Calendula in cooking Mixed flower garden plantings with calendula

Today my story is about (marigolds), about this wonderful sunny flower without which I can't imagine my country cottage area. Abundantly blooming in summer, pleases us with its yellow-orange flowers in any weather.

In Italy, it is called the "flower of many months", since it can bloom from early spring and almost all autumn, and in Holland it is grown all year round. In addition, this flower has the most valuable medicinal and cosmetic properties. Recently I read that there is an ancient legend that tells about a certain miracle doctor who treated people with healing drinks.

He bequeathed after his death to bury a nail from his hand in the ground. His will was carried out and a magical flower-marigold grew in that very place, with the help of which many diseases began to be cured.

In our family, we have been using it with constant success for a long time. healing properties this magical flower. It has also been used for food for a long time. It gives dishes a somewhat pungent, tart taste and is very suitable for dressings and salads, making them more aromatic and savory.

Indoor flowers. Cultivation and care. Part 11 - Hippeastrum and clivia

Calendula can be used in the preparation of soups, served as a side dish for meat and fish. It is also successfully used in baking confectionery.

Liqueurs and tinctures, refreshing and tonic drinks are prepared from calendula inflorescences, and they are also used to flavor and color cheese. It has also been observed that calendula repels many dangerous pests, so it is very useful to sow it not only in flower beds, but also in different places vegetable garden, as well as next to berry bushes.

Calendula is a leader among medicinal plants and is one of the ten most cultivated medicinal crops. How medicinal plant it has long been grown all over the world, and since the 16th century, calendula has been planted as an ornamental crop.

It appeared in Russia in the 12th century. Now calendula is widely used in both folk and traditional medicine. Medicinal raw materials are dried inflorescences-baskets of calendula.

They contain proteins, vitamin C, carotenoids, essential oil, phytoncides, resins, tannins, bitter substances, organic acids (including salicylic and malic), mucus, a small amount of alkaloids, trace elements, provitamin A. Calendula has the following most valuable medicinal properties: bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and wound healing. It is successfully used in the treatment of liver, stomach and intestinal ulcers, gastritis, arrhythmia and hypertension. As an additional remedy, calendula is used for various oncological diseases.

Nowadays, there are many medicinal, decorative and cut varieties of calendula. Modern varieties of calendula amaze with a variety of forms - tiled, radiant, chrysanthemum, gerberoid and anemoid.

In height, stunted (15-30 cm), medium-sized (30-45 cm) and tall (50-85 cm) varieties of calendula are distinguished. Inflorescences of calendula are terry and non-terry. The most spectacular, of course, are terry, and the best of them are such varieties as: bright orange, golden yellow, orange, pale yellow with white stripes, dark orange, bright orange with a dark brown disc. Varieties of calendula with non-double inflorescences are as follows:, (unusual, overgrown tubular flowers in the middle, anemone inflorescences of bright golden yellow or dark orange color), (graceful anemoid inflorescences of golden yellow and orange color).

Growing calendula is not at all difficult, as it is unpretentious and cold-resistant (it can withstand frosts down to minus 5 ° C), tolerates transplanting very well even during flowering, and is resistant to many diseases and pests. The plant can grow on any soil, but it is best, of course, on fertile and moderately moist.

Calendula prefers open sunny places, where it can show itself in all its glory. In the shade and partial shade, it can also grow, but in such conditions the plants stretch and lie down, and the inflorescences become smaller and less bright.

It is also not recommended to grow calendula in the same place for a long time to prevent the development of diseases. We sow calendula seeds most often directly into the ground in early spring(in April-May) or before winter (in October).

With winter sowing, calendula gives earlier shoots, a developed bush and flowering occurs much earlier. Its seeds are large, sickle-shaped, light brown or dark brown, remain viable for 3-5 years.

Sow them right away permanent place to a depth of 2-4 cm. If we want to get single showy plants, then we sow according to the scheme 30x30 or 40x40 cm.

And if we decided to arrange paths or make a thick flower bed, then in this case it is necessary to sow calendula in grooves at a distance of 30-50 cm between rows and 6-10 cm from each other. After 7-10 days, shoots will appear at an air temperature of at least 8-10 ° C.

Then, after 2-4 weeks, the seedlings must be thinned out, leaving a distance of 15-20 cm between them. The planted plants can be used as seedlings.

AT open ground calendula usually blooms 50-60 days after sowing (mid-July), and for more early flowering it can be grown through seedlings. Caring for calendula is simple, it is timely watering, fertilizing, weeding and periodic loosening of the soil.

