Phacelia campanula cultivation. Phacelia is the queen of honey plants and an excellent green manure. Phacelia honey characteristics and storage conditions

Phacelia is a culture that is not common in horticultural circles, as it is recognized, an irresistible desire arises: “I want to grow!”. A universal plant is in no hurry to reveal its capabilities, hiding unique abilities behind external nondescriptness. But knowledgeable gardener it will become indispensable assistant in restoring soil fertility, it will provide beekeepers with a rich bribe of tasty and healthy honey, and will give lovers of beauty the filigree beauty of unusual sky-blue bell-shaped inflorescences.

Delicate petals of a sky blue hue and unusual shape give the inflorescence fragility and sophistication

Biological characteristic of the plant

The phacelia plant is a herbaceous single-crop culture of the Borage family, in natural form growing in the vastness of the American continent. Most of the species, and there are more than 80 of them, are annuals, but there are also perennial herbs.

The stems are erect, strongly pubescent, during the growing season they form a branched bush with many shoots of the second and third order, with a total height, depending on the variety, 25–100 cm. species with pinnately dissected leaf plate.

The flower corolla is a regular bell 2–3 cm in diameter with five petals and the same number of long stamens with large anthers. Phacelia flowers are collected in dense or sparse spike-shaped inflorescences, among which twisted curl inflorescences look especially original.

It is interesting! Each plant forms from 20 to 40 spike-shaped inflorescences, in total it is from several hundred to a thousand flowers per season. Thanks to this, the flowering period lasts up to one and a half months, supplying the bees large quantity high quality nectar.

Phacelia - photophilous plant, but successfully develops in shaded areas. It prefers light, well-drained soils, but if it does not receive any, it works to improve their structure.

Features of biology and vegetation of a plant determine its agricultural value.

1. Like legumes, this is a universal precursor for any garden and horticultural crops, filling the soil with organic matter and nitrogen in an easily digestible form.
2. The full vegetation period of grass from sowing to seed maturation lasts 80–95 days, so it can be planted at any time of the year and several times per season.
3. Phacelia has an enviable growth energy, in 40–45 days it gains the maximum amount of green mass, which, under favorable conditions, is up to 300 kg per hundred square meters.
4. The plant withstands frosts down to -9⁰ C, is not afraid of return spring cold weather, so it can be sown very early.

Types of phacelia

Despite the diversity of plant species, only a few of them are grown in European latitudes.

• Phacelia bell-shaped belongs to the category of annuals ornamental crops and will appeal to lovers of natural flowers. A low plant (20–25 cm) with succulent bluish-green leaves on long petioles and bright blue flowers, collected in loose brushes, will look amazing in the border, the composition of the flower lawn. The plant has several hybrid garden forms with increased decorativeness, its further selection is underway.
• Twisted phacelia is another unusual garden species. Each shoot of this plant ends with an inflorescence-curl, consisting of small blue flowers, from which, after flowering, no less decorative seed pods are formed.
• Phacelia ryabinkolistnaya, it is also tansy got its name because of the pinnately dissected leaves. It is this species that is recommended to be grown as a green fertilizer, fodder and honey crop. From one root it forms a bunch of stems up to 100 cm high, abundantly covered with leafy mass and fragrant flowers. The color of the petals of this species is more modest, gray-blue, but in flower groups the plant looks quite harmonious.
• Phacelia Pursha is a medium-sized plant (50–60 cm) with heavily pubescent foliage and small flowers unusual lavender color. It blooms for a long time, replacing faded inflorescences with new buds on lateral shoots.

Note! On sale there are seeds of perennial phacelia. These are quite rare, unusual species growing in the subalpine and alpine belt. Despite the difficulties of growing, they will certainly appeal to collectors of alpine flora.

Universal qualities of culture

Versatility is one of the most valuable qualities of this culture. Phacelia is also a honey plant, a source of green food for pets, improves the composition and structure of the soil, fights weeds and pests, while it looks great, smells, and serves as a decoration of the site. Consider useful qualities plants in more detail.

Green manure

The tansy-leaved phacelia is considered to be an almost ideal green manure crop. When sown on a hundred square meters of 150-200 g of seeds, it forms a thick green carpet within a few weeks after planting, and by the beginning of budding (40-45th day) it grows up to 300 kg of green mass. Due to its juicy consistency, the tops quickly decompose after mowing and embedding into the soil, enriching it with organic matter, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, microelements. The fibrous root system with many nitrogen-containing nodules contributes to the loosening of the soil, removes excess acidity.

