep. Deep into them, it is recommended to add a little ash (a handful), mineral supplements, and then generously add water. Now you can start landing. Make sure that at least 5 cm of earth is poured over the roots of the plant, which should be carefully compacted and then covered with a layer of mulch (also 5 cm). For mulching, peat or humus is suitable.
Astilba - photo of flowers in a flower bed:
Astilbe in landscape design, a photo How does astilbe reproduce?
Astilba can be propagated by seed or vegetative method. In the second case, fragments of rhizomes or buds are used. After the plant fades, seeds ripen in boxes, they are sown in early March, but before that they are “hardened” with cold.
To do this, take a suitable container, pour a mixture of peat and sand (equal proportions), scatter the seeds on top, lay a 2 cm layer of snow on top of them. By the way, you can use snow from the freezer. The snow will melt naturally, burying the seeds deep into the soil. After the snow melts, cover the container with glass or plastic wrap, and then place in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. For these purposes, the lower compartment is perfect, where vegetables are usually stored. During this period, already hardened seedlings will sprout, which over time will turn into strong plants that are not afraid of cold and frost.
After the appearance of sprouts, move the container to a lighted place where the air temperature is not lower than +20°C. Watering the seedlings should be extremely careful, for this it is better to use a syringe to direct the stream of water to the spine. After the appearance of the first 3 full leaves, small seedlings can be planted in individual pots. It should be borne in mind that varietal crops do not propagate by seeds - hybrids do not retain their individual characteristics.
How to grow astilba from rhizome? The division of the rhizome is the easiest, effective way breeding. To do this, a full-fledged plant should be dug up, removed from the soil along with the roots, with an earthen clod. Then gently shake off the ground, expose the root system, take a knife, divide the root into fragments, and each piece should have at least 4 buds. After that, you need to plant the roots at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, water daily (not too abundantly).
Astilba - cultivation and care, photo:
Astilba at the beginning of flowering Reproduction by kidneys gives the most fast results. It is best to select seed in the spring, when the growth of new shoots is activated. The kidneys are carefully cut along with a piece of rhizome. The place of the cut is sprinkled with ash or a tablet crushed with a mortar. activated carbon. After that, they take a container, fill it with a mixture of peat and gravel. For 3 parts of peat, take 1 part of gravel. After that, the kidneys are buried there, covered with glass or film. When the plant germinates, gets stronger, it can be planted on the site using the method described above.
How to care for astilba? The main thing to remember is unusual feature its root system, make sure that the roots are covered with earth. Provide regular watering (according to the variety). Mulching is recommended. Both overheating and waterlogging are equally harmful to all plants, and a mulch layer will help keep the roots healthy. Remove weeds, water more often during flower formation, fertilize according to the season: nitrogen in spring, potash in mid-summer, phosphorus in late summer. Astilba should be repotted every 8-10 years. With a competent approach to business, this plant will transform your summer cottage, give positive emotions, bright colors of summer. Thus, astilba is aesthetic, undemanding. in open ground are not difficult.
What year does astilba bloom after planting? Grown from seeds, blooms in the 3rd year. And those that you planted by dividing the rhizome can bloom in the year of planting.
When to transplant astilba in spring or autumn? Can be transplanted in spring and autumn. If you decide to transplant the plant in the fall, then wait for the end of flowering. But do not delay transplanting: the plant should be transplanted about a month before the onset of cold weather (not below + 5 ° C). AT middle lane In Russia, this is approximately in the month of September, in the Kuban - in October. If you plant or transplant astilba in the spring, then this season you will be able to see flowering. Try to hold this event in April-May if you live in central Russia, and in March-April if you live in the Kuban. Astilba can not be transplanted for many years. But sooner or later, its flowering will become scarce. Fluffy panicles will become rare, lose their decorative effect. Experts believe that astilba should be transplanted about once every four years. But, if you see that your plant has not lost its fluffiness and splendor, then do not touch it for another year or two.
