Carnation Turkish or bearded - a beautiful flower with a rich, pleasant aroma. The Greek word Dianthus, from which the carnation genus derives its name, means "divine flower". It has about 300 species of herbaceous annuals and perennials and, in addition, an endless variety of varieties and hybrids of valuable ornamental flowers, common both for the bright beauty of fragrant inflorescences and for ease of breeding.
Since ancient times, the carnation has been associated with victory in bloody battles. In America, she is considered a symbol of motherly love. According to Christian legend, during the execution of Jesus Christ, where the tears of the Virgin Mary fell, these unusual flowers appeared.
Turkish carnation is still extremely valued among gardeners for its lush, long-lasting, abundant flowering, diverse palette of colors, unpretentiousness, and subtle charming smell.
Description of Turkish cloves
Turkish carnation (Dianthus barbatus) is a perennial plant, but is used as a biennial due to the fact that many specimens disappear in the third year of growth. Another name for this carnation is bearded - each flower has bracts. The English call it Sweet William, they eat the flowers. Growing in the foothills of southern Europe and Asia, the Turkish carnation was cultivated by man many centuries ago and spread to many countries as garden flower. The herbaceous plant consists of a knotty stem, hay-green linear leaves and many flowers collected in corymbose inflorescences.
In the first year of life, a rosette of leaves is formed, in the second year the plant blooms and forms seeds. The flower consists of 5 petals and a long nail. The petals have a horizontal plate of white, pink or lavender. On one plant, several inflorescences with 30 flowers each can bloom at the same time - the flower itself looks like a fluffy bouquet. The fruit of the clove is an oblong capsule with one nest containing black seeds.
Cultivated and garden forms surpass their wild relatives in decorativeness and diversity. Various colors and various shape flowers - terry and simple - is amazing. There are monochromatic flowers, variegated, two-color, with a border, with strokes, evoking association with Turkish ornaments. The color ranges from white to crimson and dark cherry, with new varieties appearing every year with new colors.
There are tall varieties up to 90 cm and short ones - below 35 cm.
Conditions for growing garden perennial carnations
- Turkish cloves are planted in lightly fertilized soil or in soil consisting of a mixture of humus, decaying leaves and fine sand taken equally.
- Best results can be obtained if the plants are placed outdoors. sunny place, water regularly, without overdoing it.
- Cloves tolerate short-term lack of moisture well.
- In the period from April to June, once a week, add a liquid complex fertilizer to the water for irrigation - Turkish cloves are very responsive to top dressing.
Faded flower stalks are pruned to cause a second wave of flowering.
Planting Turkish cloves in open ground with seeds
When to plant Turkish clove seeds? These are completely unpretentious flowers, not afraid of low temperatures. Therefore, you can safely sow the beauty directly into the ground at the first opportunity to go “into the field”: when the earth is ripe, since the end of April.
- Prepare shallow furrows, because the seeds are very small and should not be buried too deep. 1 cm is enough.
- Leave the distance between adjacent rows sufficient, do not spare space: you need at least 15-20 cm so that the bushes do not clog each other.
- In a row, 15 cm is also left between plants, simply breaking through extra seedlings. You can leave 5-7 cm between seedlings and when they reach a height of 8-10 cm, simply transplant extra copies to another place.
Seeds germinate for a long time, so do not worry: friendly shoots will definitely appear, after which do not forget to break through them so that there is no strong thickening. Turkish carnation is bred with seeds without any problems even with the onset of summer, the bushes quite manage to take shape in order to winter well and delight with bright flowering next year.
When sown in early June on seeds, as rarely as possible, they are laid out along the grooves spilled with water, lightly sprinkled with earth. After the emergence of seedlings, care consists in timely watering and weeding from weeds. Well-developed rosettes form at the end of summer.
They can be transplanted to another place with a distance of 15-25 cm from each other. If you intend to leave the seedlings where they grew, then you should thin them out to the required interval, transplanting the extra ones to another place.
If young plants have released flower stalks, then it is better to remove them. so that the bushes are well rooted and do not leave weakened before winter. Next year, already with the onset of summer, Turkish carnation will delight you with lush and abundant flowering.
There is another option for sowing Turkish cloves - dry seeds before winter. Seeds are sown before the onset of stable cold weather directly on the bed without watering. Shoots will appear with the onset of spring - such plants will bloom a little later.
Sowing in protected ground, in a greenhouse
- Choose a well-lit place for seed germination, maintaining the temperature there at least 13 degrees.
- To accelerate growth, cover the bed with glass or film.
- Sprouts appear together, about 2-3 weeks after sowing.
- When the seedlings grow up, do not forget to thin them out or plant them in another bed.
- Before you transfer seedlings to the garden, feed them nitrogen fertilizer- It is used as an anti-stress drug.
