Growing godetia from seed from planting to flowering

It is necessary to take care in advance that the flower garden would please the eye with a colorful carpet in summer. One of its worthy inhabitants is a smart godetia. Growing this plant from seeds is not particularly difficult. This herbaceous annual, which pleases the eye with lush flowers of various shades, is quite unpretentious in terms of planting and care. But finding out the main rules and tips for growing it will not be superfluous for every grower.

Planting seeds

Home godetia reproduces mainly by seeds. Before you start planting, you need to carefully examine them: are there any traces of rot and other signs of diseases on the grains. This applies both to seeds purchased in the store and to those harvested with their own hands last year. For prophylaxis, they must also be soaked for an hour in an intensely colored solution of potassium permanganate.

There are several options for how and when to plant godetia seeds. The choice of one of them depends on the weather conditions, the region of residence and the diligence of the grower. Plants planted with seeds directly into the ground bloom much later than those that appeared in the flowerbed already in the form of seedlings. But the first method does not require much effort and advance care.

Planting seeds directly into the ground

Before planting seeds directly in the ground, you need to wait until the weather is right. The thermometer should not drop below -5 ° C. In the middle lane, this time comes in May. Otherwise, the plantings may freeze, and seedlings will not appear. For additional protection, you can cover the planted godetia area with polyethylene, which is recommended at night.

The selected area of ​​soil must be dug up, loosened, weed roots removed from it and thoroughly shed with water. After half an hour, the earthen lump will dry out slightly, and grooves should be made 5 mm - 1 cm deep. For this, you can use the handle of a small garden hoe or just your finger. When the place is ready, it's time to start planting.

It is recommended to plant the seeds at a distance of about 20 cm from each other. Thanks to this gap, godetia bushes will not interfere with their neighbors to develop and bloom. Excessive moisture will not accumulate between them, from which plants may suffer. The main disadvantage of this method is that not all seeds can sprout. In this case, you will need to transplant the grown seedlings of godetia to an empty place.

Growing seedlings of godetia

In order for the godetia to decorate the flower garden as early as possible, you need to take care of growing seedlings in advance. This is easy to do at home. This will require a generic potting soil, which can be purchased at a hardware store or supermarket, a planting container (container), and pots.

The best time for planting is early March, when daylight hours have already begun to increase. The container should be filled with soil, additionally loosened and moistened. You can make grooves about 0.5 cm deep, or you can sprinkle the seeds at some distance from each other, and then sprinkle them with a thin layer of earth. To improve germination, it is recommended to cover the container with polyethylene to create a greenhouse effect.

Advice

Such a greenhouse should be opened daily for ventilation and watering.

The first shoots of godetia will not be long in coming: they will appear within 7-14 days after planting. The time comes when it is time to get rid of the film covering the sprouts.After the appearance of two leaves, you need to make a pick: carefully dig out the seedling, cut its longest roots and transplant it into pots: 2-3 plants in one, depending on the volume of the dishes.

In mid or late May, when there is no risk of severe frosts on the soil, godetia seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place. in open ground... To avoid root injuries, this must be done with an earthen clod. It should not be less than 20 cm from one plant to another. It is worth paying attention to the time of day: early morning or late evening is best, because then there is no bright sun in the sky.

Advice

When planting on a flower garden, you can put a little white clay in the hole: it will make the plant stronger, and its flowers brighter and more colorful.

On average, godetia blooms 3 months after planting. It should be borne in mind that plants grown at home must adapt in the open air, so at first they can weaken. They may need careful grooming and additional feeding.

Before winter

In some southern regions with warm winters, there are conditions when you can plant godetia with seeds in November. In this case, seedlings will appear as soon as the soil warms up to the required temperature. It is important that in the cold season the temperature is not lower than -5 ° C, otherwise the seeds will die. It is also recommended to additionally insulate the planting with mulch.

Care

Like any plant, godetia needs regular maintenance. If you provide suitable conditions for this beautiful flower, then you can count on the fact that efforts will be rewarded in full. And the requirements are not that complicated.

• The first step for godetia is to choose a suitable place on your site. She prefers loamy soils. The place for planting it should not be where moisture constantly accumulates - so the plant can lose its attractiveness or completely rot and die. This is a sun-loving flower, but it will also suffer from direct scorching rays: bright light causes the soil to dry out and leaves unsightly burns on the leaves. With an overabundance of lighting, the flowers become shallow and fade, and the godetia cannot show itself in all its glory.
• Godetia must be watered regularly, preventing the top layer of the earth from drying out. But you should not overdo it, so as not to ruin the plant. Everything is good in moderation! Also, the soil around the plant should be weeded and loosened regularly, providing air access to the roots. For some tall varieties, it may be necessary to build a support: an ordinary wooden stick or steel rod will do its job well.
• It is enough to feed godetia once a month. You can use organic fertilizers - ash, compost, humus, as well as water-diluted manure (1:10) or chicken droppings (1:15). Complex mineral fertilizers, fertilizers with a low nitrogen content are also suitable. To improve flowering, you can pick off already wilted buds and dried leaves. Also, godetia bushes should be regularly inspected for disease or pest infestation.

This plant is quite unpretentious, and in the summer months it more than rewards for attention to itself. With proper cultivation and care, godetia blooms profusely from late June to September inclusive. Its large tender inflorescences will add charm to any area.