Useful, hardy, unpretentious and easy to grow marigolds are irreplaceable. These letniki have long moved from city flower beds and classic flower beds to original compositions, decorated the beds and potted gardens. Marigolds with their easily recognizable yellow-orange-brown colors and even more inimitable aromas today are able to pleasantly surprise with their diversity. Firstly, among the marigolds there are both tall and miniature plants.
Our grandmothers, growing strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, were not particularly worried about mulching. But today this agricultural practice has become fundamental in achieving high quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's troublesome. 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 versatile. Despite the fact that “kids” have always been considered more fashionable, the assortment of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it is worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of pricklyness, influence on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article, we will talk about the five most fashionable succulents that surprisingly transform modern interiors.
Mint was used by the Egyptians as far back as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils with high volatility. 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 talk about the features of growing this plant in the open field.
People began to grow crocuses 500 years before the advent of our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the heralds of spring next year. Crocuses - one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, the timing of flowering may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article focuses on the earliest varieties of crocuses that bloom in late March and early April.
Shchi from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, fragrant 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 cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as the rest of the 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 is tastier than freshly cooked.
Blueberries - a rare promising berry culture in the gardens. Blueberries are a source of biologically active substances and vitamins, have antiscorbutic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, tonic properties. Berries contain vitamins C, E, A, flavonoids, anthocyanins, trace elements - zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, as well as plant hormones - phytoestrogens. The taste of blueberries resembles a mixture of grapes and blueberries.
Looking at the variety of varieties of tomatoes, it is difficult not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners he is annoying sometimes! However, it is not so difficult to understand the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself”. The main thing is to understand the peculiarities of culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest tomato groups to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been appreciated by those gardeners who do not have much time and energy to care for the beds.
Once very popular under the name of room nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleuses today are one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. They are not in vain considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are looking primarily for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant supervision. But if you take care of them, bushes of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.
Salmon backbone baked in Provence herbs - "supplier" delicious pieces fish pulp for light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The mushrooms are lightly fried olive oil and then drizzle with apple cider vinegar. Such mushrooms are tastier than ordinary pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Ramson and fresh dill coexist perfectly in one salad, emphasizing the flavor of each other. Garlic sharpness of wild garlic will saturate both the flesh of salmon and pieces of mushrooms.
Conifer tree or a shrub on the site is always great, and 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 secreted by plants not only flavor, but also make the air cleaner. Generally, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require competent care and attention.
Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the shade flowering trees have long been an integral attribute of the meeting of spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. The financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese pass under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain types can be successfully grown even in Siberia.
It is very interesting for me to analyze how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and traded 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 BC. e. about 6 varieties of quince were known and even then the methods of its reproduction and cultivation were described.
Make your family happy and make themed Easter egg-shaped cottage cheese cookies! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - they will sift the flour, combine all the necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration how the pieces of dough turn into real 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 in our step by step recipe!
There are not so many decorative and deciduous favorites among tuberous crops. And the caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of the interiors. Not everyone can decide to start a Caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all - to care. But still, the rumors about the unusual capriciousness of the Caladium never justify. Attention and care allow you to avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And a plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.
Astilba is appreciated by both professional gardeners and amateurs for its unpretentiousness, as well as lush and long flowering. A sprawling flower looks spectacular, even if it does not bloom - beautiful green leaves of an attractive shape can decorate any household plot. In this article, we will consider how to properly grow astilbe in the open field, planting features, care and photos of different varieties of this bush.
Morphological features and characteristics of the flower
Astilbe looks quite original and presentable, and when flowering, it simply transforms the entire backyard area. It's decorative bush with split leaves bright green, located on the branches of a reddish hue.
Gardeners prefer astilba not only for a reason lush flowering, but also due to the fact that, unlike many other plants, it can be in constant shade when planted, creating a magnificent colorful flowering. But strong darkening is contraindicated even for this plant. Best planting in partial shade.