- Carnations can be planted in a flower bed at a distance of 25 cm from each other when the weather is warm.
If you grow seedlings and thus prolong the growing season, you can not cut the flowers, and enjoy flowering this year.
Turkish carnation from seeds at home Sowing for seedlings
Bearded carnations are sown for seedlings with the onset of February in special soil.
- The seeds are small, but it is quite possible to spend a little more time and plant a seed in a separate cup. So you save yourself from the picking procedure.
- Deepen not much, by 0.5-1 cm.
- Watering needs moderate, be sure to have a drainage hole in the container to prevent stagnant water.
- Seedlings are placed on a sunny windowsill, where caring for it comes down to watering every two to three days.
- Shortly before planting, the seedlings are hardened by placing them outside in a place without strong drafts - first for an hour or two, gradually increasing the time to a full day.
- seedlings can be planted from the end of April, but only when the threat of night frost has passed.
How the picking of Turkish cloves is made, the video will tell:
If you have sown the seeds in a common container quite thickly, you should make a pick. Plants are transplanted into separate containers, while trying to damage the roots as little as possible.
Reproduction by layering
The variety you like can be propagated by layering:
- To do this, take the stem, press it to the ground, pinning it with a v-shaped wire at the top.
- The peduncle should be removed.
- The stem is sprinkled with moist soil.
- After a month, rooting will occur, layering can be planted in a permanent place.
- Such reproduction completely copies the mother variety.
Reproduction by cuttings
They are cut from a stem taken from a plant of the second year of life, planted in loose, moist soil, creating a light shade. After about 3 weeks, the seedlings will begin to grow - this can be determined by the appearance of new leaves. They are transplanted in August. They will bloom next year. If you carry out this operation in a greenhouse or greenhouse, then the cuttings will take root much faster. This method is used if you want to keep your favorite variety.
The Turkish carnation is able to reproduce. Of course, there will be much fewer plants, but they will still delight you with magnificent flowering.
Diseases and pests
These flowers love sunny places, they need to be watered periodically, it is good to loosen the soil after each watering, which will prevent the appearance of root rot.
Against thrips and green aphids, which cause the appearance of white dots on the petals, use the appropriate insecticide.
When watering and fertilizing, try not to get liquid on the flowers.
The variety of varieties and the extraordinary unpretentiousness of the Turkish carnation can satisfy the desires of any grower. Low-growing varieties look great in rock gardens or rockeries, decorate an inconspicuous area of \u200b\u200bthe garden, like planted in flowerpots or containers, fill a balcony or veranda with aroma and colors.
Tall forms planted on lawns among shrubs fit perfectly in natural style gardens. Fragrant picturesque flowers attract butterflies, bees, birds. Cut flowers last about two weeks in a vase. This extraordinary flower will decorate any site.
In the numerous genus of carnations, the Turkish carnation stands out: firstly, it is perhaps most often found in our flower beds, and secondly, it is a biennial. Strictly speaking, in nature, this variety grows as a perennial, but due to the cool climate in middle lane our country is cultivated as a biennial.
The plant is incredibly popular - in almost every garden you can find multi-colored inflorescences of Turkish carnations. This is not surprising: its small but bright flowers are very attractive and perfectly decorate flower beds. In addition, despite the short lifespan, the culture is very unpretentious and easily propagated. In addition, Turkish cloves exude a wonderful aroma and are excellent honey plant attracting bees.
But this is not all the advantages of a wonderful plant. Its flowers are edible, and the petals have a pleasant sweetish taste. Turkish cloves are also considered medicinal, although official science until this fact has been confirmed. However, despite the many useful properties, most often Turkish cloves are used in ornamental gardening.
Cultivation of the plant began in the XIV century, and the first mention of it is found in the writings of the English botanist and naturalist John Gerard.
The Russian name of the species indicates the birthplace of culture: in the natural environment, the flower can most often be found in Southern Europe and the Middle East. In addition, the wild Turkish carnation grows in northeast China as well as southeast Russia. Well, garden varieties can be found all over the world, they are especially popular in regions with a temperate climate. Natural varieties of the plant are usually colored red and white, cultivated Turkish carnations have a variety of shades - pink, purple, lilac, white, red, etc. The selection has also worked on the shape of the flower - terry and semi-double inflorescences are often found, and the height of the varieties may vary.
Interesting English name Turkish carnation: In the UK, the flower is called Sweet William. There are several versions of the origin of the unusual nickname. According to one of the legends, the plant is named after the famous commander of the XVIII century Duke of Cumberland William-August, according to another - in honor of William Shakespeare. Other famous people with the same name are also mentioned - William the Conqueror and St. William of York. According to another, more prosaic version, the word "william" is consonant with the French "oeillet", which translates as "carnation". The English are very fond of this flower: it often appears in folklore romantic ballads and was even included in the bride's bouquet during the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
In our country, this species is sometimes called the bearded carnation because of a large number filiform bracts, similar to a beard around a flower.
