Garden godetia. Godetia: growing, planting, care. Master class: growing godetia seedlings and planting in the ground

I cannot imagine a garden plot without a flower bed and a flower garden, flowers enliven and bring special paints in the harsh everyday life of the gardener. This article will be devoted to one of the most beautiful annuals - godetia. This charming girl burns with a bright fire in my garden until the very frost.

This plant has earned special attention to itself not only for its beauty, but also for its own unpretentiousness to growing conditions.

It is not for nothing that godetia is called the flower of passion, every year it is reborn from a tiny seed with indestructible energy and a thirst for life, turning into a lovely plant.

The closest relative of godetia is clarkia, both plants are Cypriot plants, although they are completely different. Godetia has been attracting flower growers for many years with its bright large buds and long flowering.

The graceful plant is often used on mixborders, flower beds, balcony boxes and outdoor flowerpots. Godetia grows well at home. It is a cold-resistant annual with an erect, abundantly pubescent stem, well branched, linear-lanceolate foliage.

Plants are spreading or narrow pyramidal with many azalea-like flowers, which are white-pink-red shades, simple or double, 4-10 cm in size.

The most common among gardeners are two types of godetia, which in turn have a huge number of varieties. Each of them is distinguished by its own external data: the shape of the foliage, the color of the petals, the height of the bush.

The godetia is adorable, representing a slender annual up to 60 cm high. Bell-shaped, sometimes cupped flowers can be simple or double-shaped with petals as if from satin. Flowering lasts from July to late September.

Large-flowered or azalea godetia - this bush branches strongly, making it well suited for decoration not only garden plot, but also rooms, loggias and terraces. The flowers are large, double, reminiscent of an azalea. Blooms until frost.

Requirements of graceful goderation for growing conditions

Godetia cannot be called a capricious plant. For the full development of it, a well-lit area of \u200b\u200bloamy land, protected from strong winds... Tall varieties also need reliable support. The only thing that godetia does not like is the abundance of precipitation; in wet summers, the plants become weak.

The flower loves moderate watering, waterlogging is not good for it, so it is advisable to arrange good drainage when growing. An excessive amount of nutrition causes an excessive growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering, so there is no need to be zealous with fertilizers - once a month a full mineral complex is quite enough.

For more abundant flowering, it is necessary to tear off the faded inflorescences in a timely manner, otherwise the formed ovaries will weaken the godetia, not allowing the buds to open fully.

It is recommended to leave a limited amount for collecting seeds. The seeds ripen a month after the beginning of flowering, the darkening of the capsules is a signal of their readiness. They are torn off, dried and stored. The germination period of the planting material lasts for three years.

How to grow godetia from seeds

Godetia is grown by a seed method, you can plant it immediately in the chosen place, or you can accelerate the flowering period and grow seedlings first.

Landing in the ground

• The seeds of this flower are not afraid spring froststherefore, for an earlier flowering, they can be planted immediately after the snow melts. From the beginning of April to the end of May, it is high time for sowing, and podwinter sowing also gives positive results.
• To begin with, they prepare a bed so that the soil settles well and the smallest seeds do not die;
• The grooves should be at a distance of 10-12 cm from each other, and their depth should not be more than 5 cm;
• Thinning crops is a rather tedious task, especially small ones. Therefore, it is better to plant at once less often, and when they become stronger and reach a height of 7 cm, you can remove extra bushes, leaving the distance of 20 cm optimal for their development.
• Sowing before winter is best practiced in regions where winter is not so severe. Sowing is carried out in November, in grooves not exceeding 1 cm deep. Before sowing, the seeds must be disinfected and thoroughly dried. Then the plantings are covered with a thin layer of mulch and additionally covered with black plastic wrap.

Godetia seedlings

Naturally, the seedless growing method is much simpler. No need to fiddle with seedlings, drag and drop them from place to place. But despite this, the seedling method has one important advantage.

It is connected with the fact that this culture has a long growing season: the period from sowing seeds to the beginning of flowering is almost 90 days. For an annual, this is quite a lot. That is why seedlings are preferred.

This flower is not particularly demanding, but is often attacked by pests. To increase its vitality, seeds must be disinfected before sowing. For this, for at least an hour, they are kept in a dark solution of potassium permanganate.