Astilbe can sustainably endure severe frosts, it is almost not exposed to diseases, and even many harmful insects fly around it. This is the most the best option for the beginner grower.
Astilba is a perennial flower, native to Asia and Japan. In total there are more than 300 species, each of them has its own size, shape, color and splendor of flowering. The growth of this plant can be in the range of 15-250 cm. The flowers are in panicles 15260 cm long, after flowering, "boxes" appear on them, in which there are small seeds. Almost all types of astilba begin flowering in June.
The ground part of this plant winter time dies off, and the root system waits out frosts and begins to grow in spring. Every year, buds form on top of the roots, giving a constant increase of about 4 cm, and the lower part dies off after a while. To ensure comfortable development of the formed buds, after dying, soil is poured onto the exposed root.
As mentioned above, the breeders really liked the lush astilba, so that they created more than 300 of its species. We will not describe the advantages of each, but consider only the most common and beautiful.
Astilba Arendsa
This is a whole family of astilbes, which is represented by 50 hybrids that appeared as a result of the selection of the giant astilbe of David. They differ in developed trunks up to 160 cm high. They have a cone-shaped or spherical shape with lush vegetation. Flowers come in completely different shades from pure white to bright purple.
Hybrid bushes differ both in size and long flowering time - more than a month. The most attractive plant species were created by G. Arends, therefore the class of hybrids was named after this scientist. For example, astilba Gloria is a perennial plant up to 90 cm long during flowering. This shrub easily winters and growing, perhaps, on almost any soil, except sandy. Characterized by fluffy inflorescences Pink colour in the form of a rhombus, with a delicate sweet aroma and openwork foliage. Gloria is water loving, therefore it is best to plant it on the coast of a lake or an artificial pond. Other hybrids:
- Liliput is a small plant up to 30 cm long. Dense pinkish inflorescences begin to bloom in late July. Lilliput is great for equipment Alpine slide or a small backyard flower garden.
- Jump & Jive - a bush up to half a meter long, blooming at the end of June. Produces large, branched pinkish buds that contrast beautifully with the green foliage.
- Boogie Woogie is also a hybrid species that grows 60-75 cm. In July, it will delight you with contrasting pink diamond-shaped flowers, giving the bush a magnificent shape.
Chinese astilba
This plant can be up to 120 cm long, it has big leaves near the roots and smaller ones near the inflorescences. Starts flowering quite densely packed inflorescences up to 30 cm with small purple flowers.
There are also undersized varieties Chinese astilba up to 30 cm long and species with pyramidal flowers. This variety of bushes feels more confident when grown in unshaded areas and in partial shade.
Japanese astilba
This is not a tall bush, as described above (up to 75 cm) and is characterized by small, densely located leaves with a pronounced pattern. Flowers pink and white color bloom much earlier than other varieties, while even after drying, the inflorescences practically do not lose their shape and decorate the flower bed until the end of autumn.
Japanese astilbe is a hybrid that bred by Arendson in 1838. Since that time, several more species have been cultivated, characterized by frost resistance and excellent survival in any region.
simple astilbe
This hybrid does not perceive a dry climate very well and requires periodic abundant watering. The plant can be up to half a meter long and forms thinned inflorescences.
Astilba propagation methods
Growing astilba on suburban area an easy job. The plant propagates by seed and vegetative method. During the latter, the division of the plant and reproduction by the kidneys is possible. And if this method is suitable for beginners, then the seed method allows you to breed new plant varieties.
Propagation with seeds
Seeds are located in boxes that come to replace beautiful flowers. It is necessary to sow them in March, subjecting them to stratification before that. Why the seeds are placed in a container with sand and peat in a ratio of 1: 1, put on top snow layer 1 cm(suitable "snow" from the freezer).
Snow thaws over time, moistening the earth, enriching it with useful elements and immersing seeds in the soil. When the snow has completely melted, the container must be covered with a film and placed at the bottom of the refrigerator for 3 weeks. During this period, the first shoots are formed, they will be hardened and will perfectly endure the next wintering.