Before flowering, it would be nice to treat the calendula with the Topaz preparation against powdery mildew and other blotches. In order for the bushes to retain their decorative effect longer, it is necessary to regularly remove damaged leaves and withered inflorescences. At proper care and choosing a landing site, calendula blooms extremely abundantly and for a long time, until the very frost.

We start collecting inflorescences immediately after the start of flowering and continue harvesting for approximately 80-90 days. There are three collection periods: during the first inflorescence, they open every 3 days, in the second - after 4-5 days, in the third - even less often.

On average, marigold inflorescences-baskets can be collected at least 2 times a week. It is advisable to cut the baskets on warm, dry days, otherwise they will not dry well.

Marigold inflorescences of terry forms can be collected when the reed flowers are half or almost completely in horizontal opening, non-double forms - when 2-4 circles of tubular flowers bloom. Inflorescences must be plucked at the very base or with a remnant of a peduncle up to 3 cm long, so as not to damage the bottom of the inflorescence, which can then disintegrate during drying.

It is necessary to start drying the collected raw materials no later than 3-4 hours after collection in order to exclude its warming and spoilage. It is best to dry in a dryer at a temperature of 40-50 ° C and no more than 4 hours.

If you do not have a dryer, then you can also dry it outdoors in the shade, spreading the plucked inflorescences in a thin layer and turning them often. Also, warm, well-ventilated areas are suitable for drying.

Dried calendula inflorescences must be stored separately from other plants and not more than 1 year. You can store it in a plywood box, a cardboard box or a canvas bag in a dry, dark, well-ventilated area, avoiding moisture. warms us with its sunny color and strengthens our health. See you soon, dear friends!

Hello fellow gardeners! Do you know why many people grow calendula in the garden and flower beds? I will talk about this in today's article.

I will also tell you about how to grow calendula and what useful properties it has. But first things first... The motherland of calendula is Southern and Central Europe, as well as Asia. But despite this, a beautiful yellow-orange flower grows well in colder regions.

With its flowers, it pleases us, like the sun. I think a lot of people love him for that alone. In addition, this flower is very easy to grow. Often this plant is called marigold.

Marigolds (part 3), we dive (transplant) into diapers with a droplet.

And all because the seeds of calendula resemble the claws of animals. Different peoples found their use of calendula. Brave alchemists even tried to get gold by mixing other substances with the juice of flowers. Of course, they didn't succeed.

Ancient Greek doctors turned out to be smarter. They realized that marigold flowers had antiseptic properties and so they used them to treat wounds and insect bites.

A decoction of calendula was used for gargling (it is still used today). Now you can find these beautiful flowers in many yards. They are grown even in city flower beds.

What are the benefits of calendula for the garden?

Calendula in the garden - very useful plant. First, it attracts useful to the garden insects. True, aphids also love her, but this can also be used for useful purposes. For example, plant marigold flowers next to a garden plant, which can be affected by aphids.

In this case, calendula will act as a bait for these pests. Then the bush covered with aphids can be sent to compost. Secondly, growing calendula in the beds helps to scare away nematodes. Thirdly, calendula sown in the garden, with its smell, does not allow pests to find their favorite food.

thanks to marigolds cultivated plants are under protection. Only you must not allow this flower to flood the garden. For example, it inhibits the growth of watermelons, corn and melons.

How to grow calendula

Growing calendula is an easy task. So for a garden, including an ornamental one, it is best to choose the simplest, i.e. officinalis calendula.

It is this plant that has the best protective properties, which were mentioned above, and also germinates most easily and is not whimsical in comparison with varieties bred later. Marigold flowers are cold-resistant plants and can withstand frosts down to -5 ° C. They are also light-loving.

So that the calendula blooms early, sow it in the garden before winter. Seedlings should be thinned out. And don't let the weeds drown it out. If the weather is dry, you need to water the calendula.

At the beginning of flowering, it would be good to fertilize it with organic fertilizers, such as compost. For longer flowering, you can throw a few more seeds into the garden in May and June. You can also extend the flowering period if you pinch off the calendula flowers and prevent the seeds from setting.

Dry these flowers in dryers or in a well-ventilated area and then in winter you will drink healthy tea with herbs and "sunny" flowers. Closer to autumn, be sure to leave a few flowers for the seeds to ripen. Marigold seeds will disperse on their own and will grow in the same bed or flower bed the next year. You can also collect seeds to sow in another garden bed or flower bed.

How flowers are used

Calendula flowers have a very wide application. It is used for the preparation of cosmetics, decoctions, teas. Teas and decoctions are used in folk medicine. If you have a lot of dry calendula flowers, you can put them in vases or glasses and place them around the house.

This will disinfect the air, and the pleasant "suns" of flowers will give you a good mood on a cool day. In addition, calendula is also used in cooking. Moreover, both fresh and dried flowers are used.