In favor of green manure phacelia is the fact that planting a unit of green mass in the ground in terms of nutritional value is equivalent to introducing the same amount of mature plant compost or humus.

In order to make heavy clay or simply dead soil loose and fertile, it is recommended to grow tansy phacelia in one place throughout the year, making 2-3 crop rotations, starting in early spring. The grass is mowed 1–2 weeks after the start of flowering, the biomass is buried in the ground or used as mulch, the stubble is dug up and re-sown.

A big plus of phacelia as green manure is that it is not affected by pests.

Advice! Although the plant is considered drought-resistant, it can only grow a normal amount of leaf mass in conditions of good humidity. In regions with dry summers, it is recommended to sow the crop 2 times a year - in early spring and at the end of summer, sowing areas as the main crop is harvested.

Phytosanitary

Along with improving the structure, phacelia heals the soil. How does this happen?

• Fights weeds. A densely sown culture quickly rises and closes, displacing weeds with roots and shoots.
• Alkalinizes the soil, suppresses weeds that appear with high acidity (wood louse, horse sorrel, wheatgrass).
• The plant contains phytoncides, which repel some pests (leafworm, codling moth) and attract insects that eat them.
• Purification of the soil from the roots of wheatgrass helps to reduce, and over time, complete disappearance wireworm populations are thunderstorms of tuberous crops.
• Locust, some types of soil nematodes avoid neighborhood with phacelia rowanberry.
• The culture has a depressing effect on fungal, viral and other pathogenic microflora, serves as a prevention of late blight vegetable plants, root rot, scab.

honey plant

Beekeepers are not indifferent to fragrant culture. Phacelia fields during the period of honey collection from the continuous buzz of bees look like small power plants, and in terms of nectar productivity, the plant is second only to flowering linden. Striped workers collect 250-300 kg of honey from 1 hectare of crops during the season.

Phacelia honey - tender, tasty, fragrant, belongs to rare varieties highest quality, has many useful properties.

• Belongs to dietary products, it is indicated for people with diseases of the stomach, liver, low acidity, gastritis.
• Honey normalizes the functioning of the intestines, eliminates dysbacteriosis, and has a beneficial effect on the entire gastrointestinal tract.
• Heals ulcerative formations on the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum.
• Sweet natural product- an excellent tonic, calms the nerves, improves sleep, increases the body's resistance to disease, normalizes metabolic processes.

Phacelia honey is very elastic, slowly crystallizing, so it is often left to feed the bees.

Advice! If there are problems with pollination of garden and horticultural crops, plant bright blue islands of phacelia in different parts of the garden. Insects from all over the area will flock to your site.

ornamental plant

In decorative floriculture, Phacelia bell-shaped and its garden forms are often cultivated. In flower beds broken in natural style, other types look organic unusual plant, for example, F. twisted, F. Pursha.

Bright blue flowers are spectacular against a background of dark greenery, combined with white and yellow flowers- perennial daisies, heliopsis, yarrow, coreopsis, gaillardia. if you love moorish lawns(flower meadow instead of neatly trimmed grass), blue spots of phacelia on a multi-colored carpet will place accents, emphasize the pattern.

Due to the long flowering from June to September, a flower bed or lawn with phacelia looks elegant all summer, creates an atmosphere of peace, exudes a sweet honey aroma.

forage crop

You can use the tender and juicy phacelia grass for animal feed. In this case, it is recommended to grow it not as a monoculture, but in combination with vetch, peas, and others. leguminous plants. The green mass is nutritious and good for the health of animals, they quickly gain weight, do not get sick. Cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry love this feed mixture.

Wherever you sow phacelia - in a field or in a flower bed, near an apiary or in the aisles in the garden, it will benefit everywhere, it will please the eye and smell delicious.

Phacelia is an unpretentious annual herbaceous plant native to America. Valued not only as bright decoration gardens and personal plots. Phacelia is used as a honey plant with a long flowering period. In addition to this quality, the culture has numerous useful properties that contribute to the improvement and enrichment of the soil on which it grows.

Phacelia: description

Phacelia is a unique culture that has a wide range of useful properties. It is used by florists, beekeepers, farmers and landscapers of cultural zones. More often they grow annual phacelia tansy, as well as bell-shaped and twisted.