Botany classifies the Turkish carnation (lat. Dianthus barbatus) as a large genus of carnations (lat. Dianthus) of the clove family (lat. Caryophyllaceae). This is a medium-high (20-60 cm high) herbaceous plant with strong erect shoots, narrow elongated (1-2 cm long, 4-10 cm wide) green or silver-green leaves and dense corymbose inflorescences, consisting of individual flowers of various coloring. The diameter of one flower varies from 2 to 3 cm, and the diameter of the entire inflorescence is about 10-15 cm. Usually the flower consists of five petals, however, flowers of double and semi-double forms can contain up to ten petals. After flowering, a fruit-box is formed with large quantity flat black seeds.
Two subspecies of the flower are known, each of which is cultivated:
- Bearded carnation (lat. Dianthus barbatus var. barbatus)
- Asian carnation (lat. Dianthus barbatus var. asiaticus)
There are countless varieties of Turkish cloves. Conventionally, they can be divided by height.
Undersized varieties (up to 35 cm) include:
- "Heart Attack" (Hart Attack) - bushes about 30 cm high, with dense inflorescences of a rich wine-red hue. In the center of the flower are small white dots.
- "Noverna" (Noverna) - variety series, characterized by medium (about 30 cm in height) size, large flowers of various colors and elongated bright green leaves.
- "Diabunda" (Diabunda) - a collection of undersized, highly branched varieties of different colors. Often grown as a pot crop. "Purple Picotee" - creamy purple inflorescences, "Crimson" - scarlet inflorescences, "Red" - dark red inflorescences.
- "Festival" (Festival) - a series of varieties whose height does not exceed 25 cm. Popular colors: "Light Pink" - light pink, "White Flame" - two-tone white and pink, "White" - cream, "Salmon" - salmon , "Cherry" - dark cherry, etc.
G. "Heart Attack", G. "Noverna", G. "Diabunda", G. "Festival" - "Dash" (Dash) is a group of perennial (rather than biennial) varieties of Turkish cloves. The height of an individual plant is 30-35 cm, the color may be different: "Magician" - white-pink flowers, flowers are collected in one inflorescence different shades, "Crimson" - maroon flowers.
- "Wee Willie" (Wee Willie) - very short (up to 15 cm) plants with bright, mostly two-tone, white-pink flowers.
- "Indian Carpet" (Indian Carpet) - Another dwarf (12-15 cm) variety that can be used as a ground cover. On sale most often you can find a mixture of red, white and pink shades.
- "Dynasty Orchid" (Dynasty Orchid) - a terry variety of medium (25-30 cm) sizes. Red, pink and cream colors are common.
G. "Dash", G. "Wee Willie", G. "Indian Carpet", G. "Dynasty Orchid" Tall (up to 60 cm) Turkish carnations are:
- "Holborn Glory" (Holborn Glory) is a variety that has been cultivated since the 20s of the last century. Bushes, reaching a height of 60 cm, are decorated with large two-color (white-red) inflorescences.
- "Messenger" (Messenger) - a group of medium tall (up to 45 cm) plants with large, usually without a pattern, flowers. "White" - white inflorescences, "Red" - red inflorescences.
- "Rocking Red" (Rockin Red) - a large (45-60 cm) variety with beautiful, rich red flowers.
- "Diadem" (Diadem) - a plant about 38 cm high with bright red flowers with a white center.
- "Heimatland" (Heimatland) - a variety with a classic red-white (white center, red edges) coloring 45-47 cm high.
G. Holborn Glory, G. Rocking Red, G. Diadem, G. Heimatland Most often, various mixtures of colors are found on sale, for example "Auricula Eyed Mixed", " Festival Mixed", "Diabunda Mixed", "Super Duplex Mixed", "Kaleidoscope Mixed" and others. They look much brighter and more interesting than plain varieties.
Well, the following are considered the most unusual Turkish carnations:
- "Nigrescens" (Nigrescens, black) - a group of varieties that stands out for its very dark color. The most widely known variety of the group can be called "Sooty" (Essence) - a medium-high (30-37 cm) carnation with red-violet, almost black, flowers and a large number of thin long bracts.
- "Green Trick", "Green Ball" (Green Trick, Green Ball) - Japanese varieties that hit the Dutch flower market. Tall shoots adorn fluffy bright green balls. These balls are not flowers, moreover, the plant does not bloom, and long fluffs are thin thread-like bracts.
G. "Sooty", G. "Green Ball" There are countless varieties of Turkish cloves, and every year breeders delight gardeners with new ones, each of which is uniquely beautiful.
