Levkoy Or Mattiola

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

In the not too distant past, the variety of colors, the beauty of the double flowers, the thick aroma of this annual plant made it a classic representative for flower bouquets. Today, levkoy or mattiola is not as common in summer cottages as this plant deserves

Levkoy's peculiarity

The peculiarity of Levkoy is that, when sowing seeds, one can expect the appearance of a plant of two types. One will bloom with four-petal simple flowers, and the other will delight with double flowers.

If you do not want to care for and grow simple flowers, you can try to discard them at the germination stage. The fact is that there is an identification mark for terry. At low air temperatures, at seedlings with double flowers, the cotyledon leaves are lighter in color and larger in size. By choosing such seedlings, you will provide your garden with dense fragrant blooms that will delight you all three summer months. And if you cut off the faded parts of the plant in a timely manner, then new side branches will appear, on which flowering will last until late autumn.

Some growers have noticed that seed germination is better preserved in terry representatives of Levkoy. That is, "stale" seeds are more likely to have seedlings with double flowers.

Growing conditions

Levkoy will delight with its flowering under certain conditions:

• The landing site must be sunny.

• The soil is well flavored with organic fertilizers, being based on sandy loam or light loamy.

• When growing in lowlands, it is advisable to arrange raised ridges for the plant.

Plant care

Caring for a plant includes a number of procedures familiar to flower growers:

• Removal of annoying weeds that also like fertile soil.

• Regular watering, preventing the soil from drying out, but no frills.

• After watering or heavy summer rains, be sure to loosen the soil, thereby providing aeration and a comfortable life for the roots.

• Mulching.

• Periodically feed the plant with organic matter and mineral fertilizers.

Reproduction

You can sow seeds directly in open ground from late April to mid-May. Such sowing gives flowering, at best, in late summer, and even in autumn.

In order for the fragrant flowers to delight all summer, they resort to the seedling method of growing. It is better to sow seeds at the end of March, watering the ground with a solution of potassium permanganate (1.5-2 grams per 10 liters of water). When seedlings appear, containers with seedlings are placed on a cold windowsill, since the seedlings are very whimsical. They do not like high temperatures, excess moisture and stagnant air.

The best time for planting seedlings in the ground is the second half of May, when the soil is already sufficiently warmed up by the spring sun.

Use in the garden

The use of Levkoy depends on the height of the variety. Dwarf varieties, the bushes of which reach up to 25 centimeters, plant paths and flower beds, or decorate balconies and terraces with them, planting them in containers or flowerpots.

Medium-sized varieties, with a height of 30 to 45 centimeters, are a universal garden decor. They are suitable for any type of flower garden.

Tall and gigantic varieties up to 70 centimeters and above are grown for bouquets. They can also decorate the background of a mixborder or other flower garden.

The best varieties

Levkoi of the Cinderella group are very good for flower gardens. They are undersized, bloom for a long time and abundantly.

Among the varieties grown for cutting, Levkoi of the Brilliant group are popular.