In its fresh form, it is used to decorate dishes, as well as to prepare salads. It is only unnecessary to add it in larger quantities, as an unpleasant taste may result.

Calendula leaves are also used for salads, but also in small quantities. Dried marigold petals are often used as a substitute for saffron. Before using as a yellow dye, the powder of the petals of the marigold should be mixed with butter, sour cream or milk and then added to the dish.

Such a substitute for saffron can be used in the preparation of sauces, rice, pancakes and pastries. You can use calendula to dye fabric yellow. Also, calendula can serve as a simple barometer. Her baskets cannot bloom normally if the pressure drops. I hope you will now allow calendula to grow in the garden and flower beds, because it has so many useful properties.

Growing calendula from seeds is an easy task and should not be difficult. Let marigold flowers delight you and heal your garden! I advise you, dear readers, so as not to miss the publication of new materials on this blog. Best wishes, Gardensha How to grow calendula officinalis.

Calendula: care. Calendula: soil. Calendula: transplant. Conditions necessary for growing calendula.

MARIGOLD (Calendula officinalis)

Calendula officinalis, better known as marigold, is a typical annual. The plant needs bright light and develops very quickly.

Marigolds grow to a height of about 45 cm, they have a lignified stem with large quantity lateral shoots extending from the main stem. The flower buds appear singly, the flowers can be double or single and have a pale yellow, yellow or dark orange color.

The calendula flowers are strong smell; when cut, they last for more than a week. Calendula can be sown even in early summer, so the plant can be used to fill voids formed due to uneven planting of other plants. Seeds ripen early and new plants may appear in the same year. Popular varieties of calendula:"Radar" - dark orange double flowers with wavy petals (height about 45 cm). "Fiesta Gitana" (height 30 cm). "Orange King" (30 cm).

illumination: maximum possible.Temperature: seeds germinate outdoors at a temperature of 7 °C, indoors at 10 °C. If the temperature is higher, very good lighting is required. The plant can tolerate frost.

Calendula watering: the soil should be moist, but not wet. If seedlings have already appeared, they will survive even without watering. Air humidity: keep the plant dry.

Do not spray or water mature plant above. calendula soil: the plant survives even in very poor soil; suitable clay soil mixture.

Top dressing: start feeding 3 weeks after planting, then feed every 10 days, diluting fertilizer according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Marigold reproduction: When planting outdoors, calendula seeds are sown from mid-spring to early summer in pre-prepared containers.

Sow the seeds at a depth of about 1 cm at a distance of 10 cm from each other; subsequently, they must be thinned out so that the distance between plants is about 30 cm. In order for the marigolds to bloom as early as possible, sow the seeds at home in a bowl and keep at a temperature of about 10 ° C. Seeds will germinate in about 3 days.

After a week, transplant the plants and keep them in the light and at a temperature of 7 ° C. When the plants are about 7-10 cm tall, plant them outdoors in groups of 4 in a 30 cm container.

It must be borne in mind that marigolds are easily spread by self-seeding and for this reason can create some inconvenience. To prevent extra plants from appearing, remove wilted flower heads before the seeds ripen in them. Care appearance calendula: remove wilted flowers to prevent self-seeding.

Features of nail care

Hardening of seedlings. When you plant young indoor plants outdoors, you need to take some precautions to protect them. Place a pallet of seedlings close to the wall and cover them for the first few nights with a cardboard box or plastic.

In good weather, after a week, you can leave the plants open. Freezing won't hurt them. After about 10 days, transplant the nails into a permanent container. flower removal.

As soon as the nails fade, remove the flowers. Cut them off at the top of the stems. If they are left, self-seeding will occur, the seeds will germinate, and new plants will bloom in the same year.

plant description

This one has held up remarkably flower culture in our area, despite the fact that its homeland is Asia, as well as Central and Southern Europe. Gardeners have been cultivating these flowers for quite a long time, so their cultivation is successful even in regions with a constantly cool climate. Small calendula flowers, reminiscent of small suns (as you can see in the photo), will undoubtedly be able to decorate any area, whether it is a city flower bed or a summer cottage. economy. And, besides the fact that calendula adds brightness to flower arrangements, growing it from seeds is a very easy and affordable process.

How to collect seeds of "your" flowers

Of course, marigold seeds are sold even in the most ordinary flower shop. But for those who want to continue growing flowers already on the site, seed collection can be done at the end of August. The beginning of September is also suitable.

By that time, the marigold flower will no longer exist. Only cores with brown seedlings will remain. Ripe, they can be easily removed from the base.

Then, the collected seedlings of the culture will need to be dried. At home, they use cardboard box or a small box. They should be stored in a paper bag (envelope), in a place with minimal humidity and air access until spring arrives.

