Content
Agricultural technology for the honey plant Mordovnik sharogologos consists of selecting the appropriate soil composition, time and technology for planting seeds. Subsequent care of the plant, including watering and fertilizing, affects the germination and honey productivity of late-summer honey plants.
Description of the plant
The herbaceous plant Echinops globulus is a representative of the Astrov family, distributed in Western Europe, the North Caucasus District, the South, the European part of the Russian Federation, and is found in Siberia and the Urals. The plant blooms in early July. The perennial Echinops globulus is a medicinal plant and is cultivated as a honey plant. In pharmacology it is the basis of the drug "Echinopsin". Used in folk medicine.
External description of the plant:
- Mordovnik grows up to 2 m in height.
- The stem is long, thin, branched upward. Brown trichomes resembling a pile are formed along the entire length.
- The leaves of Mordovnik sharogologos are pinnately dissected with formations along the edge in the form of small spines.The plate is elongated (up to 20 cm), up to 8 cm wide, the surface is rough, the edges are carved. The color of the upper part is rich green, the lower part of the leaf blade is light gray. The leaves grow along the entire stem in the form of a spiral, at the base the diameter is larger, towards the top it decreases, at the end point of growth the leaves are small in size.
- The flowers are located on the main axis, collected in a spherical, spiny inflorescence of up to 400 pieces. Up to 35 inflorescences with a diameter of up to 6 cm are formed on the stem. Depending on the type, the flowers are white, light blue or dark blue.
- The fruits are produced in the form of cylindrical achenes with a cup-shaped pappus.
- The root system is taprooted and deep.
Echinops globulus bears fruit in the 2nd year of the growing season; in the first season, the plant forms a basket of long leaves, the diameter of which is about 65 cm. Flowering begins in July and continues until mid-August. The culture belongs to the second wave of honey plants, blooming after the May and June honey plants. The flowers of Echinops globulus are accessible to bees throughout the daylight hours and close in the complete absence of light.
What types exist
Mordovnik has more than 180 species. Most of them grow like weeds on roadsides, wastelands, forest edges, and in the steppe. Three varieties of Mordovnik are grown.
In addition to the ball-headed one, Echinacea vulgaris is also cultivated. This compact honey plant does not extend upward more than 65 cm. The central stem and the underside of the leaf blade are covered with glandular trichomes. The color of the leaves is bright green, the same throughout the entire leaf, length 15 cm. It blooms in late summer with white inflorescences with a blue tint, 2.5 cm in diameter.
The height of Echinops latifolia is approximately 80 cm.The stem is stiff, thick, covered in silvery trichomes, and appears white against the foliage. The leaves are up to 25 cm long, 10 cm wide, green in color. Along the edge there are wide teeth ending in spines. Blooms with blue or purple flowers.
Advantages of growing as a honey plant
Cultivation of the Mordovnik plant as a honey plant does not require special agricultural technology. The crop tolerates changes in night and day air temperatures well; the growing season is not affected by the proximity of weeds. After sowing, Echinops globulus only needs one feeding. The plant is drought-resistant and can go without watering for a long time, but for greater productivity in the first year of growth, the plant requires moderate watering. Then the root system goes deep into the soil, and soil moisture becomes irrelevant.
The advantage of the Echinops globulus is the release of nectar during the entire illuminated time, regardless of the weather. The honey plant blooms relatively late and is the main supplier of nectar. Flowering duration is about 45 days. The spring harvest is used mainly to feed the children, and at the end of summer there is a mass harvest of honey for the winter, so planting the plant is economically justified. Ball-headed Echinops grows in one place for 10 years, independently dispersing seeds and filling empty spaces.
The plant is aesthetically pleasing, looks harmonious with the flower crops on the site, and complements the landscape design. It is a favorite among honey plants.It has medicinal properties; the fruits consist of active substances that are widely used in alternative medicine and pharmacology.
Application in agriculture
Echinops globulus is cultivated as livestock feed. Cutting is carried out 3 times during the summer-autumn season. The first two are used for fodder, the last is placed in silos. During the winter, farmers provide animals with feed additives containing a large amount of useful microelements.