• It is necessary to plant godetia seeds for seedlings from the second decade of March, it is advisable to plant each seed in an individual dish. And due to the fact that this culture does not tolerate transplantation, it is better to use peat pots or plastic glasses 15 cm deep as dishes, which you will not mind cutting later.
• Disinfect the planting containers thoroughly, fill with a good layer of drainage and top up the soil. Water well, wait until it is completely absorbed and spread the seeds over the surface of the soil.
• Sprinkle them on top with a thin (no more than 50 mm) layer of sifted peat and, without pressing down, close them with polyethylene.
• Place crops in a warm place. When the first shoots appear, remove the film.
• And they will appear after 10 days. Water the plants very sparingly, so as not to provoke fungal diseases. It is necessary to illuminate at least 12 hours a day.
• From the beginning of May, seedlings can be taught to daylight and air. Gradually, starting from 1-2 hours, take them out into the street, bringing the "walks" to full daylight hours. When the weather outside becomes warm, you can leave them overnight.

The grown seedlings are transplanted into open ground in May, when the threat of night frosts will not be terrible. The plant is carefully placed in the prepared hole without disturbing the clod of earth. A little humus is poured onto the bottom of the recess.
Next, the hole is slightly covered with soil and well moistened. During the first week, the planting pit should not dry out.

It is advisable to mulch the seedlings with any organic material, for example, grass without seeds is well suited.

Before the seedlings are planted in the ground, they are regularly watered, without bringing the earth to dry out. Fertilize it during this period with a full complex twice: after breaking through the seedlings and 7 days before transplanting to the flower bed.

Due to the fact that godetia does not like to be disturbed by its roots, carry out all transplantation activities before the roots of the plant fill the entire space of the pot.

Seedlings of godetia are stretched: what to do?

Most likely, the plant does not have enough lighting and free space... This problem can be solved by moving containers with seedlings to a brighter place, if this is not possible, install lamps for additional lighting.

If the planting is thickened, then cut the plants into separate pots, while reducing watering. One week after planting, feed the godetia with half the flowering fertilizer.

Try to give preference to undersized, compact bushes, the height of which does not exceed 30 cm. Such individuals will feel good on the windowsill. Compact plants with large delicate inflorescences look especially luxurious.

Dangers on the way

• The most common danger to godetia is root rot. Its appearance is caused by too abundant watering and stagnant water. Diseased bushes will have to be pulled out and destroyed.
• Small spots on the leaves indicate the presence of peronosporosis, you can cope with it with special fungicides.
• In areas that are not weeded, the plant is often damaged by leaf-eating pests, therefore, in order to prevent their appearance, remove weeds and loosen the ground in time.
• Fleas and aphids often attack the godetia. To deal with them most effectively with the help of insecticides, you can also use folk remedies... For example, prophylactic treatment with a solution of ash and laundry soap, a solution of birch tar gives good results.

Godetia is difficult to be indifferent to. Its incredible flowering, bright, as if silk inflorescences will harmoniously flow into any group planting of flowering and decorative deciduous plants. The bloom of godetia lasts for three days; its wonderful aroma, reminiscent of vanilla, is a pleasant addition.

Among other things, this crop is perfect for cutting, especially if you add a little citric acid to a vase of water. And the variety of shapes and colors will suit any florist's taste, because this graceful lady can revive any flower bed.

Garden flower godetia (Latin Godetia) Is a herbaceous annual of the Cyprian family, which includes about twenty species, growing mainly on the American continents. The birthplace of godetsia is considered to be Southern California. The godetia plant was named after the famous Swiss botanist Ts.H. Year, who first studied and classified godetia. Since the 60s of the XIX century, the plant has confidently taken its place in the gardens of Europe. The advantage of this garden plant is its unpretentiousness and beautiful silky flowers, similar to azalea flowers. The flowers of godetia have similarities with the clarke, also belonging to the Cyprian family.

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Planting and caring for godetia (in brief)

• Landing: sowing seeds in open ground in mid-April or before winter: sowing seeds for seedlings in late March or early April, followed by planting seedlings in open ground in late May or early June.
• Bloom: from July until the first frost.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• The soil: wet loam of neutral or slightly acidic reaction.
• Watering: regular, moderate to profuse.
• Garter: only for tall varieties.
• Top dressing: once a month with a solution of a complete mineral fertilizer for flowering plants.
• Reproduction: only seed.
• Pests: caterpillars, aphids, slugs.
• Diseases: peronosporosis (false powdery mildew), root rot, rust, fusarium.

Read more about growing godetia below.

Godetia flower - description

Godetia's stems are erect, branched, reaching a height of 20 to 60 cm and forming neat bushes - spreading or pyramidal, depending on the species and variety. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate, entire. The flowers are bell-shaped or cupped, rather large in size - from 3 cm to 10 cm in diameter, simple, consisting of four petals, or double - collected in a brush. The color of the flowers is white, red, carmine, peach, pink, purple, there are varieties of combined colors. Peduncles are short. The fruit is a tetrahedral cylindrical box in which very small seeds ripen, which do not lose their germination for three to four years.