These plants describe its properties and value:

• Phacelia is a member of the borage family., including about 80 species.
• The pedigree of the plant originates from the southern and northern regions America. This characterizes the high adaptability of phacelia to the soils of the forest-tundra of North America and the fertile equatorial soils of South America.
• The plant is highly frost tolerant. and sudden changes in temperature.
• Depending on the species, the height is from 20 cm to 1 m.
• By appearance- herbaceous plant, with erect pubescent stems. The stem is either bristly-wavy or pubescent.
• The leaves, depending on the species, are coarsely serrated or entire. Their location is opposite or alternate. Mostly pinnately dissected or lobed.
• The flowers of the honey plant are collected in racemose, twisted or in the form of an umbrella inflorescence on short legs. The color of inflorescences of species and varieties of phacelia is diverse. It is located in the color range of the spectrum from lilac to almost white color.
• Flowering is long, falls on the first days of June and ends with the last warm days September. With the end of the growing season on the bushes, small plant seeds ripen, hidden in the heart of the seed box.
• The flowering of the honey plant depends on weather conditions: lower temperatures, rainy and cloudy weather reduce the release of nectar by the plant, so phacelia plantations in the south are more productive than those in the north.

twisted

tansy

bell-shaped

California bluebell

During the growing season, the plant develops a dense mass of greenery, which is used by gardeners in compost bins, it is added to the soil when digging, previously freed from seeds. Livestock breeders prefer phacelia grass and classify it as a high-vitamin feed.

Phacelia honey productivity

How much honey is obtained from phacelia and what is the seeding rate?

We will learn about the rich productivity of honey plant phacelia nectar by getting acquainted with the results of the control hive of apiaries in the West Siberian region:

The Altai Territory is rich in honey plant crops:

• Phacelia is sown on areas over 100 hectares, using it as a crop rotation crop.
• The collection of honey in the apiaries of state farms exceeds 70 kg per bee colony.

The results of the study of the Kemerovo experimental stations:

1. The largest amount, about 200 kg, was obtained in the second sowing period.
2. The previous sowing fell into a period of slight drought, which affected the amount of honey received.

Cultivation of a honey plant gives the household, in addition to priceless honey:

1. Profit from the sale of seeds, which are in demand not only among beekeepers.
2. It is also green fodder for livestock, which is high in calories. Cattle breeders prepare silage from this grass.

All farms using honey plant sow it in several terms. Phacelia blooms for almost three months, providing the maximum collection of honey.

Beekeepers especially prefer planting phacelia. This plant blooms all summer, feeding the bees with nectar during the day. Productive planting on fertile, well-fertilized soils

Beekeepers have long decided on the types and varieties of crops. plant flowers early dates blooms produce the most nectar.

The plant adapts well to climatic conditions and at the same time does not lose biological properties under conditions:

• Western Buryatia;
• Far East;
• Far North (on the Kola Peninsula).

In these regions, they control the profit of honey from one hive. The result exceeds expectations - in one day the figures reach up to 6 kg. During the season, beekeepers roam for plantings of phacelia, which are specially planted in different dates.

Culture on the territory of Russia cannot be found in wild nature. But as a very useful fodder plant rapidly gaining green mass, phacelia is cultivated by livestock breeders. AT agriculture the plant is used with maximum benefit as green manure and as a component of crop rotation.

How to grow more crops?

Any gardener and summer resident is pleased to receive big harvest with large fruits. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to get the desired result.

Plants often lack nutrition and useful minerals

It has the following properties:

• Allows increase yield by 50% in just a few weeks of use.
• You can get good harvest even on low-fertility soils and in adverse climatic conditions
• Absolutely safe

Phacelia honey properties

Characteristics of honey:

1. The value of honey is like that of linden.
2. Honey from phacelia flowers is almost colorless or has a slight greenish tint.
3. Crystallizing honey is white in color, with a light floral aroma and a very delicate taste.
4. The bees overwinter in the hives because the honey in the combs does not crystallize.
5. Honey collected in apiaries with plantings of phacelia has a huge range of active substances, minerals, carbohydrates, vitamins, which are shared with humans.
6. Delicate aroma of honey plant flowers, unusual taste makes this product a unique dessert on the table.

Useful properties of honey have long been used by traditional healers:

1. Phacelia honey is taken as a dessert additive to warm tea.
2. Hot tea destroys the beneficial properties of honey.
3. You can take honey with warm milk.

It must be remembered that phacelia honey - strong allergen And you can take it only after consulting a doctor.