Planting methods

Calendula belongs to fairly hardy and frost-resistant plants that can withstand frosts up to -5 degrees. And so its cultivation is practiced in two ways.

Sowing seeds in open ground

As a rule, calendula seedlings are sown either in April or October. During spring planting, the readiness of the earth can be checked by a simple method: holding a lump of earth in a fist, it must be thrown from a height of one meter. You can start planting if the thrown clod easily disintegrated. Before planting, the soil is dug up and fertilized with humus, which dilutes the soil at the rate of 1 sq. meter - 3-4 kg of humus. You can also add one tablespoon of drugs:

• potassium sulfate; superphosphate; urea.

The fertilized soil is dug up well, and the surface is leveled with a rake. After that, sowing can be carried out. It is better to plant calendula in rows.

The grooves required for sowing should be about 1-2 cm deep. It is not recommended to make rows deeper so as not to reduce the germination of planting material.

It is necessary to leave 30-40 cm between rows for the most complete plant growth. Proper planting will show results already in 7-8 days. Residual germination can be observed for 10-11 days.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Growing calendula in this way is slightly more troublesome than sowing directly into the garden. But, this method allows you to achieve earlier flowering.

Also, using this particular method, it is most effective to grow undersized crop varieties. Sowing calendula seeds for seedlings is done at the end of March. Some varieties - in early April.

Use for growing small wooden boxes, or containers (pots). Landings must be kept in rooms where temperature regime corresponds to marks +14 - +15 degrees.

The first shoots will please the owners from 6-7 days after sowing. Calendula seedlings can be planted in a permanent place in the garden or in a flower bed as soon as it grows up and gets stronger. An indicator of this will be the leaves on the plants - when there are 5-6 full-fledged leaves, the seedlings are ready for transplantation. They will look like the photo.

The scheme that is suitable for planting seedlings in a garden is 30x30 cm. This way you will provide enough space for the roots, and the plant will grow and develop well.

Where is the best place to plant and how to care

Calendula is a light-loving plant, but it does not tolerate heat and drought well. As a rule, the results of improper lighting are small flowers and a short flowering stage. To prevent this from happening, it is better to choose a place where marigolds will be grown in partial shade.

Excellent calendula will grow in places where the soil is fertile. In this case, the soil should be nutritious, loose and light. Flowers of this culture are very fond of moisture.

During periods of drought, plants need to be watered about 3 times a week. Also, flower care should include regular removal of fading inflorescences. Thanks to this, a significant increase in the flowering of calendula can be achieved.

Throwing out such inflorescences is not necessary - you can use them as a medicine. Diseases that can harm calendula can be identified powdery mildew, different types spotting. To prevent plant diseases, they should be treated with special preparations. Carry out this procedure before the flowering of calendula begins.

The benefits of flowers

Since some varieties are not only medicinal, they can also be useful in the garden. So, for example, growing calendula near garlic and onions, or near strawberry bushes is considered useful.

Calendula is able to attract insects that are beneficial horticultural crops. The plant is no less useful for asters: it can protect asters from the “black leg” (rotting of the roots). Such flowers can scare away caterpillars, aphids, nematodes with their smell.

And some gardeners claim that by planting calendula flowers near potato bushes, you can reduce the number of Colorado potato beetles. However, it is worth remembering that this flower crop can reproduce in some cases by self-sowing. Therefore, when growing flowers in the garden, it is necessary to ensure that they do not “fill up” the entire area.

Autumn is coming and every gardener is preparing to produce the maximum number of cases that will bear fruit in the spring. It is important not only to harvest, but also to prepare the beds, store vegetables, and do autumn work in the garden. In the article we will talk about the most important works in the country, which should not be forgotten in September.

Autumn work in the garden

In the garden, as in the garden, you need to perform a number of activities:

• prepare trees and shrubs for winter period;
• apply the necessary fertilizers;
• to make a number of landings, which in the next season will please us with high results.

Everything takes time. Therefore, do not stretch the fun, let's get started.