In the photo: Striped garden godetia flower

In addition to the godetia itself, its numerous hybrids are also used in culture: azalea, dwarf, double and bushy godetia varieties. Godecia blooms from July until the very frost and easily copes with temperature changes.

Growing godetia from seeds

Sowing godetia seeds

Godetia is grown exclusively from seeds, and this method of propagation is not particularly difficult for flower growers. So how to grow godetia from seed? Godetia seeds can be planted directly in open ground, or you can play it safe and sow seeds for seedlings.

If you decide to sow seeds right on the site, it is best to do this in mid or late April, in southern regions godetia is sown in the ground and before winter, but in any case, the seeds must be kept for half an hour before planting in a weak solution of potassium permanganate in order to protect future seedlings from infection with diseases.

A slightly acidic or neutral loamy soil on an area located on the sunny side of the garden is most suitable for godetia. Dig up and moisten the soil before sowing, apply mineral fertilizers and wood ash, as well as humus at the rate of 5 kg per 1 m². Then sow the seeds to a depth of 0.5 cm so that there is a distance of at least 25 cm between the plants in the flowerbed. If you want seedlings to appear in a week, cover the planting with plastic. Too densely sprouted seedlings will need to be thinned out.

Why is the seedless method better than the seedling method? The fact that when planting seedlings in the ground and even when diving, some of the plants are injured and die.

Seedling godetia

Sow seeds for seedlings in late March or early April in containers with drainage and loose nutrient soil. Small seeds mixed with sand are scattered over the surface and covered with a thin layer of soil, then a film is pulled over the container to form a greenhouse effect. Remove film briefly every day for airing and, if necessary, to moisten the soil.

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In ten days, shoots will appear, and the film can be removed completely. When the seedlings have two real leaves, they dive: carefully dig up, shake off the soil, shorten roots that are too long and transplanted into separate pots, three in each.

Planting godetia

Planting godetia in spring

In late May or early June, seedlings that have reached 5-7 cm in height are planted in open ground together with an earthen clod so as not to damage the roots of the seedlings. This should be done in cloudy weather, early in the morning, before sunrise, or in the evening, after sunset. The distance between seedlings should be 20-25 cm: the taller the variety, the greater the distance between the specimens.

In the photo: Pink godetia

Planting godetia before winter

Towards winter, godets are planted only in places with mild warm winters, and so far only as an experiment. Florists prefer to sow seeds directly into the ground, to avoid losses during transplanting and picking seedlings. It is believed that plants grown from seeds sown in late autumn are better adapted to the environment and more resistant to diseases and pests.

Godetia care

The soil around the grown seedlings of godetia must be loosened and weeded for faster growth - this will provide the roots with room for growth and eliminate unwanted neighbors. Watering exercise of medium abundance, but regular. Godetia varieties that grow above 60 cm so that the stems with flowers do not break, it is advisable to tie them to supports - wooden pegs or metal rods.

Planting and caring for ageratum: growing conditions in the garden

For abundant flowering, godetia needs feed complete mineral fertilizer with low nitrogen content once a month on average. For this, for example, a solution of nitrophoska at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 12 liters of water is suitable.

Godetia after flowering

How to collect godetia seeds

Godetia seeds ripen within about 30 days after flowering ends. As soon as the boxes begin to darken, they are cut off, dried, then opened and shaken out the seeds, which can be sown before winter if you live in the south, or store them until next spring. We remind you that godetia seeds retain their germination for about four years.

In the photo: Raindrops on a godetia flower

Types and varieties of godetia

Godetia grandiflora (Godetia grandiflora)

It is a compact bushy annual with slight pubescence. In culture since 1867. Stems reach 20-40 cm in height, erect or recumbent, fragile, woody by the end of the growing season. Leaves are lanceolate, tapering towards the base. Large - up to 10 cm in diameter - flowers are cupped or bell-shaped, collected in leafy brushes at the ends of the shoots. Silky petals are colored pink, red, crimson, white, lilac, scarlet, dark red. Varieties of this species bloom from July to October. On the basis of the species, hybrid varieties, both tall and dwarf, were created, used for borders. The most common varieties:

• Weiser Schwann - undersized spreading bush 30-35 cm in height, shoots, green in the upper part, have a brown tint at the base. Broad-lanceolate leaves, satin-white cupped flowers 5-6cm in diameter, whole-edged petals;
• Orange Room - medium-sized semi-spreading branched variety 40-50 cm tall with reddish-green shoots. Narrow-lanceolate leaves, flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, broadly bell-shaped with entire petals, red-orange in color.

