2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Nigella (lat. Nigella) Are annuals or perennials belonging to the Buttercup family. Another name is Chernushka. Naturally, nigella grows in European countries and Africa. Currently, there are more than 20 species. Today, culture is cultivated almost everywhere.
Description
Nigella is represented by herbaceous plants up to 70 cm high with strongly branched stems bearing rather small, grayish-green, alternate, dissected, pinnate or finger-like leaves. The flowers of the nigela are large, solitary, and can be blue, lilac or whitish-blue in color. The flowers are composed of five sepals that resemble stars. Fruits in the form of flattened multileaves containing black seeds.
The subtleties of cultivation
Nigella is an unpretentious plant, although it grows best on nutritious, moderately moist, nutritious, permeable, loose, neutral soils. Lime content in the soil is welcome. Despite the fact that Nigella is demanding on soil fertility, she has a negative attitude towards an excess of organic matter and mineral fertilizers.
Swampy, heavy, damp soils are not suitable for growing crops, plants grow slowly, often get sick and die as a result. Nigella is photophilous, blooms profusely in open sunny areas. The culture does not tolerate thickening.. Most forms of culture can boast of frost resistance.
Breeding features
Nigella reproduces by seed. In warm regions of Russia, nigella is grown by sowing seeds in the ground, but in regions with a cold climate, this approach is rather unreasonable, because the plants will not have time to bloom. Seeds are sown in boxes with a nutrient substrate containing peat. Crops are watered and covered with glass. Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked in water, then sprouting will appear faster. Seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place in the first decade of June. Immediately after transplanting, young plants are protected from the sun. The optimal distance between nigella is 15-25 cm.
Care
Care comes down to loosening, watering, weeding, mulching, dressing and disease prevention. Loosening as needed, preferably immediately after watering or precipitation. Nigella needs moderate moisture, but excess water is highly undesirable. In general, Nigella is resistant to disease, but prone to powdery mildew.
Usage
Nigella is a highly decorative plant. It is great for creating garden corners, alpine slides and other flower gardens. Nigella looks great on the lawn. Even when it fades, the plant will delight the eye with openwork greenery for a long period.
The plant has spread in medicine, it is used for problems associated with vision, memory impairment and a decrease in immunity. Nigella is used in the complex treatment of liver and gastrointestinal tract diseases.