Turkish carnation in landscape design
This garden plant is truly versatile. It can be used in a wide variety of landscape compositions: borders, mixborders, discounts. Moreover, both monotypic flower beds and multi-species flower beds look great. Tall and medium-sized varieties of Turkish cloves will be an excellent backdrop for lower ground covers. The only thing a gardener should remember when creating complex diverse compositions is the flowering time of each species.
Low-growing varieties of sweet William are great for alpine slides and stone gardens, especially since the open sun combined with poor rocky soil are ideal conditions for Turkish cloves.
Due to its natural beauty, the flower fits perfectly into an artificial landscape that imitates wildlife, and the pleasant aroma of the plant will attract butterflies, bees and birds to such a garden.
Sometimes Turkish cloves are grown in outdoor containers and even in planters, as indoor plant. It looks good in dishes, but because of short term life needs constant renewal.
Culture, especially tall varieties, is also suitable for cutting, as an addition to bouquets of wild flowers.
Turkish carnation: cultivation and care
As mentioned above, in temperate latitudes, Turkish cloves are grown as a biennial. This means that in the first year roots, leaves and shoots grow, usually stunted, and in the second year flowers and seeds appear, after which the plant dies. However, in favorable conditions the plant can bloom for several years in a row, in addition, it happens that flowers appear already in the first year.
[!] Sometimes Turkish carnation forms lush green cushions in the second year, but does not bloom. In this case, it is worth leaving it in the flower bed, most likely the flowers will appear next year.
And yet, most often the plant has a two-year cycle, which determines the agricultural technology of its cultivation.
Planting and breeding
Usually, Turkish cloves are obtained from seeds. They are sold in many stores and have good germination. The plant can also be propagated vegetatively. Let's consider both methods.
Planting seeds
Turkish clove seeds are planted in different ways:
- Spring in open ground
- In late summer or early autumn in open ground.
Turkish cloves are rarely grown for seedlings, usually the seeds are applied immediately to the soil.
[!] Some flower growers claim that it is possible to achieve a flowering culture in the first year. To do this, it is necessary to plant seeds for seedlings in a warm room at the beginning of spring, and then, in May, transfer the seedlings to open ground.
Spring sowing can begin after stable warm weather is established and the threat of frost has passed, usually this is the end of May. The best time for autumn sowing last numbers August or early September. It is advisable to sow immediately to a permanent place, so as not to injure the plant once again with a transplant. However, if necessary, the Turkish carnation can be transferred: spring seedlings are usually moved to a new place no earlier than the end of summer, and autumn seedlings - the next year, in the spring.
The technology for planting seeds is the same at any time of the year:
- Choose a flat area, remove weeds, level the ground.
- Moisten the soil, but do not soak the seeds themselves! They must stay dry.
- Scatter the seeds over the surface, trying to maintain a distance of at least 3-5 cm between them.
- Sprinkle the seeds on top with dry clean earth.
- From above, the bed is sometimes covered with a film or non-woven material, however, if the weather is warm enough, it is quite possible to do without it.
After the seeds sprout, they need to be thinned out a little, if necessary. Usually, the sprouts of Turkish cloves are very thin, weak and resemble weeds. Remember where you planted the flower so you don't accidentally weed it out. Further care of seedlings consists in regular watering and weeding of the beds.
Layers, cuttings
Turkish cloves are also propagated, although much less frequently, vegetatively. An interesting way to obtain young plants from maternal specimens using layering: at the end of summer, long, slightly leafy young shoots are tilted, trying not to break, pinned to the soil surface with a wooden or plastic bracket and sprinkled with a little earth. After some time, roots form at the point of contact of the stem with the soil, after which the shoot can be separated and planted in a new place.
Location, soil
Turkish cloves have earned a reputation for being absolutely unpretentious plant, able to grow almost anywhere and on any substrate. This is true, but the flower still has some preferences.
The birthplace of this culture is the hot southern countries, which is why the Turkish carnation is considered a sun-loving plant. However, if open spaces are absent on your site, you can plant it in partial shade. Only completely shaded places should be avoided - in this case, flowering may be scarce or not occur at all.
As for the soil, the opinions of gardeners differ here. Some say sweet William prefers fertile, humus-rich substrates. Others rightly believe that the best choice become poor soils with a high content of sand and small stones. Indeed, Turkish carnation can grow on almost any land, however, an excess of humus can lead to an increase in green mass, but there will be few flowers. It is worth paying attention to good drainage - the soil should be loose, water and breathable. The most suitable substrate acidity for cloves is 7.0-7.5 pH (slightly alkaline soils).
Watering, feeding
Water this beautifully flowering biennial should be moderate, twice a week. If the summer is hot, the frequency of watering can be slightly increased. Turkish cloves often suffer from root rot, so it should not be overfilled either.