In the photo: Abundant flowering of godetia

Godetia adorable (Godetia amoena)

The plant is 60 cm tall, the stems are erect, smooth, fragile, semi-lignified by the end of the growing season. Leaves are narrow-lanceolate, pointed. Bell-shaped or cupped flowers up to 5 cm in diameter with satin, spatulate petals, painted in red-pink, raspberry-lilac color or in various shades of red. Blooms from July to September. In culture since 1814.

Godetia (Latin Godetia) - a genus of herbaceous annuals of the Cypriot family, common in South and North America. There are about 20 species in the genus. The genus got its name in honor of the famous botanist from Switzerland Ts.H Gode, who was the first to describe this plant. Godetia's famous relatives are Ivan-tea and Clarkia. This flower appeared in European gardens in the 19th century, and immediately became popular among both professionals and amateurs.

Godetia flower - description

In height, erect branched stems of godetia reach from 20 to 60 cm.The plant forms sprawling or compact bushes of a narrow pyramidal shape. The leaves of the godetia are alternate, entire, lanceolate. Reaching a diameter of 3 to 10 cm, simple or double, cupped or bell-shaped godetia flowers with petals of pink, white, carmine, purple, lilac, red or salmon-pink hue are collected in a brush that gradually lengthens as new buds form. The godetia fruit is a box-shaped, four-sided, cylindrical box with many seeds that remain viable for up to three years. Under optimal conditions, godetia in a flower bed does not lose its attractiveness for several months - from early July to late October.

Sowing godets for seedlings

The godetia plant propagates easily by seed. When to sow godetia seeds in the ground? In the southern regions, we sow godets in the garden before winter, but in areas with a long and cold spring, sowing is carried out from mid-April to early May. If you want to see the flowering of godetia as early as possible, you must first grow its seedlings at home, and when the soil warms up well and warm weather sets in, transplant the seedlings into a flower garden.

For seedlings, godets are sown at the end of March in a container about 15 cm deep with a well-structured seedling substrate, which is spilled with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate two weeks before sowing. Godetia seeds are also preliminarily kept for half an hour in a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate, after which they are dried, mixed with dry sand, evenly distributed over the surface of a moistened substrate, sprinkled with a thin layer of dry soil, which is immediately moistened from a spray bottle, and the crops are covered with film or glass. They are kept awaiting germination at a temperature of 20-22 ºC, daily briefly raising the cover to ventilate and remove condensation.

Godecy seedling care

Shoots of godetia may appear in 2-3 weeks, and as soon as the first shoots appear, the container is transferred to a place protected from drafts under bright diffused light. Don't catch a cold on your seedlings: even short exposure to cold air can kill them. Growing godetia at this stage consists in watering, which is carried out as the upper layer of the substrate dries.

At the stage of development in seedlings of two true leaves, they are dived 2-3 pieces into separate sterile containers, if necessary, shortening the central root, but no more than a quarter of the length, and after another two weeks, when the seedlings become comfortable and grow up, they are fed with a fertilizer solution Ideal for flowers.

Planting godetia in open ground

When to plant godetia in the ground

Two weeks before planting seedlings in a flower bed, the seedlings begin to harden. The procedure consists of daily walks in the open air, provided that the seedlings are protected from direct sunlight and drafts. Gradually duration air baths increase until the seedlings can be outside around the clock.

The godetia is transplanted into the garden when the threat of return frosts has finally passed - at the end of May or beginning of June. By the time of transplanting into open ground, the seedlings of godetia should reach a height of 5-7 cm, but there should be no flowers and buds on the seedlings: you need to have time to transplant the seedlings to the flowerbed before they begin to form peduncles. The transplant is carried out on a cloudy day, but if the weather is sunny, then transplant early in the morning or after sunset.

How to plant godetia

Godetia prefers sunny areas and moderately moist, nutritious, humus loams. In dry and clayey soils, the plant develops poorly. To improve the composition of the soil, at least two weeks before planting the seedlings (and preferably even in the fall), shovels with fertilizers at the rate of 300 g of wood ash, 5 kg of compost or humus and 2 tablespoons of Nitrofoska per 1 m² of plot are dug to the depth of the bayonet. Immediately before planting seedlings, the plot is leveled and dug holes in it at a distance of 25-30 cm, one and a half times larger than the root system of seedlings with an earthen clod. Godetia really doesn’t like when her roots are disturbed, and can be ill for a long time, therefore, the seedlings are transplanted by transferring the entire contents of the pot into the hole, after which the remaining space is filled with soil, the surface of the site is compacted and watered. For the first two days, it is advisable to protect the seedlings from direct sunlight.