After 3 weeks, the sprouts of the bush are transferred to a bright room with a temperature of + 22C. Plants should be watered very carefully, using a syringe without a needle and directing water only under the root.
When the seedlings are a little stronger and a few leaves appear, transplant them into small pots.
Attention: varietal astilbes will not be able to propagate using seeds, as hybrids cannot store their characteristics. Bushes grown by this method are used only in breeding.
Propagation by plant division
As a rule, astilba is propagated by dividing the plant. This is a fairly simple and effective option.
Plant division:
- Carefully remove the soil near the plant with a diameter of 17-25 cm and remove the earthen ball with the root system.
- Remove excess soil to clear the roots.
- Cut the root into pieces with a knife, and each part must have at least 3 buds.
- Plant the bushes at a distance of 25 and arrange for sufficient watering every day.
If you divide the plant at the end of February, then by autumn the bush will already delight you with its flowers.
Reproduction with the help of kidneys
This reproduction is the fastest. It should be carried out in the spring, when the shoots grow. Carefully cut off the buds from the root and fill the cut on the branch with coal, so harmful organisms do not get inside.
Plant the cuttings in a peat and gravel mixture in a 3: 1 ratio and cover with foil. Before transplanting a bush into open ground, it must get stronger and begin its development. A bush can be planted on the site only in the fall.
Landing
Planting this plant in open ground and care will not require great skills and costs. The most important thing is to choose the optimal location and organize the necessary conditions. It is necessary to plant plants at the end of May on the northern side of the site in partial shade.
If there is a pond in the backyard, then plant an astilba near it. It is desirable to select a fertile loamy soil. Acidity is essential in the range of 5.4-6.4 pH. If there are hostas next to the astilba, then their leaves will not allow the bush to overheat in the summer.
When choosing a place for planting a plant, you need to take into account the flowering time of different species. Thus, astilba, which blooms in July, loves dark places more, while other species feel equally good in the shade and in the sun.
By and large, any soil is suitable for astilbe, but if you need to get lush and long flowering, then you need to choose a site in which The groundwater are near the surface. You also need to take care of the presence of phosphorus and potassium in the soil. When digging holes for breeding, add complex fertilizers at 35 gr./sq. m and 2 presses of bone meal. If you plant astilbe in a flower bed, then make a recess of 35 cm and put the additives listed above mixed in with humus.
Astilbe landing stages:
- Dig up the area and remove all weeds.
- Fertilize the soil.
- If necessary, make liming with dolomite flour.
- Make indentations 35 cm with a distance of 40 cm.
- Add fertilizer and water them.
- Plant the sprouts and sprinkle so that the thickness of the soil above the buds is at least 5 cm.
- Pack the soil and mulch with compost.
Care
A feature of this plant is that the roots grow upwards, and do not tend downwards, like in other bushes. In this case, the lower processes die after a while. And if you do not organize normal feeding for new roots, the plant will die. Therefore, every year you need to sprinkle the bare roots with soil and prevent them from drying out.
The main requirement during care is constant watering. Regular mulching of the earth will protect the roots from the sun, and also make it possible to control emergence of weeds.
Do not forget that the frequency and amount of watering will depend on the type of astilba, so study the characteristics of the selected variety, watch the training video and photo on planting this plant. During the formation of flowers, all species require enhanced watering, and if the summer is hot, then it must be done twice a day. You need to feed the bush from spring, adding nitrogen fertilizers. After top dressing, the earth must be mulched.
Pests
Since the homeland of astilba is far beyond the borders of our country, it has no enemies here, but still like some insects. There are quite a few of them, but still they can bring significant damage to the plant.