[!] It is better to water the flower under the root, and not from above. Water drops on petals and leaves can leave unsightly brown spots.
It is not necessary to feed the carnation, it is able to get all the necessary substances from the soil and water. However, if you want to pamper the southern beauty, you can apply a special fertilizer for flowering flowers during the budding period.
Flowering, care after flowering
In central Russia, the bearded carnation blooms, as a rule, in the middle or end of June, and the duration of its flowering is about 30-40 days. After the end of flowering, fruit set and seed ripening begin.
What to do with a faded plant depends on your goals. If you want a self-seeding carnation, do not touch anything - the seeds will ripen, fall to the ground, and new young carnations will appear next year.
[!] Carnation flowers are often pollinated, so during the next flowering, the colors of the petals may change slightly.
If self-seeding is not needed, faded flower stalks can be cut, the more they become unattractive. Sometimes this procedure stimulates the setting of new buds, and in August sweet William blooms again.
Wintering
Turkish carnation is considered a fairly winter-hardy plant. In temperate and southern latitudes, it is not required to cover it for the winter. Frost protection will be required only in the northern regions, as well as if the seeds were planted in early autumn, and the sprouts that appeared had not yet had time to get stronger. For winter shelter, you can use spruce branches, dry fallen leaves or a layer of peat mulch.
In winter, dense thickets of Turkish carnation are often inhabited by field mice, which eat the stems and thus damage the plant. To prevent the appearance of mice, you should create a barrier of fragrant plants, the smell of which mice do not tolerate. To do this, around the bushes of cloves, you need to spread the sprigs of arborvitae, elderberry, walnut or heads of garlic. Another way to deal with mice that is safe for flowers and people is to plant black root, an attractive and very useful plant, next to the carnation.
Diseases and pests
Although the Turkish carnation is a fairly hardy plant, it is sometimes damaged by certain diseases and pests.
Of the phytopathogens that are dangerous for the flower, it is possible to isolate the Fusarium fungus, sickening called . The fungus infects both the roots, on which rotting areas appear, and the shoots of the plant. For the prevention of Fusarium, watering of Turkish cloves should be controlled (there should not be too much moisture), thinning out too dense plantings and using resistant varieties. If the flower is sick, you need to remove it from the garden and burn it, and treat healthy specimens with fungicides.
Like all beautifully flowering plants, the Turkish carnation loves plenty of sunlight and is best grown in nutrient-rich soil. If the soil is rich in various nutrients, then the plant will delight you with abundant flowering, which will not be on poor soils. It's okay if the carnation will grow in light partial shade.
Before you start planting carnations, you need to prepare the site: dig and make necessary fertilizers, for example, humus or compost, and a little more wood ash and mineral fertilizers. From mineral fertilizers it is better to choose for flowering plants, along with them, potassium sulfate and nitrophoska are added to the soil.
The soil for planting Turkish cloves is dug up to a depth of 25 cm. Then, it is leveled with a rake, and if the soil is dry, then it must be moistened. Prepared beds are covered with oilcloth, or any other covering material. Two weeks after the land is prepared, you can start planting Turkish carnation seeds.
The Turkish carnation is considered a biennial plant and is mostly planted in June or July. You can plant seeds before winter around the end of October. At autumn planting, the seeds of Turkish cloves can neither be watered nor soaked, as they say, a dry planting is carried out.
Before planting seeds, grooves are made in the garden with a depth of 1 cm. The grooves are made at a distance of 15 cm from each other. When planting seeds in the summer, water is poured into the grooves, then the seeds are sown and covered with earth, lightly tamping it down. Plantings no longer need to be watered until shoots appear.
When growing Turkish cloves, care is mainly weeding, watering, loosening the soil and removing weeds. In general, the plant likes to drink a lot of water, therefore, it is recommended to water it at least once a week, if the weather is hot and dry, then watering is carried out 2 times a week.
Turkish carnation flowers are responsive to various top dressings. For the season you need to spend 2-3 top dressing.
The first top dressing is carried out when the plants reach a height of 10 cm. Nitrophoska and any other complex fertilizer are used for this top dressing.
The second feeding is carried out when the buds begin to form. For this top dressing, fertilizers for flowering plants are used, or potassium sulfate and superphosphate can be purchased.
Caring for Turkish cloves after flowering is not at all difficult. When the plant has faded, the bushes are pruned. After pruning, planting, you need to water, remove weeds and loosen the ground.
About a month later, new sprouts appear, which in the fall can give a slight flowering.
Despite the fact that Turkish carnation is considered a frost-resistant plant, it is still better to cover it for the winter.