Godetia garden care

How to care for godetia

Planting godetia and leaving open ground behind it garden plant you will not be tired at all, since they do not require any special knowledge or special skills. The plant needs to be watered, fed, excess ovaries and wilted flowers must be removed from it, the earth must be loosened around the bushes and weeds are weeded. Tall varieties require support. Here, perhaps, are all the wisdom of care that even a novice florist can master.

Watering godetia

Timely and sufficient soil moisture in the area with godetia is the most important point of caring for this plant. The soil in a flowerbed with godetia should not be dry, however, waterlogging is fraught with trouble, so try to balance watering the godetia. By the way, if forecasters predict an abnormally hot summer, it is better to plant godetia in partial shade, and then it will be much easier to maintain the soil in a state of moderate moisture. To moisten the soil in the area with godetia, water heated in the sun is used. After watering or rain, you need to gently loosen the soil around the bushes, while removing the weeds.

Top dressing godetia

Godetia is fed with a mineral complex three times per season. The first feeding is carried out a week or two after planting the seedlings in the ground. The plant reacts well to a solution of 1 tablespoon of Nitrophoska in 10 liters of water, and after the godetia plant begins to form buds, it will need feeding for flowering plants with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

Reproduction of godetia

Godetia is propagated by seeds. You already know how to grow seedlings and how to transplant them into a flower garden. But you can sow the plant directly into the ground. IN middle lane godetia is best sown in spring - late April or early May: this flower crop normally tolerates cold snaps down to -5 ºC. Seedlings appear in two weeks, and they are thinned out, observing a step of 15 cm. In the future, the seedlings are looked after in the same way as the seedlings planted in the ground.

Godezia in autumn and winter

Godetia is an annual culture, therefore, after the loss of decorativeness, its plant residues are removed, and the soil on the site is dug to the depth of a shovel bayonet.

Godetia pests and diseases

Godetia diseases and their treatment

Most often, godetia in the ground suffers from root rot and peronosporosis, or downy mildew.

Root rot - fungal disease, progressing against the background of waterlogged soil. Signs of rot damage are slow development of the plant, drying out of its leaves and the appearance of constrictions and brown spots on them. In the end, the sick godetia will lie down, and it is impossible to save her. Affected specimens must be removed as soon as possible, and the irrigation regime must be reviewed. To protect still healthy bushes from fungus, water the area with a solution of any fungicidal preparation.

Peronosporosis, or downy mildew, is also a fungal disease, which can be diagnosed by the formation of slightly convex blurry spots on the upper side of godetia leaves - colorless, yellowish, red-brown, yellow-brown or purple. Sometimes spots are surrounded by a weakly pronounced border. On the underside of the leaves, under the spots, a delicate bloom of a powdery, gray or gray-violet hue appears. Sick leaves wrinkle, and sometimes even curl, dry out and die off. Shoots are also stained, deformed, dry and cracked. The buds crumble or open into ugly flowers. The infection is destroyed during the growing season with a solution of Abiga-Peak, Oxychom, Previkura or a 1% Bordeaux mixture, and it is unlikely that this disease can be defeated at once, therefore, the treatment should be repeated after 10-15 days.

Godetia pests and control of them

Of the pests, leaf-eating insects are dangerous to godetia, which can appear on a plant weakened by poor care if melons are grown nearby. They destroy pests with insecticidal preparations, and to reduce the risk of their appearance, promptly remove weeds from the site.

Types and varieties of godetia

Most often, two types of godetia are grown in culture.

Godetia adorable (Godetia amoena) - a graceful plant up to 60 cm high with slender erect and fragile stems, which begin to lignify by the end of flowering. The leaves of the lovely godetia are lanceolate or pointed. Bell-shaped or cupped flowers with a diameter of about 5 cm with satin-like spatulate petals are colored red, lilac-crimson or reddish-pink. The plant has been cultivated since 1814.

Godetia grandiflora (Godetia grandiflora) comes from Southern California. It is quite possible that this annual, highly bushy plant, covered with a fine downy, is a natural hybrid. Fragile, smooth and woody by the end of flowering stems of this godetia can be erect at a height of 20 to 40 cm or recumbent. Entirely lanceolate leaves taper towards the base. Cup-shaped or bell-shaped flowers up to 10 cm in diameter with silky shiny petals are collected in the final dense racemose inflorescences located in the axils of the upper leaves, and are painted pink, white, scarlet, red, crimson or purple. Abundant flowering of large-flowered godetia lasts from early July to October. This species has been cultivated since 1867. It is represented by many hybrid varieties, among which there are tall and dwarf plants... By the number of petals in the flowers, the godetia is terry and simple. This species has an azalea flower garden form. The best varieties large-flowered godets:

• Blitzstral - medium-sized branchy plant 45-60 cm high with lanceolate leaves and green shoots with a brownish-red tint. The flowers are cupped, simple, up to 6 cm in diameter, with dark red petals slightly wavy at the edges;
• Weiser Schwann - Sprawling highly branched bushes up to 35 cm high with broad-lanceolate leaves and green shoots, brown at the base. The flowers are cup-shaped, simple, up to 6 cm in diameter, with entire satin-white petals;
• Feuerkenig - compact bushes 20-25 cm high with narrow-lanceolate leaves and green with pink tint shoots. Flowers up to 4.5 cm in diameter, bell-shaped, simple, red with a small white spot at the base of each petal;
• Sybil Sherwood - compact bushes up to 40 cm high with lanceolate leaves, green shoots with a pink tint and semi-double flowers up to 5 cm in diameter with salmon-pink petals with a lighter solid edge;
• York - Sprawling bushes up to 40 cm high with broad-lanceolate leaves, reddish-brown shoots and simple cupped flowers up to 6 cm in diameter with whole-edged carmine-purple petals with a white base;
• Meteor - compact bushes up to 30 cm high with lanceolate leaves, green shoots with a reddish-brown shade and wide-bell-shaped double flowers up to 7 cm in diameter with solid, but wavy at the edges, dark scarlet petals;
• Rembrandt - compact spherical bushes up to 35 cm high with broad-lanceolate leaves, green shoots with a pink tinge and double flowers up to 6 cm in diameter with pink wavy and finely cut petals along the edge with a carmine spot on each;
• Orange Room - medium-sized, spreading bushes up to 50 cm high with narrow-lanceolate leaves, green shoots with a reddish tinge and simple broad-bell-shaped flowers up to 5 cm in diameter with entire dark red-orange petals.
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Anyone is capable of conquering godetia forever. Planting and caring for her is not much more difficult than any garden flower, and there is a whole sea of \u200b\u200bjoy from the fruits of your labor. That's right - a sea of \u200b\u200bbright colors of the most unexpected colors, pleasing the soul and the eye until frost.

Godetia varieties

Large-flowered godetia.

A shrub plant of the Godezia family, native to Southern California. Some scientists believe that it is of hybrid origin, but so far they do not have precise evidence. The branches of the flower are usually either lying or erect with slight pubescence. At the end of the flowering period, they begin the process of wooding. By the way, their height does not differ from the main type - not less than 10 to 20 centimeters.

Terry godetia.

Terry godetia includes different varieties of varieties that have not simple smooth petals, but terry ones. Such bushes look especially beautiful and elegant, which is why gardeners are very fond of them, and landscape designers often use them in the gardener's space.

Godezia "Monrach".

Godezia "Monarch" is one of the dwarf plant varieties. Its height does not even reach 20 centimeters, and the bush is very compact. Unlike other varieties, "Monarch" tolerates cold well. The flowers are also small - only 4-5 centimeters in diameter. Seeds are sown in open ground at a level of 0.5-1 centimeters, and after the first leaves appear, 3-4 bushes are transplanted into one container. At the beginning of spring, when transplanting to open ground, a distance of 20-25 centimeters is observed between seedlings.

Godetia flower description

Outwardly, godetia is similar to claria, but it has more spectacular and large flowers. Different varieties of godetia differ in color and size of flowers, as well as the height of the bushes (20-60 cm). There are varieties with double and simple flowers of different colors: salmon, carmine, pink, red, orange, lilac. Any flower bed with godetia will look unusually colorful.

Flower shops offer 2 types of godes:

• Lovely Godetia.
• Large-flowered Godetia with their many quarrels and hybrids.

Growing godetia from seeds

Typically, godetia is grown from seed. In this case, planting is carried out either in open ground or on seedlings. The seeds of the plant remain viable for 3 years. It does not require special preparation for landing. To protect the godetia from pests and diseases, before sowing, the seeds are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. In winter they are stored in a cool and dry place.

Seedlings are planted in late March - early April. To grow it, take a regular flower pot or container. Place a drainage layer on the bottom and fill with dry soil. Water the soil and allow the water to fully absorb before planting seeds.

The seeds are spread over the soil surface, covering them with a small layer of soil. Then, cover the pot with plastic wrap, forming a mini greenhouse. Remove the film for 30-40 minutes every day for airing. If necessary, moisten the soil with a spray bottle.

