2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
In recent years, beekeeping has experienced a new revival. Many people start bee colonies at their dachas and get their own high-quality honey. Because they want to eat a natural product, and not fakes from random sellers in the market. To get a good "harvest" of sweet honey, it is necessary to sow herbs in the area that emit a lot of nectar and attract bees. One of these plants is the irreplaceable phacelia
Of the many wild species, tansy phacelia is suitable for agricultural purposes. Its finely cut leaves are similar to tansy, especially at a young age.
Strong, highly branched stems grow from 50 cm to 1 meter. They perfectly resist the wind, build up a large green mass.
Inflorescences are small, up to 2 cm in diameter, similar to lavender bells, collected at the ends of the shoots in panicles up to 10 pieces each. They secrete nectar from morning until late at night, giving work to bees to workers.
The root is well developed and goes deep into the ground, extracting water from the lower layers during dry periods. Perfectly loosens the soil, changing its structure for the better.
Growing conditions
Phacelia is not demanding on soil fertility. At home in America, it grows even on stony lands and feels great. But if you provide it with clay soil, filled with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers for plowing since autumn, then it will respond with an increase in green mass.
Due to its long branched root, it tolerates dry summer periods well. Does not need additional watering. But waterlogging does not tolerate well.
Easily withstands short spring and autumn frosts up to -2 degrees. Continuing the vegetation after them.
Loves open sunshine, but puts up with a lack of light in partial shade. Therefore, it grows easily under the crowns of trees and shrubs. It stretches only a little and blooms later.
Growing
It is an annual. Propagated by seeds, maintaining germination for up to 2 years.
The plot has been prepared since autumn. They are dug up to a depth of 20 cm with the simultaneous introduction of complex fertilizers. They harrow early in the spring. Cut grooves 2 cm deep with 20 cm row spacing. If there is not enough moisture, then the sowing site is spilled.
Seeds are spread per 1 running meter 10-15 pieces. Dark conditions are necessary for the emergence of friendly seedlings. Therefore, the row is well sprinkled with soil. Shoots appear in a week.
At first, it is necessary to carefully monitor the crops, weed the weeds in a timely manner. After 3 weeks, the bushes grow well, drowning out competitors. Seedlings at the age of 1-1, 5 months begin to bloom.
Phacelia tansy is developing rapidly. Therefore, to create a permanent honey conveyor, they sow it at several times from April to July. During the growing season, 3 "harvests" are obtained.
In order not to spend money on the purchase of seeds, they get them from the bushes sown in May. You should not wait for the end of flowering. The largest and fullest seeds are obtained from the first inflorescences. Collect them selectively in several steps. Dry. Used the next year for sowing.
Advantages
Phacelia is a very valuable crop in every way. She has such wonderful qualities:
1. Good honey plant. Attracts pollinators to the site for other plants. Accordingly, the yield of these crops increases.
2. Improves the structure of the soil, reduces its acidity, increases looseness.
3. It is a green manure plant (1 weave of phacelia replaces 250 kg of manure).
4. Possesses phytoncidal properties, repelling pests.
5. Does not require large expenditures of manual labor.
6. Gives several "harvests" per season.
7. Withstands frost and drought.
8. Serves as animal feed.
9. Phacelia honey has a whole range of beneficial properties.
10. Good mulching material.
11. Shade-tolerant.
12. Not affected by diseases and pests.
13. Suppresses weeds.
Siderat culture
Phacelia is sown on green manure as described above. In the middle of the flowering period, after 1, 5 months, the green mass is mowed from the seedlings. They crush it well, scattering it right there over the surface. Dig a shovel onto the bayonet.
Then green crops are planted in this place, in August - radish or repeated sowing of phacelia is carried out to plow the second "harvest". Next year, any vegetable crop is planted on this site.
They practice mixed rock-side planting of phacelia with corn, potatoes, zucchini, pumpkin. As they grow, the green manure is pruned, the aisles are mulched with it. It grows green mass again. This continues throughout the summer.
Phacelia tansy is not only a valuable melliferous plant, but also an irreplaceable green fertilizer for our gardens that does not require maintenance.
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