The main pest is penny. This is a small flying insect that secretes a mica-like foamy solution, and lays its larvae in it. Finally, due to certain chemical composition given secretions and the presence of larvae, the leaves of the plant curl and covered with various stains. From which the bush partially withers or completely dies. Special chemistry will help get rid of this pest - rogor, aktara, confidor or karbofos.
Two more pests are strawberry and gall nematodes. The first is settled in leaves and flowers, as a result, the leaves curl and become stained, the bush slows down its growth, begins to wither and dies.
Summing up, we can say that due to the variety of species, astilba looks great as a single plant, flower beds and borders. This shrub perfectly coexists with various flower and herbal crops, such as daylilies, hostas, lilies and geyhers. Due to the ease of care, these spreading bushes will really decorate any backyard territory.
Beautiful astilba at their summer cottage
From a distance flower stalks perennial plant astilba resemble panicles, but when approaching, you can see that hundreds of small flowers are located on a long stem. They look especially impressive against the background and in the shade of conifers, but single plantings are also possible, the main thing is to correctly form a culture according to tones or plant a perennial of the same color.
Description of varieties and types of perennial flowers Astilba
Astilbe is one of the most decorative perennials, unfortunately not widely distributed. This is a plant from the saxifrage family.
For your attention - a photo and description of astilba, suitable for growing in the middle lane:
The stem, together with the inflorescence, reaches a height of 60-100 cm. The leaves are compound, doubly pinnate. Separate leaflets with a heart-shaped base, shiny above and dull below. On a sunny day, they give an extraordinary play of light.
Flowers -, pink, lilac of different shades, collected in terminal racemose, rather large (up to 20-30 cm long) inflorescences. They can be pyramidal, rhombic, drooping.
The description of the roots of the astilba plant in all species is similar - as a rule, the rhizome is woody, dense, thickened and branched.
The culture blooms in June-August. Seeds are easily tied, but very, very small.
An unusually many varieties of astilba have been created. In some, the flower petals are so short that the inflorescences look openwork, in others, due to the many well-developed petals, the inflorescence turns into a fluffy panicle.
To create astilbe varieties, the following species were used:
Chinese
David and Japanese
Thunberg and whole leaf.
A great many varieties are classified into 11 groups, of which hybrids are the most popular:
Arends;
Astilboydes;
Chinese, low;
fringed;
Lemoine;
Pink;
Variegated;
Astilbe Take (Superba variety);
Thunberg;
Astilba naked.
There are a number of fragile, miniature varieties of the crop, not exceeding 30 cm in height. These plants are suitable for small flower beds or wet places on the hill The most popular dwarf forms perennial flower astilba: Chinese, curly, naked (its height is only 10-15 cm).
How to propagate astilba and care for a flower
It is generally accepted that astilbe is a plant of semi-shady places that does not like open and long sun. No wonder it is more common in the Baltic and northern regions of Russia than in the south. However, in the sunny south, astilba feels great. Its flowering here is lush, luxurious, however, less long.
When planting and caring for astilba, one must not forget that this plant cannot tolerate drought.
Overheating of the soil for its rhizome is detrimental. Therefore, daily watering in the hot time in the evening is a must. Nothing retains moisture in the soil like mulching, which is made with a layer of humus, sawdust or peat 3-5 cm.
How to care for astilba so that it blooms as long as possible? Soils should be deep, nutritious, loose and moist. With fertilizer top dressing, the flower is very decorative. It is necessary to feed in the spring, when the shoots begin to grow. Like everything during the growth period, it requires nitrogen, preferably organic, that is, fermented mullein, bird droppings. But after flowering, it switches exclusively to phosphorus and potassium.
Since a culture in one place can grow up to 20 years, Special attention should pay for landing. The soil is dug up well, holes are made 20-30 cm deep and of the same width. 20-25 g of superphosphate, a couple of handfuls of wood ash and half a bucket of humus are poured into each of them. Everything is mixed, delenki are planted and watered. Fertilize begins from the second year of life.