Preparing trees and shrubs for winter

1. Too early to prune in September garden trees, the formation of shrubs. But comply sanitary norms costs. Remove broken and dry branches. Treat the cut points with either garden pitch or a mixture of clay and manure. Do not leave open areas. Insect pests will definitely take advantage of your negligence.
2. If the leaf fall has passed (depending on the region of residence, this is observed in some areas), do not try to remove the foliage. Only burn litter if it has been infested with pests or disease. Leaf litter will act as an organic fertilizer if it is decomposed in the near-stem hole. In addition to laying under the crown of a tree, fallen leaves will also fit for a greenhouse, greenhouses or compost heap.
3. You can whitewash trees. Why paint or whitewash trees? In winter, the sun heats brightly and sometimes damages the bark. Cracking occurs after freezing. In order to prevent the influence of the sun's rays in the winter and spring seasons, it is worth securing the bark. Whitewashing is carried out with lime. In solution some experienced gardeners add Ecogel and Farmayod. The preparations have a bactericidal effect and protect the trunk and skeletal branches from infections. If you know how much, then add sulfur. This stuff will repel rodents.
4. Treat bushes and trees by spraying with the following drugs: Bitoxibacillin or Lipidocid. With any processing, remember about the circles near the trunks. If the remaining insects, thanks to your actions, remain on the ground, they will certainly take advantage of the moment and return to the tree.

Feeding and watering

1. Fill the circles with water. Water abundantly, especially if no more watering is expected. By saturating the roots with moisture, you will provide your trees and shrubs with moisture for a long period.
2. Apply fertilizer. If you need to reduce the acidity of the soil - dolomite flour if there is not enough organic matter - compost or humus. Minerals are recommended to be applied in the spring. Do not feed trees and shrubs with fresh manure. It contains gases: ammonia and propane, which do not fertilize the soil, but cause irreparable harm. Microorganisms and worms do not live in such soil.

From fresh manure you need to prepare biohumus. Spread valuable fertilizer on a 20 cm high allowing area. Sprinkle with water, then with M-preparations, pierce with a pitchfork and cover with straw or sawdust. Future fertilizer will begin to breathe, steam will go. The formation of beneficial aerobic bacteria began, and the process of decay began.

When the gases escape, disappear bad smell, and the mass will acquire an earthy color - your fertilizer is ready. It is in this version that it is safe and even beneficial to your land. It can be applied both under trees and in warm beds.

Autumn work in the garden (video)

Autumn planting in the garden

Most summer residents are adherents of autumn plantings. What can be planted in September?

• raspberries;
• currant;
• gooseberry;
• fruit trees: apple, pear, plum, quince, cherry;
• garden strawberries.

The main thing during autumn planting is to act according to agricultural technology.. Process seedlings, properly prepare the soil, spill the ground. Some plants require cover with foil or spunbond. September for landings is a fertile time. There are no active frosts and temperature drops yet.

Preparing the garden for winter

In the autumn there is more trouble in the garden than in the garden. It is necessary to collect vegetable crops, clear the beds of weeds, prepare the soil for the next season. But we are practically experts! Let's work hard!

Harvest and preparation for storage

Those vegetables that need to be harvested in September are stored longer. In most cases, gardeners favor warm and sunny weather. It is possible to harvest the roots dry and avoid rotting processes. When harvesting vegetables, be sure to dry them for several hours in the sun., shake off excess soil, sort: large - small, whole - injured.

Collected in September:

• carrot;
• beets;
• potato;
• cabbage;
• and a number of other vegetables, depending on the timing of their ripening.

To ensure their long-term preservation, it is worth providing for boxes, preferably wooden. Lay the root crops in rows: small ones on the bottom, large ones on top.

Some summer residents sprinkle carrots and beets with sand. Do it or not, it's up to you. On the one hand, sand retains moisture, and the vegetable does not spoil longer. On the other hand, there are many harmful bacteria and microorganisms in the sand, which cause a rapid process of decay if an injured root crop is caught.

How to cover plants for the winter (video)

garden cleaning in autumn

1. First of all, we get rid of the remains of cultivated plants. If they get sick, we burn them. Just be sure to old barrel or other metal container, but not on the ground. Use the ash in the spring as a fertilizer.
2. We clear the garden of grass. In September, not all weeds bloom, you can have time if you haven’t done it in separate areas.
3. We lay out rotted, prepared in advance manure, peat, compost in the beds - the future fertilizer for plants.
4. We disinfect the territory spring plantings. You can use a solution of potassium permanganate for processing: 10 gr. per 100 liters of water or baking soda: 1 heaping tablespoon per 10 liters of water. Drain thoroughly. The second step is to use Fitosporin. Follow the instructions.
5. Change the soil in the greenhouse and greenhouses. Do not want to change - use bleach: 150 gr. per 1 m 2. Such processing is enough not to think about it for three years.
6. Remove the drip irrigation system so that it does not freeze. Remove thermostats from greenhouse doors and windows.

Planting green manure and fertilizing

Widespread use in the country found oats, white mustard, rye. If you have sandy soil in your area, you should not use rye. She will dry up the earth. It is best sown on clay and loamy soils. But white mustard is perfect.