In nature, there are about 300 species of carnations, about a dozen have become widespread in floriculture. The scientific name of the genus - Dianthus - was given by the father of botany Theophrastus. It comes from the Greek roots dios - god and anthos - "flower" and means "flower of the gods." G. bearded (Dianthus barbatus) got its name from the "beard" - the ciliated bracts that each flower has. Together they stick out like a green brush until they are hidden by blooming flowers. The second name of the species sounds much more romantic - Turkish carnation.
It is a perennial, although not very long-lived. In the garden, it is most often grown as biennial and even as an annual planting ready seedlings.
Plant height - 30-70 cm, depending on the variety. Whole line modern varieties are distinguished by their ability bloom in the year of sowing.
Blooms in the middle of summer for about a month and longer if cut off faded stems. Old varieties in the first year form only a rosette of leaves, and bloom in the second year.
Modern varieties, acquiring new valuable features, often, alas, lose their aroma.
In the UK of the Victorian era, when it was not customary to openly talk about your feelings. And for their secret expression, the language of flowers was in use, the Turkish carnation symbolized gallantry. And what did the Turkish carnation mean in the wedding bouquet of Kay Middleton, the chosen one of the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William? It is easy to answer this question if you know the English folk name of the flower - Sweet William - "sweet, gentle, sweet William." The origin of the name is lost in the darkness of history.
In sunny weather, flowering plants are lively around: bees, bumblebees and butterflies fly to the fragrant cloud. No matter how many flowers are around, to the Turkish carnation, having made another circle about the garden, they return again and again. Here the butterflies linger for a long time, and you can clearly see the iridescent pattern of the peacock's eye or the graceful veins on the wings of lemongrass. Why waste time searching when up to 30 flowers in each inflorescence and plenty of nectar in each flower tube! A constant winged accompaniment doubles the decorative effect of the flower garden.
The abundance of nectar and strong attractive smell make Turkish cloves irreplaceable. in the butterfly beds and in the romantic fragrance garden, where it successfully complements the fragrance of roses, jasmine, royal lilies, mirabilis and gillyflowers. Inhaling the spicy notes of a carnation bouquet, you involuntarily plunge into the atmosphere of luxurious flower beds at the palaces of the East. Bright colors and an exciting aroma inspire the creation of themed gardens with a national flavor. However, cloves have been valued for a long time not only in the East.
As an old garden plant, it is suitable for a Russian village front garden, and for a cottage garden, and for a classic English mixborder. Unpretentiousness and simple care attract modern flower growers who do not have free time for the whims of too demanding cultures. It is planted in a group in a flower garden in the foreground, and in the form of a border, and in containers. Ideal Conditions for Turkish cloves - on ordinary garden in the garden, where it will bloom especially magnificently, delighting with color, aroma, and edible petals. Moreover, it will not do without it decorative vegetable garden! It would be appropriate to place Turkish cloves in the spice garden next to lavender, sage, thyme and lofant. In addition, thanks to strong, erect, fairly long peduncles, it is perfect for cutting. In bouquets, carnations last for a long time - 11-18 days!
pruning
Timely pruning of faded stems significantly prolongs flowering. Cutting the stems with secateurs one at a time is tiring if there are a lot of flowers. Work will go faster with lightweight hedge shears. Trim the inflorescences as soon as they are lost. fresh look avoiding seed set. This technique prolongs not only flowering, but also the life of the Turkish carnation bush itself, which, with regular pruning, behaves like a completely durable perennial. By cutting the stems into bouquets at the height of flowering, you at the same time rejuvenate the bush, thereby causing the formation of new flower stems. Shearing with scissors for a hedge is convenient and plentiful for others, but once flowering species carnations, such as clove grass, g. pinnate, g. sandy.
breeds Turkish cloves by seeds, dividing the bush. Layers and cuttings. Before frost, young plants should have time to take root well after transplanting to a permanent place, therefore, it is carried out no later than August.
Strong knotty stalks of cloves do not require a garter.
long life bouquet
Since other garden flowers wither in the cut, as a rule, faster than the Turkish carnation, it is advisable for her to choose plants that are no less hardy in the company. Then the whole bouquet will please the eye for a long time. The lilac, lilac, pink and greenish caps of the garden hydrangea and the yellow-green openwork inflorescences of the cuff, with which any variety of Turkish carnation is perfectly combined, easily withstand the competition for durability in a vase. As for the use of special agents that preserve the freshness of cut flowers, they did not have a noticeable effect in experiments on Turkish carnation, the flowers remained fresh on average only 1 day longer. By the way, garden hydrangea and cuff are worthy partners for Turkish carnations, not only in a vase, but also in a flower garden.
How to grow
Turkish carnation is unpretentious, drought-resistant and quite winter-hardy. In a sunny place, it is able to survive even near the roots of tall shrubs and trees.