After 2 weeks, when the first shoots appear, remove the film completely. It is not worth covering the planting with a thick layer of earth, it is enough to lightly sprinkle it with soil - a few mm. It is not necessary to thin out the godetia, it perfectly tolerates transplants. When grown in seedlings, the transplant is carried out together with the soil in which it grew.

The distance between flowers in the flowerbed should be about 20 - 25 cm. Before flowering, do not forget to periodically feed the godetia, especially if the cultivation is carried out in a greenhouse or on a balcony.

Godetia blooms from early July to late October. If you want the flowering to be more active and lasting, do not forget to regularly remove the faded buds and dried leaves.

Planting godetia in open ground

Godetia is grown only from seeds that can be sown directly into the soil or for seedlings. The seeds can be harvested by yourself or purchased from the store. Godetia seeds ripen within a month after flowering. Mature boxes darken. They are cut and dried.

The germination of the collected seeds is maintained for 4 years. Flower shops offer a large selection of godetia seeds and hybrids.

Seedling planting

Seeds for seedlings should be sown in the last days of March using a container with nutritious and loose soil and drainage holes. Small godetia seeds are mixed with sand and scattered on the surface, lightly sprinkled with earth. The container with crops is covered with glass or foil.

It is important not to forget to regularly ventilate the "greenhouse" and moderately moisten the soil from the sprayer. Approximately 10-12 days after the emergence of seedlings, the "greenhouse" can be opened.

Over time, the seedlings, which have acquired two real leaves, dive into separate containers, three pieces each. In the last days of May, plants that have reached about 6 cm in height can be planted in open ground.

It should be remembered that godetia can hardly tolerate any transplant. It is necessary to plant seedlings in a garden very carefully, together with an earthen clod, trying not to damage the young roots. It is advisable to transplant in the early morning or evening in cloudy weather.

Godetia outdoor care

Godetia belongs to unpretentious plants, planting and caring for it is quite simple. But it is very important to her correct watering... With excessive watering and dampness or severe dryness of the soil, it will be stunted and may even disappear. Water it as needed so that the soil is always slightly moist.

It is necessary to apply fertilizers once every 2 weeks or once a month, this will depend on the fertility of the soil in your area. For this, special complex fertilizers are used for flowering annuals or nitrophoska.

Of course, godetia care includes removing weeds with loosening the soil. You can reduce this work by mulching the soil around the plants.

Tall varieties need to be tied to a support.

This flower does not need special pruning. You can trim some shoots a little for better bush formation. For abundant and prolonged flowering, it is necessary to constantly remove dried flowers, since new buds will appear in their place.

Subject to the simple rules of growing godetia from seeds, she rarely gets sick. But with neglect of planting, excessive moisture can be affected by fungal diseases. In this case, fungicides will come to the rescue. But if root rot is damaged, the diseased plant must be immediately removed from the flower bed, treatment is useless here.

Sometimes, in the presence of weeds, godetia can also suffer from leaf-eating insects. Timely weeding and mulching will help to avoid this.

How to collect godetia seeds

To get high-quality planting material, you need to collect and store the seeds on time. They mature within a month after flowering ends. At this time, the boxes darken.

Cut them off and lay them out to dry in a well-ventilated place under a canopy to keep them away from direct sun rays... The optimum temperature for drying is + 25… +30 degrees.

And when the boxes are dry, put them in a linen bag and knead it in your hands. Then pour the mixture into a low container and very gently blow off any remaining chaff. Store the seeds in a paper bag at room temperature. If there are several varieties of godetia, do not forget to sign their names.

Diseases and pests of godetia

On weedy soils, godetia is severely damaged by leaf-eating pests (aphids and flea beetles), so you need to monitor the cleanliness of the plantings, preventing the development of weeds. And if the pests have already appeared, then they can be dealt with in the usual ways: by spraying with insecticides and a soap-ash solution.

Godetia can be attacked by rust and peronospora. They are caused by fungi, which then lead to spots on the stems and leaves. Suitable fungicides are used for pest control. If root rot appears, then the plant must be completely removed before it infects healthy plants.

It is believed that the flower originally grew only in North America, in particular in Southern California. There are about 20 subspecies of godetia. The plant is named after its discoverer, a Swiss biologist, who was able to classify and study the nature of this flower. The merit of Gode was the popularity and recognition of the attractiveness of the plant, which contributed to its early spread among many European gardens by the middle of the 19th century. The main positive qualities godetia is not only its impeccable appearance, but also simplicity in the process of cultivation and care. The offensive allows you to start planting flowers.