Phacelia honey characteristics and storage conditions:

1. For a long time, honey retains its properties in a room with a temperature not higher than 10 0 С in wooden containers, except for coniferous products.
2. Metal containers are not suitable for storing honey. Good containers for storing honey are enameled and aluminum containers.
3. After one year of storage, the structure of honey changes. There is a decrease in the content of glucose and fructose in its composition, and the composition of vitamins and some active enzymes also changes.

Of the contraindications to the use of honey include:

• individual intolerance;
• diabetes;
• obesity;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In the photo: what honey looks like from phacelia of different shelf life

How to sow phacelia - technology

Collection of phacelia seeds

• After the seeds ripen, they begin to collect them and then plant them before the onset of cold weather.. The phacelia that emerged in the spring during the growth process will provide the soil with microelements and organic nutrients. The areas where phacelia grew are good for planting any crops.
• After the end of flowering, the melliferous culture forms seed pods. Seed pods should be collected from the bottom of the stems. In this part of the stem, the seeds will be the most ripe.

Place and soil for planting

Uniqueness honey plant lies in unpretentiousness to the soil on which it has to grow. Poor is not a problem: in the process of growth, she will find a way to enrich her, make fluffy loose and rich in useful elements.

On any soil, phacelia restores the balance of organic and mineral beneficial components of the soil on which it grows. Use as green manure helps improve soil composition to provide the necessary air exchange.

In order for the phacelia to sprout and grow, delighting the eye with bright greenery, and then with luxurious flowering, one condition must be met during spring planting - the soil must be moist.

When to sow phacelia?

Phacelia for any purpose is planted in early spring, after the snow melts until late autumn, before the onset of cold weather. However, it has been established that the fertile periods for flowering are from June to July.

It is obligatory to plant the seeds with soil to a depth of no more than 3 cm. The process of seed germination slows down in the light.

When planting a honey plant, agrotechnics are observed:

• Choose a site protected from strong dry winds well lit by the sun. Such conditions prolong the flowering of phacelia, increase the amount of nectar and pollen.
• The type of soil for planting a honey plant does not matter, but will respond well to planting in cultivated, fertilized soil.
• Weed the area before planting, since phacelia is intolerant of weeds. Until the honey plant grows, the weeds on the site are weeded out. mature plant will choke out the weeds.
• Honey plant grows poorly on rocky slopes.

Consider these nuances to get healthy plantings of phacelia, which are used for various purposes.

Video: how to sow phacelia by hand

Features of autumn planting

Phacelia refers to plants that can be sown at different times. Suitable for autumn and spring. At the same time, it is important that the seedlings do not fall under frost, even short-term negative temperatures are detrimental to it.

1. Autumn planting of a honey plant allows you to increase the time for collecting nectar by bees. In this case, landing should be done shortly before the onset of cold weather.
2. Do not allow seeds to germinate in late autumn, as there is a high probability of freezing them out.
3. Proper timely pre-winter planting of phacelia will ensure the emergence of seedlings immediately after the snow melts.
4. Winter plantings of phacelia make it possible to obtain enriched, loose soil already in the spring. Such areas can be occupied by the main crops, planting the main crops in the aisles.
5. Autumn sowing can be calculated in such a way as to get ripe seeds and prevent them from sprouting.

One and a half to two months after planting, the bees begin collecting nectar. After the end of flowering and the collection of seeds, the phacelia is mowed down, laying the plants in compost pits and sent to livestock farms for livestock feed.

The unique property of phacelia has long been used by farmers, livestock breeders and summer residents. The plant has the ability to change the structure of the soil, loosening the roots and making even rocky soil airy.

Features of spring planting

Phacelia seeds tolerate wintering well in properly selected temperature conditions and access to oxygen. Not needed for honey plant seeds Preliminary processing herbicides. This procedure is useless and can only harm the germination of seeds.

On an industrial scale, in order to sow a plot of 1 hectare, about 10 kg of seeds should be used.

When planting seeds on suburban area the following rules must be followed:

• Dig the soil and prepare the rows, the distance between which should be about 15 cm.
• Planting seeds should be carried out in moist soil to a depth of about 4 cm. It is important that the seeds are well sheltered from the wind before planting for the winter.
• Time spring planting not limited, this crop can be planted throughout the season until late autumn (October, November).

Many years of experience show that seeds obtained from plants planted in May have the highest germination.

Please note that a honey plant planted in autumn is best left on the ground. Having overwintered on the open ground, the green mass of phacelia will protect the soil from freezing, and with the onset of warm spring days digging it on the site will give an additional addition of fertilizer.