There are three ways to propagate astilba: division of the rhizome, cuttings, seeds. The simplest and most reliable is the division of the bush. It is better to divide the bush in early spring, then flowering can be expected this year. But astilbe is such a culture that it takes root well when dividing both in summer and in autumn. The size of the divisions does not matter, but the presence of 1-3 buds and branches of the rhizome 3-5 cm long is mandatory. After planting delenok, especially if done in the summer, daily abundant watering is needed for 1-2 weeks. For early spring planting, watering is also important, but not as plentiful. Much more important in spring is warmth. Success is ensured with a warm spring and problematic with a cold one.
Planted delenki at a distance of 30-50 cm from each other. You can propagate astilba and green cuttings - also in the spring, but there is much more trouble with them than with root cuttings. Root them in a greenhouse under a film and with constant watering, spraying, airing.
astilba- very beautiful and unpretentious plant. scientific name Astilbe. Belongs to the saxifrage family. From some sources, Japan is considered the birthplace of astilba, from others - Asia or North America. Astilbe is not a very common plant, and in vain. This is an incredibly showy perennial. Those who got to know him better appreciate him for the splendor and duration of flowering and relative shade tolerance. With it, you can successfully mask unsightly areas in the garden. A sprawling bush adorns the garden not only during flowering, but throughout the growing season.
Astilba flowers are collected in panicles from 10 to 60 cm long. The color is: white, pink, red and purple. The leaves are also very effective - openwork, saturated color. Blooms from June to August. After flowering, a fruit is formed - a box with small seeds. Stems erect. Depending on the variety, the height can reach more than 1 meter.
Astilbe planting
The ideal place for planting in the garden is an area with a little shade. Although there are several varieties that grow well in the open sun.
Before planting, the soil must be dug up, the roots of weeds must be removed. Astilba loves good fertile soil. Therefore, it is desirable to fertilize it with compost or rotted manure.
Astilba tolerates landing well even during flowering. In this case, she will need to provide regular watering. She is hygrophilous. And the rate of its growth directly depends on the presence of moisture and heat. To ensure these conditions, it is better to prepare the soil that retains moisture well.
The pit for planting should be of such a size that the roots feel free in it. It is desirable that the soil during planting contains: a handful of ash, a handful of bone meal, a little humus and 2 tbsp. l. mineral fertilizers. This mixture must be thoroughly mixed. When planting, do not bury the plant. Post-planting watering will show you if you have deeply buried the plant. The distance between the holes should be at least 30 cm.
In order to protect the plant from drying out, the soil is mulched.
Reproduction of astilba
Astilba is propagated both by seeds and by dividing the bush. preferably from February to March in moist soil. Then the pots are covered plastic wrap. Seeds usually germinate in 2-3 weeks. Tender seedlings of astilba need regular watering. If the soil dries out, young seedlings may die.
Astilba breeds well division of rhizomes. For this, the rhizomes are cut into small pieces, each of which should have a replacement bud on the stem at the base.
It is noticed that astilba grows well in one place for no more than 5 years.
astilbe care
Care is not difficult. The main requirement is regular watering. This plant is in dire need of moisture during the formation of inflorescences and does not tolerate drought at all. In a particularly hot summer astilba should be watered in the morning and evening.
For lush flowering, the plant must be fed. In early spring nitrogen fertilizers are applied, at the beginning of flowering - potash, and at the end of flowering or in autumn - phosphorus.
Soil mulching is also important requirement. Helps to retain moisture, protects the plant from overheating and slows down the growth of weeds. Also, astilba has some peculiarity - its rhizome grows upwards over time. Bare rhizomes must be covered with earth every year to provide them with food and prevent them from drying out.
Astilba varieties
Today there are more than 200 varieties. The most common of them are 40-50.
Astilba is classified:
- The height of the bushes - from dwarf (up to 30 cm) to high (more than 90 cm).
- In the form of inflorescences. There are species with pyramidal, paniculate, hanging and rhombic inflorescences.
Photo of astilba