Honey productivity
The main factor for breeding the crop is honey productivity. In Russia, only linden can compete with Mordovnik in nectar production during the period of active flowering. Each inflorescence of Mordovnik globulus contains about 70% polysaccharide and disaccharide compounds.
The inflorescence is large, round in shape, allowing several bees to settle on it. Up to 170 individuals can visit the plant in an hour. Nectar is constantly produced. The productivity of Mordovnik sharogola under favorable climatic conditions is from 0.5 to 0.9 tons of honey per 1 ha. Low-growing varieties yield 350 kg from the same territory. During severely dry summers, productivity drops by 35%.
Nectar productivity
Nectar is generated in a honey plant flower by nectaries and flows through a conical passage to the surface, completely covering the entire inflorescence. At high air humidity and temperature not lower than +250 C, one flower of Echinops globulus is capable of producing up to 7 mg of a transparent, colorless substance with a tart aroma.
Growing Mordovnik as a honey plant
Echinops globulus is planted in large areas with seeds. On a personal plot, you can propagate honey plants by dividing an adult 2-year-old bush. Work is carried out in the spring.This method is labor-intensive; the Mordovnik root system is taprooted and deep. This breeding method has its advantages: by the end of summer the crop will bloom.
On what soils does honey plant grow?
Echinops globulus grows everywhere, it can be planted in untreated areas, the main condition is a sufficient amount of ultraviolet light. In the shade, vegetation slows down. The soils chosen for planting are neutral chernozem soils or clay soils fertilized with organic matter. The best option is fields after wheat or corn. Wetlands with close groundwater are not suitable; the root system rots in such conditions, and the honey plant may die.
Terms and rules of sowing
You can collect the seeds of Mordovnik sharogolova yourself or purchase them. Sowing is carried out in open ground in the fall from mid-September to the end of October. Spring sowing is rarely used because the crop grows more slowly.
Algorithm of actions:
- The seeds are mixed with sawdust.
- Make depressions (2.5 cm) in the form of furrows.
- Scatter the prepared mixture.
- Cover with soil.
- The distance between rows is at least 65 cm.
In temperate climates, the honey plant Mordovnik globulus is planted in a small area using the seedling method. Work on planting seeds is carried out in early March in containers with peat. In two weeks the culture will produce young shoots. They are planted on the site in early May.
Rules of care
The honey plant Mordovnik spherical-headed does not require virtually any agricultural technology.In the first spring after planting, it is recommended to feed the crop with saltpeter or nitrogen-containing fertilizers. For normal growth, one feeding is enough; in subsequent years, fertilizers are not applied. After the root system is fully formed, the plant shows good drought resistance. During the first year, in a hot summer without rain, the honey plant requires moderate watering; the soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged.
Which type do you prefer?
Echinops latifolia is planted for agricultural purposes. In the first year of growth, it forms a powerful rosette of long leaves. The spines at the end of the leaf blade are formed in the form of rudiments. After cutting, the plant quickly recovers, and by the fall before silage harvesting it reaches a height of 20 cm.
Common Echinops is a weed that grows in the wild. It is used mainly for the design of the territory. Nectar collected from this variety is included in forb honey.
For commercial honey production, preference is given to Echinacea globulus. This is the most productive type of crop. The inflorescences are large and the spines that form in the first year of growth protect the honey plant from damage by herbivorous domestic animals.
What properties does mordovnik honey have?
The bee product is light amber in color, liquid consistency with a delicate aroma. Does not form crystals for a long time. After crystallization, the color becomes beige with a whitish tint. It has medicinal properties, tinctures are made from it, and consumed in its natural form. Mordovnik honey is used to treat:
- headaches of different localization;
- infectious diseases;
- pathologies of the digestive system;
- joint abnormalities, back pain;
- age-related multiple sclerosis;
- cardiovascular diseases.
Conclusion
Agricultural technology for the honey plant Mordovnik sharogolova does not require significant material costs; they will fully pay off next year, when the crop blooms. The plant is perennial; it grows in one area for a long time, gradually filling the voids by self-sowing. The field located near the apiary will provide the bees with enough nectar to produce marketable honey.