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Phacelia as green manure

The problem of soil enrichment in agricultural production and private economy is always relevant. Planting phacelia to solve this problem - profitable option. Thanks to the botanical features of phacelia, not only the soil benefits.

This plant is a real decoration of the garden, it grows not only in the sun, it feels great in partial shade.

Like green manure, this culture does not require special care:

• The culture is not affected by pests.
• Planted in the soil, phacelia grass is an excellent source of organic matter.
• During the season, several grass cuts for compost bins and soil incorporation are received.
• Phacelia is a valuable member of the crop rotation on the site. Plant it in the aisles of the main crops.
• The grown phacelia completely displaces weeds from the site.
• In addition to bees, honey plantings are also visited by predatory insects, which, simultaneously with the extraction of nectar, destroy harmful insects.
• Honey plant, also known as green manure, serves as an excellent food for livestock and birds.

After flowering and collecting seeds, the plant is cut, crushed and dug up the soil, adding the resulting mass. Such processing of the soil replaces the application of manure.

The plot, thanks to the phacelia, receives required amount organics and trace elements.

Rules for the care of honey plants

The crop, which is not picky about climatic conditions and soils, does not require special care during growth.

Therefore, there are few rules for care:

1. An important point is the mandatory watering of plantings before emergence.
2. The honey plant should be planted on permanent place , the plant does not tolerate transplantation and dies.
3. Sprouting needs to be controlled for this, the landing should be thinned out. This can be explained by biological features - it grows rapidly, forms many stems. Overgrown bushes will interfere with each other.
4. Phacelia responds well to top dressing. Honey plants are fed with complex fertilizers twice during the season.

Watering and fertilizing

• Phacelia reacts negatively to drought: the amount of nectar in the flowering honey plant decreases, the plant grows poorly, forms few new stems. Therefore, soil moisture in planting a honey plant is mandatory starting from planting seeds in open ground and before the onset of cold weather.
• favorably affects the development of the plant. To feed phacelia, organic, phosphorus and, as well as top dressing, which include trace elements in the form of boron and magnesium, are used.

Conclusion

Phacelia is a plant that performs several functions that are equally necessary for a person. It is not only an adornment of nature, it is noble in relation to everything that benefits a person.

A plot with depleted land sown with phacelia will be enriched with organic matter and trace elements during the season. planted after the honey plant will not lack fertilizer. In addition, with the phacelia decorating the garden plot, fruit trees will be better pollinated.

They show excessive interest in this plant and in every possible way seek out information about the features of the "nectar storage life". Our article will reveal some of the secrets of planting, growing and caring for phacelia, which will help everyone to get the most out of this plant.

Botanical description

Phacelia is a multi-species representative of the hydrophilic family, that is, water-leaved, which, according to various sources, has from 80 to 200 species.

The plant came to us from America and perfectly took root in our territories. But, unfortunately, not all species can grow with us. Only four varieties, which will be discussed below, are in the greatest demand. Phacelia are grown from seed, there are no restrictions as to when to plant them. Honey plant can reach from 20 cm to 1 m in height. At the beginning, its stems are thin, fragile and juicy, and after that they thicken and become hard.

Important! On each stem of phacelia grows up to 20 lateral shoots with many-flowered inflorescences. One inflorescence holds 20-40 flowers, and the whole plant - up to a thousand. The flowering period on plantations is from 20 to 45 days: first, the flowers bloom at the bottom, and then gradually reach the top.

Honey plant is easily recognizable by the blue-violet color of its flowers and the sweet aroma that instantly attracts. The duration of flowering of one nectar plant is about 3 days. After flowering, the plant is mowed and the soil is fertilized with it.
The main advantages of such a flower - it does not require special care, absolutely to the conditions, grows and sings quickly, blooms almost all summer, which allows you to collect a huge portion of honey and at the same time earthy useful microelements.

Species for growing in the garden

Phacelia has not only honey-bearing and beneficial properties for the soil, it is - great decoration your garden, which will help protect other plants from. Honey plant will decorate and fill it with enchanting aromas.

Not all types of phacelia are suitable for decorative landscaping. For growing in the garden, we recommend choosing the following varieties:

Where to plant phacelia

Phacelia is a universal flower for which there is no bad one. The plant can be planted anywhere. The only condition is that when sowing, the soil must be moist, otherwise the seeds may not germinate.
If you want to grow green manure in dry areas, you should carefully choose a land plot and choose one that is protected from excessive drought by shelterbelts or groves. In this case, moisture will be stored and accumulated.