After 20 - 25 days, you will be able to mow tops of useful herbs with a flat cutter or hoe, and plant them in the ground. You shouldn't dig. Green manure roots will be an excellent delicacy for underground inhabitants: worms and other insects. Eating the lower parts of plants, they will process them into biohumus. You will get a double benefit: organic fertilizer from tops and loose earth from decay products.

In addition to embedding green manure, you can mulch the ground. Suitable for mulch:

• rotted sawdust;
• hay;
• straw;
• compost;
• peat;
• humus.

What is the use of mulch in the fall, you ask?

1. You will provide the earth with natural organic fertilizer.
2. Mulch will play the role of a barrier for the melt waters, which in the spring wash out the top fertile layer of the earth.
3. Under such a "veil" you can save winter plantings.

Provided that in your garden in summer and autumn they grew and delighted with flowering marigolds, use them as fertilizer. Grind as much as possible, and dig up the ground. When planting flowers in the ground, remember that they will save your future plantings from nematodes, wireworms and colorado potato beetle. Marigolds have a frightening aroma. Many insect pests cannot tolerate it and leave such places. This fertilizer will improve your site.

Dry some of the "orange". In the spring and summer of the next season, you can make an infusion of them and spray cultivated plants that are affected onion fly, aphids, whiteflies and moth pests.

Autumn planting in the garden

What can be planted in autumn before winter? Often these are root crops. Having prepared the beds, you can sow radishes, carrots, beets, onions, garlic in the fall. This must be done before the first frost. Use mulch or spruce branches. If the frosts in your area of ​​\u200b\u200bresidence are severe, prepare covering material. For planting before winter, carefully select planting material, disinfect and, only after the above procedures, plant in the ground.

Autumn work in the country in September: what else is worth doing

In the fall, in the country, many gardeners do business, the results of which will be seen only in the spring or summer next year:

• clean, sharpen and sanitize equipment
• carry out minor repairs garden houses: whitewashing, painting
• repair fences, hedges, gates, utility rooms
• preserve vegetables and make jam
• dried apples and pears, grapes and plums
• cleaning greenhouses and household premises
• laying compost heaps

They try to have time to do as many things as possible so as not to be distracted in the spring, and to prepare for the winter. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. After all springtime- these are completely different chores: sowing seeds for seedlings, grafting measures, fertilizing, preparing plants and planting them, and a hardworking summer resident has many more worries.

What fertilizers to apply in the fall (video)

Having done all the work, gardeners can breathe a sigh of relief and a sense of accomplishment. The crop has been harvested, the land has been prepared, sanitary measures have been taken. It remains to drink a cup of green tea with the neighbors, say goodbye and go on a well-deserved winter vacation. After all, there are three working seasons ahead, a new harvest, pleasant chores, sun and good mood.

These flowers do not have a specific appearance, but will be noticeable anywhere due to their color and pleasant aroma. The properties of calendula have long shown the usefulness of this plant in medicine, and in cosmetology, and even in cooking. We will supplement the characteristic with the beauty of inflorescences and unpretentiousness in care, and we will get flowers that are pleasant in many respects, highly desirable for growing in summer cottages.

The benefits of calendula

Calendula (otherwise marigold) belongs to the Compositae family. This is a relatively low plant (from 20 to 70 cm), which, however, depending on the variety, can have a rather sprawling bush. Its inflorescences can be from 3 to 8 centimeters in diameter, double or semi-double and have a color from yellow to bright dark orange. Exactly calendula officinalis flowers and have in more those useful properties which are actively used by traditional and folk medicine.

Essential oil, phytoncides, resins and organic acids are far from a complete set of what is part of the plant. Due to the presence of these substances, it is formed, namely its

• anti-inflammatory
• antibacterial (antimicrobial)
• soothing properties.

From the plant make decoctions for the gastrointestinal tract. Flowers are actively used to wash wounds, abrasions, cracks in the skin, frostbite or burnt areas of the body. The benefits of calendula are also visible in cosmetology: marigold-based products are actively used for acne and unnecessary freckles on the face and body.

Application of calendula

The dyes that make up the petals are used in cooking as food coloring. They, for example, tint some varieties of cheeses.

Flowers can be bought at a pharmacy, or you can grow them in your own flower bed, because it is calendula officinalis that is a cultivated plant for planting in summer cottages. In addition, these flowers are unpretentious and bloom until frost.

Growing calendula

If the weather is relatively warm, marigold seeds can be sown in open ground already in late April - mid-May. The first shoots should appear within a week. Like marigolds, calendula blooms in 60-70 days from the appearance of the first shoots. Flowers love rich soil, but grow well in ordinary soil with at least a little fertilizer.

Marigolds can be planted in flower beds, borders, borders, hanging boxes. Direct sunlight is desirable. But even in partial shade, the plant will develop and bloom. Watering is done as needed. In open ground, calendula can generally only manage with precipitation.

