Velvet are very popular in Polish gardens. They look great in various floral compositions. For this they are resistant to diseases and pests, and their cultivation does not cause problems. Check what they look like and learn the secrets of the care of these phenomenal flowers.
Velvet are annual plants belonging to the Asthrowato Family. Naturally, they grow as wild specimens on both continents of America in a tropical and moderate climate.
These specimens look like little sunny. All because of flowers that can have a yellow, orange or red-brown color. They grow up to 60 cm high. Their other characteristic feature are small, feathered leaves with toothed edges.
Velvet attract insects with appearance and smell, i.e. bees or butterflies. They provide these pollinators with both food and shelter. In turn, they are a trap for nematodes that attack beets, onions, garlic, parsley, celery. That is why it is worth planting them not only in the garden, but also in the vegetable garden.
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Velvet have many, because over 40 species. The most popular include:
- a tearful velvet – her habit is erected, reaches 15 to 40 cm high, usually has one -color flowers and the most intensive smell;
- velvet erected – It can grow up to 120 cm. It is characterized by a smooth, erected and heavily branched stem. This variety creates large clumps that branch quickly;
- narrow -leaved velvet – It measures from 15 to 30 cm, has individual flowers that can be both one- and two-color. He creates spherical clumps, branching strongly.
Velvet can be sown to the pots in April, and to the ground in May, when the risk of frost is over. Place the seeds in small pots or plastic cups. They should be filled to 2/3 of the height with a special surface for sowing and quilting. Nothing prevents you from using ordinary garden soil.
There should be 2 seeds in each dish. We cover them with soil and water them, then place them in a warm place. When we notice the first leaves, then we overdo the specimens for larger pots.
Seeds can also be sown into the ground. At the beginning we put them in larger pots – they should stay in them until mid -May. We take the plants outside so that they get used to the conditions prevailing there. It’s best to do it a week before sowing.
We plant the velvet in a sunny or semi -drying position. They will cope in the shade, but their flowering will be much less abundant. Therefore, the best are southern and western exhibitions.
These plants prefer fertile, permeable soil with a slightly acidic, alkaline or indifferent reaction. It is better not to plant them in wetlands, because they will be exposed to rotting roots and above -ground parts.
Specimens tolerate drought well, but it is worth watering them regularly. We also recommend supplying them with fertilizer for plants flowing for intensive flowering.
In addition, they will bloom more abundantly if we remove their faded inflorescences. Otherwise, baskets with seeds will set up.