Lighting

Important! Green manure seeds are harvested after the bottom of the boxes with curls of seeds turns brown. Seeds must be collected separately. Due to the fact that flowering occurs gradually (from bottom to top), for future sowing, only seeds from the lower part of the plant should be selected, since those at the top will not have time to ripen.

On large plantations, the honey plant is harvested with the help of combines. After beveling, the collected mass is threshed, winnowed, dried and cleaned on special equipment. Drying moisture should be 14% . On the small areas honey plant seeds can be harvested by hand.

Phacelia as green manure

Phacelia is one of the most affordable and effective (phytofertilizers). The plant increases, has phytosanitary qualities, enriches the soil

Among the sought-after annual honey plants, a herbaceous flowering culture - phacelia - is distinguished. The homeland of this representative of the water-leaved family is South and North America. According to the description, the plant has a lot of useful properties, it is actively used in landscape design, in the garden to improve the soil. Phacelia is also valued for fragrant flowers, which have a high nectar content. To understand the uniqueness of a flowering culture, you need to familiarize yourself with it in more detail.

Description and varieties of plants

Phacelia is a single crop, but there are also perennial varieties of it. In height, the plant can grow from 0.5 m to 1 m. root system belongs to the rod type, the lateral processes are thin, the depth of germination into the soil does not exceed 20 cm. The upright strong stem forms a large number of lateral vegetative organs. The shoots of the bush have a ribbed surface dotted with pile, bristles, painted in rich green color.

Leaf plates are distinguished by an ash-green color, they grow alternately or opposite each other (oppositely) on short petioles. Due to the close location, the plant looks thick and showy. The leaves attract attention with their lobed shape, there are also pinnately dissected. Veins are clearly visible on their surface. Most often there are leaves with serrated edges.

Observe the flowering of phacelia at the beginning summer season, its duration is 4-5 months. Each flower opens only for 1-2 days. Miniature buds are collected in dense inflorescences, curls, formed at the top of the shoots, 40-100 pcs. They are formed on peduncles or placed on short pedicels. Blue or purple corollas form a bell shape. The California bell is widely used - this is a type of phacelia, characterized by short stature and disease resistance.

The pollination process is carried out by insects. The ripening seed pods contain small seeds. Their content in 1 g reaches 2000 pieces.

There are several varieties of phacelia.

bell-shaped

herbaceous plant has branched erect stems up to 25 cm high, which are fleshy and fragile. The peel is distinguished by a red color and hairiness. Egg-shaped leaves grow alternately, along the edges of the teeth are formed unevenly, their length is 6 cm. Their color is bluish-green. In diameter, the flowers reach 3 cm, they are painted in deep blue or purple.

Phacelia campanula opens its flowers in June. Known varieties are:

1. California bell, distinguished by blue flowers that grow up to 25 mm in diameter. The leaf mass has a gray-green color and a fleecy coating.
2. Blue Bonnet, which has won the recognition of flower growers with its excellent decorative qualities and short stature, the height of the bush does not exceed 40 cm.

twisted

Phacelia flowers of this variety have a pronounced blue color and a pleasant aroma. The herbaceous plant grows up to half a meter, its vegetative organs are pubescent, the toothed leaves are painted in rich green. The size of the flowers is quite small, up to 0.5 mm. They are collected inflorescences-curls. The flowering stage begins in the middle of the summer season and continues until September. For growing this unusual plant, you should choose well-lit sunny glades with light soil.

Rowan-leaved

Another name for phacelia is tansy. The plant belongs to tall plantations, grows up to 80 cm (on average). On green stems there is a reddish tint, weak hairiness. Thanks to strongly dissected, feathery leaf plates, the bush looks quite original. The inflorescence is represented by a dense panicle, where the flowers are collected in a tight curl. The bell-shaped five-petal corolla is 2.5-3 cm in diameter. The pubescent sepals are densely arranged around its tube. The long stamens are purple, the anthers are dark shade. Petals are distinguished by a slightly pronounced purple color.

The plant has earned its decorative effect due to lacy foliage; its flowering phase lasts up to 8 weeks. It is possible to observe the opening of flowers already 40 days after planting the seeds in the ground.