General description of godetia

The flower has low branched stems, the average height of which varies between 30-40 cm. The godetia grows as a bush, neatly and collected, in the form of a pyramid or spreading - it depends on the species. The plant blooms in cup-shaped inflorescences, resembling bells of considerable size. Their diameter can reach 10 cm. Shades of petals have the richest palette, but the main colors are white, red, pink, peach, and purple. It has relatively short peduncles. Seeds ripened in a cylindrical fruit capsule can be stored for about 4 years, since during this period they will not lose their germination. Many varieties are common, bred in a hybrid way, among which are azalea, bushy, double and dwarf varieties of godetia. Growing from seeds, when to plant seedlings and other issues of interest to people who are not indifferent to street ornamental plants, will be discussed below.

How to grow a flower from seed?

The most in a simple way growing flowers for all gardeners, perhaps, can be called seed. In the course of its implementation, the least difficulties usually arise. In addition, godetia, due to its resistance to sudden temperature changes, can be sown immediately on open area... Although, if there is no certainty about the stability of weather conditions, then it is better, of course, to play it safe and prepare the seedlings first. The godetia grown from seed, when planted in Siberia or other northern regions, also depends on the arrival of heat. At the same time, experts recommend sowing the plant in open ground not earlier than mid-April, or even at its end. At the end of winter, you can start sowing in the southern area. However, wherever godetia is planted, its seeds must be protected from possible infection with many diseases by keeping them in a weak solution of manganese for no more than half an hour.

When choosing a place for plant growth, it is worth stopping in an area where direct sunlight falls without obstacles. The flower will be comfortable in neutral or slightly acidic soil, which it is advisable to prepare appropriately before sowing. First, the earth must be dug up and given a sufficient amount of moisture. Secondly, it is desirable to enrich the soil with wood ash, mineral fertilizers, humus. A suitable depth for planting is considered half a centimeter, observing an intermediate distance of more than 20 centimeters. The appearance of the first shoots can be accelerated by covering the soil with a film. If the seedlings begin to germinate too thickly, it is imperative to thin out the planting.

In fact, the seedless method of growing a plant has many more benefits. As a rule, godetia grown from seeds, when it is time to plant in open ground, damage and death of part of the seedlings cannot be avoided.

Growing seedlings

If the choice fell on a reliable way to grow a plant through seedlings, then in this case, the end of March is considered the right time for sowing seeds. By pre-preparing containers or boxes with loose loose soil containing nutrients and drainage. Before planting, it is advisable to mix small godetia seeds with sand, then, without tamping, sprinkle over the surface and cover with a thin soil layer. For the emergence of sprouts at an accelerated pace, you can create a kind of greenhouse effect for plants by covering the container with polyethylene. However, such a film must be removed every day to allow the growing flowers to breathe. The polyethylene can be removed when the first shoots appear. Basically, this happens after 10 days-14 days. The appearance of the first two leaves indicates that it is time to dive the sprouts. After carefully digging out of the original soil, the roots are shortened and sent to separate pots, three plants each.

Planting period for seedlings

There is plenty of information and advice on the Internet about proper care and planting godetia. Growing from seeds, when to plant - reviews and advice from florists sometimes differ. However, one thing can be said with certainty - most gardeners consider the beginning of summer to be the optimal time for landing on an open area. By this period, the flower grows to 7 cm. Despite the fact that the plant visually looks stronger, it must be planted together with an earthen clod surrounding a weak root system. It is undesirable to perform this procedure under the scorching sun. It is necessary to observe the distance between seedlings, based on the height of a particular variety. Than adult plant the higher, the more free space should be left.

In areas with regular warm winters, godets are planted much earlier. However, this can be called an experimental method, and in order to minimize the risk of plant loss, it is better to plant according to the established dates. Most flower growers sow seeds directly into the ground. Many are of the opinion that godetia sown in late autumn has better endurance, disease and pest resistance, and is adapted to the environment.

Basic godetia care

Caring for grown seedlings is practically no different from the regular measures that other flower crops also require. Weeding and obligatory loosening of the soil will help not to delay the development of the flower and accelerate its growth. This will eliminate unwanted nearby weeds and create the necessary space for the root system. It is important not to overdo it when watering godetia. It is enough to provide it with a normal and constant amount of moisture. The highest varieties, reaching more than half a meter in height, should be tied to supports in order to avoid stem breakage. Godetia will bloom profusely if you give it a mineral dressing, which will contain a minimum of nitrogen.

Such fertilization is desirable at least once a month. Then the plant from mid-July until the onset of frost will delight those around it with variegated flowers.
Fortunately for modern amateurs flower plants there is a lot of information about the features of godetia care, growing from seeds, when to plant, photos of varieties and much more. It's easy to grow your favorite flower. A minimum of effort - and godetia will thank you for your care with a bright long-lasting color.