Calendula flowers are used as medicinal raw materials. They begin to be collected at the flowering stage, without waiting for the appearance of seed pods. So the plant will be further stimulated to a new flowering.

Growing calendula can also be produced with the help of seedlings. The plant has a powerful root system capable of self-healing, so it tolerates picking and transplanting well. It is possible to plant calendula seeds in closed ground (boxes, greenhouses, greenhouses) a month earlier than the usual planting dates, that is, at the end of March - April. In this case, the plants will bloom much earlier.

If autumn has already replaced the hot summer, this does not mean that you need to relax and hide away all gardening equipment. This is the time when you need to have time to spend everything compulsory work so that the site successfully wintered and was ready for a new harvest. The soil layer needs to be restored and improved, it needs to take a break from the summer planting. Trees should be left without dry leaves and especially fruits, rotten parts should be removed from them. In a word, there is enough work, and we will talk in more detail about what exactly the preparation of the garden involves in the fall: what to do in the fall in the garden and garden?

Preparing the garden for winter

Preparing the garden in autumn for winter

Just in autumn, the last harvests are completed, namely, parsley, cabbage and root crops - beets and carrots. If they are properly dried, then it will be possible to store and enjoy the taste of vegetables all winter.

All other parts and remnants of vegetation must be removed, the soil must be freed from weeds. Don't rush to throw them away! Place temporarily in compost pit to be used later as a highly effective fertilizer. Experienced gardeners recommend enriching the soil by sowing rye - it is rye that will saturate the earth with macronutrients and prevent weeds from germinating. Fewer and fewer garden owners agree that the garden needs deep digging before winter. The new direction was named organic farming, and it involves the creation of a balanced ecosystem in its area. Instead of digging, the soil is loosened using a Fokin flat cutter. After that, mulching is carried out with the addition of sawdust and ash, and green manure plants are planted.

Siderates are plants that allow you to improve and restore the composition of the soil, as well as eliminate weeds. For example, the same rye fights late blight, oats prevent root rot, and soy, clover and sweet clover saturate the earth with nitrogen.

In some areas where winter does not indulge in warm weather and rains, it is recommended to plant vegetables in the garden. You need to use swollen seeds - dill, onion, garlic and parsley. If the soil temperature has not dropped even below three degrees Celsius, and there have not yet been frosts in the air, then planting these seeds will give excellent and early shoots of greenery with the arrival of the first heat.

September and October are the most suitable months for attracting bears for the winter. To do this, dig holes up to 0.5 meters deep in the gardens and fill them with manure. As soon as frosts come, manure must be scattered around the site, thus destroying those bears that have settled down to winter.

The soil near berry bushes and fruit trees should be dug up, but earthen clods should be left. So the earth will freeze, and all pests in it will die.

Preparing the garden for winter

All fruit trees in the garden they need to be cleaned of old hardened bark. Cover the area around the tree with a large sheet, peel off the bark, and then burn it. The soil between growing trees needs to be loosened, fertilized, and covered with mulch on top. In addition, fruit trees need pruning, and this must be done before the temperature drops to 5 degrees below zero. Branches that have begun to break or crack should be removed, as well as diseased and those that grow inside the entire crown. Do not leave rot, lichen or moss on the trees, as pests settle there for the winter.

Bulbous plants do not like cold weather, they are harvested until the end of winter for storage. But such flowers as cornflowers, chrysanthemums, primroses, poppies, calendula, phloxes are just better to plant at the end of October. You need to plant seeds in areas where there is no stagnant water.

Trees in the garden need whitewashing. For this, a solution prepared from clay with lime is used. Raspberry bushes need to be gently bent to the surface of the earth and covered with a warm cloth to help transfer very coldy.

If there is a lawn in the garden, it also needs to be taken care of. It is better to mow the grass on the lawn in mid-October, then by the first frost the grass will have time to crawl through. The lawn can be fertilized for the winter using potash fertilizers.

When nighttime temperatures begin to approach 3-5 C, it's time to cover the grapes for the winter. Press down its branches with boards. Then fill them with earth from all sides with an embankment up to 40 centimeters

All fallen leaves should be removed from the site. Someone thinks that you should not touch it, and it will protect the roots in the upper layers of the soil. This is allowed only if at the discretion of the gardener, if the trees have not suffered scab, powdery mildew and other diseases, the pathogens of which remain on the fallen leaves.

If autumn is dry, then the soil in the garden and vegetable garden may dry out before the onset of frost. This should not be allowed, so water-charging watering is done. The near-stem areas are watered with an amount of water at the rate of 50 liters for one square meter land, but not immediately, but 10-15 liters every hour. So there will be no stagnation and rotting of the soil, and moisture will be distributed evenly.