A randomly introduced seed can germinate in the most unexpected place, demonstrating a rare love of life. However, the carnation reaches the peak of its “shape” on a well-treated garden soil. It is difficult for the plant to compete with rhizomatous perennial weeds due to short stature and a weak root system. Therefore, the soil must be carefully prepared before planting. Annual weeds, populated by seeds, not only intercept food, but also spoil the look of the flower garden. Mulching organic material helps to solve this problem easily. Perhaps the most accessible view mulch in the garden is rotten leaves. Compost will additionally act as a fertilizer. Mulching before winter increases frost resistance. Should. However, be aware that in damp places this procedure exacerbates the problem. Caused by poor drainage. For cloves, such excess moisture is detrimental. Therefore, it is important to choose a landing site not only sunny, but also with good drainage.
Contrary to popular belief that Turkish carnation is just a biennial and there is no point in keeping it after flowering, this plant is capable of more. To do this, he only needs a little help. By the end of summer, carnation bushes are overgrown with shoots lodging from the center to the sides with bunches of large leaves on tops. If you sprinkle most of these shoots with compost, so that they have time to take root before frost, then next year they will turn into new flowering bushes with the same large inflorescences. So in one place, only slightly moving to the side, a colorful Turkish carpet can stay for several years, constantly being updated.
According to the magazine "My beautiful garden"
Turkish carnation is a plant with unusual flowers that have bracts with ciliated edges. For this feature, this plant is also called the bearded carnation. And her generic name in Greek sounds like the flower of Zeus. The homeland of the Turkish carnation is Southern Europe. It began to be cultivated around the middle of the 16th century and since then its popularity has not been lost. Today, this flower can be found in almost every garden, where it is used to create flower beds, rock gardens and borders. Some choose to grow this species at home.
In order for the Turkish carnation to grow bright and beautiful, it needs proper care
plant description
Turkish carnation is a herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Carnation. The stem is straight, glabrous, strong, knotty, 30 to 75 cm in height. The leaves are lanceolate, sit oppositely on the stem, painted green or blue-green.
During the flowering period, the plant produces numerous terry, semi-double or simple flowers, whose diameter is 1.5-3 cm. But, of course, Turkish terry carnation gives the most beautiful umbrellas. It is perfect for lawns, and for borders, and for decorating terraces, balconies and loggias.
As you can see in the photos presented in this article, the color of the Turkish carnation can be different: cream, red, white, pink. Flowers can be single or bicolor, with a border on the petals or with dark spot in the center.
Many beginner flower growers are interested in the question: is the Turkish carnation perennial or not. This plant is perennial, but in culture it is grown as a biennial. In the first year of life, it gives only a rosette of leaves, and corymbose inflorescences, composed of variegated flowers, open only in the second year after planting. Flowering lasts about a month. At the end of this period, fruits appear on the stems - boxes with dark small flat grains.
Turkish clove seeds ripen around the end summer period and remain viable for three years Seedling cultivation
When growing Turkish cloves from seeds, sowing is carried out in March or in the first decade of April. In order to get strong healthy seedlings, seed must be placed in a previously disinfected substrate. Disinfection is usually carried out using a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate. The substrate itself must be fertile, often made up of leaf humus and sand.
So, growing Turkish cloves in seedlings.
- We wash the container for seedlings with hot water, lay out a drainage layer on the bottom, and a moistened substrate on top.
- We sow the seeds, laying them to a depth of about 1 cm. At the same time, the distance between them should be 2-3 cm.
- We cover the container with loose paper and keep it at a temperature of +16..18°C. Moisten the substrate periodically.
- When shoots appear, we transfer the container to a well-lit place and lower the temperature by a couple of degrees.
Note! If the air temperature is high, then the seedlings can stretch out a lot!
- As soon as a couple of true leaves appear on the seedlings, we dive them into separate peat cups. We use the same soil mixture.
Until the plants are transplanted to a permanent place, the soil around the seedlings must be regularly loosened and watered. A couple of weeks before transplanting cloves into open ground, it is necessary to begin the hardening procedure. Every day we take out young plants on Fresh air, increasing the exposure time daily. After two weeks, the seedlings should completely get used to the new environment. It is desirable that by this time they spend the night with an open window.
Sowing in open ground
To begin with, it is worth figuring out when to plant Turkish cloves in open ground. They do this in the third or fourth decade of May, when the threat of night frosts has passed, and the soil and air have warmed up sufficiently.
On a note! Sowing seeds in open ground can also be done in the fall - in October, but remember that the seed in this case, like the soil, must certainly be dry. After sowing, the site is insulated with sawdust or peat. In the spring, the mulch layer is removed.