Pursha

annual variety phacelia reaches a height of only 50 cm. The flowers are distinguished by an incredibly beautiful color, there are purple blotches and a snow-white core at the corolla. There are varieties with contrasting stripes or small spots. shades of blue. The size of the flowers does not exceed 3 cm. The flowering phase lasts the entire summer period. This type has established itself as vulnerable to diseases and whimsical to growing conditions. It is recommended to plant it in an area that is sufficiently illuminated and fenced off from through winds.

Useful properties and applications

Phacelia is a universal herb, it is actively used as a honey plant, a source of nutrition for livestock, to improve the composition and structure of the soil, to get rid of weeds on the site, to decorate flower arrangements. This is useful plant also able to reduce the acidity in the soil.

natural fertilizer

Phacelia pyzhmolistnaya is the best green manure. Sowing on one hundred square meters 150-200 g seed material, it is possible to obtain a high-quality green cover a couple of weeks after planting, and by the beginning of the bud formation phase - 300 kg of green mass. Juicy pulp allows the leaf mass to quickly decompose after being cut and sown in the ground, saturating it with organic composition, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and other useful components. The root system has a fibrous type and many nitrogen-containing tubers, due to which the soil is loosened on the site, and excess acidity is removed.

This green manure crop, when compared in terms of nutritional value, is in no way inferior to compost from leftovers. plant origin, humus. For the cultivation of heavy clay soils, as well as for the depleted, phacelia is grown throughout the year, producing 2-3 crops, planting work begins with the onset of spring. Grass cutting is carried out 7-14 days after the flowers bloom, the aerial part of the plants is buried in the ground or used as mulch. After digging up the stubble, the next planting of seeds into the soil is carried out.

The undeniable advantage of phacelia is its high resistance to harmful insects. Even though the plant tolerates dry weather quite well, a sufficient level of moisture is required to build up a dense leaf mass.

In regions where such conditions are often created, it is recommended to sow twice a year - in early spring and late summer.

Highly productive honey plant

Phacelia honey has an incredibly delicate taste and pronounced aroma, it is used for medical purposes: internally and externally. Among the useful properties of phacelia as a honey plant, note:

• increased immunity;
• prevention of colds;
• getting rid of sleep problems;
• treatment of stomach ulcers;
• saturation of the body with useful elements;
• improving the quality of memory;
• elimination of disorders of the nervous system;
• treatment of pathological conditions of the stomach and intestines;
• erectile dysfunction treatment;
• increase in hemoglobin in the blood;
• treatment of pathologies in the gallbladder;
• removal of attacks of nausea;
• improved lymphatic movement.

Phacelia honey has medicinal qualities - antibacterial, antipyretic and analgesic. Nectar productivity (honey productivity) averages 200-300 kg per hectare. The duration of the flowering stage in one nectar plant is 3 days.

Disease and pest control

Given culture not only effectively improves the structure of the soil, but also suppresses pathogenic microflora. In addition, the plant is capable of:

To ennoble flower beds, flower beds often use a bell-shaped variety of phacelia. Pursha, twisted, looks spectacular. Phacelia due to the long flowering phase (from June to September) is often planted in flowerpots, on verandas, balconies. It is used in circles around garden plantings, along borders, in rockeries, on alpine slide, between crops.

Phacelia flowers stand out with a bright blue color, which harmoniously look against the background of dark greenery in tandem with perennial crops: daisies, yarrow, heliopsis, coreopsis.

Phacelia, due to its versatility and uniqueness, is actively used by gardeners and gardeners. This is a relatively unpretentious plant, but to obtain the desired result, it is recommended to adhere to the correct agricultural practices.

Seed propagation in the garden strawberry familiar to us, unfortunately, leads to the appearance of less productive plants and weaker bushes. But another type of these sweet berries - alpine strawberries, can be successfully grown from seeds. Let's learn about the main advantages and disadvantages of this crop, consider the main varieties and features of agricultural technology. The information presented in this article will help you decide whether it is worth giving her a place in the berry.

Often, at the sight of a beautiful flower, we instinctively bend over to smell its fragrance. All fragrant flowers can be divided into two large groups: nocturnal (pollinated by nocturnal butterflies) and diurnal, whose pollinators are mainly bees. Both groups of plants are important for the grower and designer, because we often walk in the garden during the day and relax in our favorite corners with the onset of the evening. We are never put off by the fragrance of our favorite fragrant flowers.

Pumpkin is considered by many gardeners to be the queen of the beds. And not only because of its size, variety of shapes and colors, but also for excellent taste, useful qualities and a rich harvest. Pumpkin contains a large amount of carotene, iron, various vitamins and minerals. Thanks to the opportunity long-term storage this vegetable supports our health all year round. If you decide to plant a pumpkin on your site, you will be interested to know how to get the largest possible harvest.

