Two main rules for growing Veronica spikelet

Due to its unpretentiousness, growing Veronica spikelet is quite simple and easy. This plant, pleasing with its flowering for more than one year, can reach a height of about 70 cm. Its long ear (up to 10 cm long) is a combination of small dense inflorescences, most often of a blue hue. Flowers can also be pink, blue or white. Growing Veronica with other flower crops makes it interesting to decorate rocky areas. And the cut flowers of this plant will decorate the room for a long time without any hints of wilting.

The healing function of the flower is also interesting - it is used for diseases of internal organs and colds. Some people manage to use the foliage of the plant as a seasoning for dishes. Veronica spikelet can predict rain - before that, sometimes quite unexpectedly, her flowers close. In addition, the plant is resistant to frost and therefore does not need shelter for the winter period.

Landing

Before planting a plant, it is important to decide on a site: it is desirable that the soil is light with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Veronica will also take root well on loam. This culture can get used to absolutely any soil. The main thing is that it is well-drained. The soil should have medium moisture - if it is waterlogged, the plant may die.

Advice! Drainage for the soil can be ordinary gravel, which must be mixed with the soil.

It is better to grow Veronica in a sunny place, the plant grows well enough in shaded areas. The distance between the planted bushes should be at least 30 cm - this avoids oppression of adjacent shoots due to competition for nutrients, water and light.

The plant is propagated in several ways:

• Stem cuttings

Growing flowers in this way involves preliminary harvesting of plant material - cuttings. Only young Veronica is suitable for propagation by cuttings, more precisely, its apical shoots. They are first cut off, and then either put in a container with water until roots form, or immediately planted in the ground. Once the petioles are rooted, they can be planted in a permanent place.

• By dividing the bush

This is the most common method for getting new bushes, as a new flower forms much faster than with other methods. It is better to plant the plant in this way once every 5-6 years when transplanting, but more often if desired. The best time for the procedure is early spring. It is important that by this moment the first leaves have already formed. You can divide the plant in early fall when the flowering period is over.

Initially, using a sharp tool, they cut out the entire upper part of the bush, which is located above the soil. After that, they dug out and with a shovel or knife divide the roots evenly into several parts. Each part must have at least three basal shoots. Each separated root is placed in pre-prepared holes about 10 cm deep and sprinkled with soil. Separated shoots can be planted either on a new site or on an old one, but previously fertilized.

• Seeds

Seed material is planted in late autumn immediately to a permanent place. If seeds are planted in the spring, they must first be stratified. Its essence lies in an artificial sharp jump in temperature, which will increase the germination of seeds.

This procedure is performed in the following order:

1. Put the seeds on the prepared soil and sprinkle with soil.
2. Moisten the ground with a spray bottle and cover the container with polyethylene with small holes cut out.
3. For 21 days, put this container in a cool place (even a refrigerator is suitable for this purpose).
4. Then place the seedling box in a warm, well-lit area.
5. In a couple of weeks, the first seedlings should appear, for which the usual care is carried out. It consists in timely watering, providing light and establishing the optimal thermal regime. The optimum temperature for growing Veronica is 14-15 degrees.

Advice! Seeds can be sown for seedlings by mid-spring in individual containers or common dishes.

Veronica spikelet begins to bloom only in the second year after germination. This season lasts almost a month and a half: from mid-June to early August. After that, it is time for seed formation. Here it is important to collect ripe seeds in time, otherwise they can crumble to the ground, and Veronica will grow where the seeds fall, and not where it is needed.

Care

Caring for Veronica spikelet presents absolutely no difficulty. It is as follows:

• Watering should be moderate as needed. The first year, when Veronica grows and develops, she needs frequent watering.

Important! Excessive soil moisture should be avoided, as this can lead to the formation of rot on the roots.

• Flower care also includes mulching. It helps to keep the soil moderately moist without additional watering. A layer of mulch prevents weeds from growing while making weeding easier.
• Tying - this procedure is often necessary if tall varieties are being grown.
• Top dressing: with good soil fertility, Veronica spikelet does not need frequent dressing. Over time, the amount of elements decreases, so it is necessary to fertilize the soil in spring with full mineral fertilizer. This procedure can be performed every couple of years. If the flower is grown on poor soil, then it is advisable to apply fertilizers more often - twice a year.
• Weed control is regular. If you ignore this aspect of care, then the flower culture will run wild, and this will negatively affect its appearance.
• Disease control and prevention are also included in plant care. Although Veronica rarely gets sick, you can occasionally observe downy mildew. To prevent its appearance, you need to remove faded spikelets in time.
• It is also important to divide the bush every few years in order to allow the flowers to develop in full force.

Advice! After the end of the flowering period, you can cut off the part of the bush located above the ground. This procedure will allow new young foliage to appear. As a result, Veronica will look beautiful even in autumn.

Basic rules for growing Veronica

To grow Veronica to be more productive, it is important to fulfill 2 main conditions:

1. Plant the plant in well-drained soil, as stagnant water in the soil can lead to death.
2. Remove dead shoots in time to prevent damage by pathogens.

The unpretentious Veronica spikelet can grow well both under the sun and in partial shade. The amount of light can only affect the brightness of the flowers. This plant is able to endure both short-term lack of moisture and prolonged rains. But after prolonged moistening, signs of powdery mildew infection may appear. Other diseases bypass this flower. It is easy cultivation and simple care that attract many flower growers who can devote a small amount of time to their flower garden. It is also attractive that the plant does not need shelter for wintering.