Sow seeds preferably in a sunny area. The most preferred are places with sandy or loamy soil. A couple of weeks before sowing, the bed is dug up to a depth of about 20 cm and a mixture of compost and wood ash is added - for each square meter about 7 kg of organic matter and 250 g of ash. In parallel, you can fertilize the soil with mineral fertilizers for flowering plants - about a tablespoon per square meter. We cover the prepared area with polyethylene and leave for 10-15 days.
We proceed directly to the planting of Turkish carnations:
- We make shallow grooves in the soil, leaving a distance of 15 cm between them. Spill them well with water.
- We put seeds in each groove. Do not forget to leave between them 2-3 cm.
- Sprinkle the substrate on top and slightly compact the soil. From above, we cover the crops with woven material.
- When the first shoots appear, remove the cover.
Turkish carnation grows well in well-lit areas with fertile soil. Features of care
In open ground conditions
When planting a Turkish carnation in open ground, care for it should be regular.
- Plants are watered twice a week at the rate of 13-15 liters of water per square meter. If the summer turned out to be too hot, then watering is carried out more often. In this case, it is desirable to pour water directly onto the soil in the root region of each bush, avoiding water getting on the green part of the plant, otherwise a burn may form on the foliage. If you planted a Turkish carnation in a lowland, then special care must be taken with watering. When waterlogged planting soil can affect root rot.
- As for dressings, the first is introduced into the substrate when the senets reach 12 cm in height. In this case, they usually use a solution of Nitrofoska and Agricola (one tablespoon of each drug per bucket of water). The second time fertilizers are applied during the period of the first bud formation - 15 ml of superphosphate and 15 ml of potassium sulfate are added to a bucket of water. The third time the plants are fed during the flowering period - 15 ml of Agricola solution per bucket of water.
- Do not forget to periodically loosen the ground, especially after rain and watering. Thus, moisture will not linger. In addition, during weeding, all weeds should be removed and faded shoots should be removed.
Advice! It is recommended to cut the stems at a height of about 12 cm from the ground. Thanks to this event, in about a month, the carnation will release new shoots, which, under favorable conditions, will be able to bloom a second time - in the fall!
Turkish carnation is characterized by high frost resistance and, under a 10 cm layer of peat, survives the winter quite well.
In general, if the weather conditions are favorable, then the life of the plant can be about six years, in less good circumstances - no more than three years.
At home
If you decide to grow Turkish cloves at home, then it is advisable to use a substrate with a neutral pH level for this. In this case, a mixture of one part of leafy soil, one part of sand, one part of peat and two parts of soddy soil will be a suitable option. Before planting plants, the soil is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Seedlings are planted in such a way that the neck remains above the surface of the substrate.
- During the formation of the sixth pair of true leaves, the plant is pinched - this will allow you to get a more lush bush.
- In the conditions of an apartment, a Turkish carnation can grow in partial shade and neither its decorative effect nor its state of health will be affected. Optimum temperature— +15..18°C.
- Watering should be plentiful. Make sure that the earthen ball in the pot does not dry out, but at the same time there should be no stagnation of moisture. For irrigation, it is better to use soft water at room temperature.
- In the heat, it is recommended to spray the plant, preferably in the evening.
- One month after planting, care for Turkish cloves complemented by fertilization. In this case, complex mineral fertilizers for flowering plants should be used. They are introduced every ten days, from spring until October. In winter, flowers do not need top dressing.
Disease and pest control
Turkish cloves are susceptible to some viral and fungal diseases. Among them:
- Fusarium. The main signs are: yellowing of the leaves, which wither, but do not fall off, the stem turns reddish or brown, the buds open weakly or do not open at all, the root part and the root itself rot. Sick plants are destroyed, healthy ones are sprayed twice with a fungicide.
- Rust. It appears as brown spots on the leaves, petioles and stems of the plant. The spots swell and become yellowish. The flower looks oppressed, the stem dries up and breaks. The spread of the disease is facilitated by waterlogging of the substrate, potassium deficiency and excess nitrogen. For the treatment of the disease, a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid, the drug "HOM" or another fungicide of a similar action is used.
- Mottling. Often, plants become infected in the spring. The disease manifests itself in the form of blurry spots on the foliage, variegation and changes in the shape of flowers. Treatments for this moment does not exist, so diseased specimens are destroyed.
It is necessary to inspect the flowers regularly - this will help protect your blooming collection from death.
Earwigs often appear on the site. They are destroyed with the help of such baits: lay out several heaps of rotted hay in the garden and cover them with boards. After a while, pests will crawl into these shelters to hide from the heat, where they can be easily destroyed.
At home, Turkish cloves can be attacked spider mites, mealybug or aphids. To control pests, a soapy solution is often used, which is used to wash adults from the body of the plant. Then the affected specimens are sprayed with infusion of yarrow, celandine or tansy. In severe infestation, the use of insecticides is recommended.
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