Scotch eggs are amazing! Try to cook this dish at home, there is nothing difficult to prepare. Scotch eggs are a hard boiled egg wrapped in minced meat, breaded in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and deep fried. For frying, you need a frying pan with a high rim, and if you have a deep fryer, then it's just great - even less hassle. You will also need deep-frying oil so as not to smoke the kitchen. Choose farm eggs for this recipe.

One of the most amazing large-flowered tub cubanola Dominican fully justifies the status of a tropical miracle. Heat-loving, slow-growing, with huge and in many ways unique bells of flowers, cubanola is a fragrant star with a difficult character. She demands special conditions content in the rooms. But for those who are looking for exclusive plants for their interior, the best (and more chocolatey) candidate for the role of indoor giant cannot be found.

Chickpea Curry with Meat is a hearty hot dish for lunch or dinner inspired by Indian cuisine. This curry is quick to prepare, but requires pre-preparation. Chickpeas need to be pre-soaked in large quantities cold water for several hours, preferably at night, the water can be changed several times. It is also better to leave the meat in the marinade overnight so that it turns out juicy and tender. Then you should boil the chickpeas until tender and then cook the curry according to the recipe.

Rhubarb can not be found in every garden plot. It's a pity. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins and can be widely used in cooking. What is not prepared from rhubarb: soups and cabbage soup, salads, delicious jam, kvass, compotes and juices, candied fruits and marmalade, and even wine. But that's not all! A large green or red rosette of plant leaves, resembling burdock, protrudes beautiful background for one year olds. Not surprisingly, rhubarb can also be seen in flower beds.

Today, experiments with non-banal combinations and non-standard colors in the garden are in trend. For example, plants with black inflorescences have become very fashionable. All black flowers are original and specific, and it is important for them to be able to select suitable partners and location. Therefore, this article will not only introduce you to the range of plants with slate-black inflorescences, but also teach you the intricacies of using such mystical plants in garden design.

3 delicious sandwiches - cucumber sandwich, chicken sandwich, cabbage sandwich with meat - great idea for a quick bite or for a picnic in nature. Only fresh vegetables, juicy chicken and cream cheese and some spices. There is no onion in these sandwiches, if you wish, you can add an onion marinated in balsamic vinegar to any of the sandwiches, this will not spoil the taste. Having quickly prepared snacks, it remains to collect a picnic basket and go to the nearest green lawn.

Depending on the variety group, the age of seedlings suitable for planting in open ground is: for early tomatoes- 45-50 days, average maturation - 55-60 and late dates- not less than 70 days. When planting tomato seedlings in more than young age the period of its adaptation to new conditions is significantly extended. But success in obtaining a high-quality crop of tomatoes also depends on the careful implementation of the basic rules for planting seedlings in open ground.

Unpretentious plants of the "second plan" sansevieria do not seem boring to those who appreciate minimalism. They are better than other indoor decorative foliage stars for collections that require minimum care. Stable decorative effect and extreme endurance of only one type of sansevieria are also combined with compactness and very fast growth - Khan's rosette sansevieria. The squat rosettes of their stiff leaves create striking clusters and patterns.

One of the brightest months of the garden calendar pleasantly surprises with the balance of the distribution of favorable and unsuccessful days for working with plants according to the lunar calendar. In June, gardening and gardening can be done throughout the month, while the unfavorable periods are very short and still allow you to do useful work. There will be their optimal days for sowing with plantings, and for pruning, and for a pond, and even for construction work.

Meat with mushrooms in a pan is an inexpensive hot dish that is suitable for a regular lunch and for a festive menu. Pork will cook quickly, veal and chicken too, so this meat is preferable for the recipe. Mushrooms - fresh champignons, in my opinion, the most good choice for homemade stew. Forest gold - mushrooms, boletus and other goodies are best harvested for the winter. Boiled rice or mashed potatoes are ideal as a side dish.

I love ornamental shrubs, especially unpretentious and with an interesting, non-trivial foliage color. I have different Japanese spireas, Thunberg barberries, black elderberry ... And there is one special shrub that I will talk about in this article - the viburnum vesicle. To make my dream of a low maintenance garden come true, it's probably the perfect fit. At the same time, it is able to diversify the picture in the garden very much, moreover, from spring to autumn.