So that rodents do not damage the trees, the trunks can be wrapped with unnecessary nylon tights up to half a meter in height. Well, if there are evergreens in your garden, then remember that they do not tolerate snowfalls and accumulations of snowdrifts on the branches. To protect the branches, you can tie them up, as well as regularly shake off the snow cover from them.

trunk circle fruit trees for the winter also needs to be processed.

Preparing a garden for winter, and a garden, is a painstaking task. Take it seriously.

Perhaps every child knows these cheerful red "daisies", they are so widespread everywhere: they are easy to meet not only in gardens and kitchen gardens, but also in school yards, in kindergartens, in city flower beds and in the courtyards of residential buildings. Who, if not calendula, will so steadfastly withstand the raids of girls, famously picking bright fragrant flowers for their jewelry: wreaths, beads, rings and other “equipment”.

Calendula or Marigold (Calendula) - herbaceous plants Astrov family. most popular decorative look is Calendula officinalis (Calendula officinalis) - annual plant, height from 20 to 80 cm. Flowers most often have a yellow or orange color. The whole plant has a peculiar, refreshing aroma. Due to its medicinal qualities, calendula has long been used in both folk and official medicine.

So I know nails exactly as long as I can remember. These flowers are so familiar that I can’t imagine any garden without their presence. In early childhood, I was entrusted with burying hooked marigold seeds, along with nasturtium, in balcony boxes. Later, I remember, when you come to the village in the summer, you pick up a whole bowl of fragrant little suns and steam them with boiling water in a bathhouse - the aroma is simply amazing. Indeed, it is believed that by inhaling the smell of calendula flowers, you get rid of all sorts of bad thoughts and even headaches. And how uplifting is the brilliance of its orange petals! This plant is a real antidepressant.

What could be easier than growing calendula?

Well, perhaps only - nothing at all growing. The ability of nails to adapt to different conditions habitat, any flower can envy. This is one of the most suitable plants for beginner gardeners, both small and large.

Any fertile garden soil and open sunny areas are suitable for planting calendula. Although it also feels good in partial shade, especially in the very heat, and at this time it looks much more cheerful than those plants that grow in the sun.

Calendula is a cold-resistant plant that tolerates temperatures as low as -5. Therefore, it is possible to start sowing as soon as the soil is ready, without fear of returning frosts. Also marigolds can be sown before winter. In the future, they will carefully sow themselves, that is, multiply by self-seeding. I forgive them this prank, and marigolds grow on my site, not embarrassed where they please, even in beds with other plants. In addition, plants tolerate transplantation well at almost any age, so it will not be difficult to identify them in the right place.

By the way, the neighborhood of calendula brings great benefits to most garden plants:

• boosts their immunity
• disinfects the soil on which it grows, which prevents the appearance of root rot vegetable crops, garden strawberries, colors
• helps to fight some pests, for example, scares off the scoop and cabbage fly from planting vegetable and ornamental cabbage. Also, its neighborhood will be especially useful for potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants.

Care calendula requires minimal.

And yet, I noticed that more decorative varieties calendula, in particular, with red densely double inflorescences, are more demanding on nutrition and lighting, and will not refuse to feed with complex mineral fertilizers for flowering plants. In order for the bushes to always look vigorous, lush and bloom profusely, they need to be watered at the hottest time, otherwise they will lose all their decorative effect: the flowers will become smaller, the terry will disappear, the seeds will quickly begin to set and flowering will stop altogether. When the heat recedes, growth will, of course, resume, and the plants will regain their former charm. But after all, we want them to be like this all season, so for this we water them in a drought.

Collect calendula flower baskets as often and as much as possible, do not be afraid to harm its decorative effect, because the more actively you do this, the more beautiful the plant will become, delighting with bright, abundant flowering right up to the frost.

Properties of calendula, pleasant and useful.

By collecting flowers, you will not only diversify your collection of home cosmetics, but also replenish your family first aid kit. The main properties of calendula officinalis are: bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antispasmodic and choleretic effects. It is used in the treatment of diseases of the mouth and throat, liver and gallbladder, dermatitis, burns, cholecystitis, neuroses. Helps to cope with headaches, dizziness and irritability, as well as improve immunity.

All decorative varieties of calendula officinalis have medicinal properties. But what brighter flower, the higher the content of active substances.

Flower baskets of marigolds are dried in the shade under a canopy or in dryers at a temperature not exceeding 50 ° C. When they begin to crumble with light pressure, drying is complete.

If you like the aroma of marigold flowers, then another savory seasoning in your kitchen may become more.