Content
Periwinkle Blue and Gold is a beautiful ground cover with blue flowers and decorative foliage. Used to create a green carpet in the garden, in single plantings and in combination with other flowers. It has good winter hardiness, so in central regions it overwinters outside, under a layer of mulch.
Description
Periwinkle Blue and Gold is a groundcover perennial up to 15-20 cm high. It is highly decorative thanks to its interesting 5-petal flowers of a soft blue color and yellow leaves with green edges. It blooms 2 times per season - in May and August. Decorates the garden at any time thanks to its interesting foliage and ability to completely cover the soil.
Periwinkle Blue and Gold is winter-hardy, withstands frosts down to -24 ° C, which allows it to be grown in many regions of Russia
Fills space perfectly and creates an attractive dark green background. It can be grown both in the ground and in flowerpots, as well as in large pots and containers. The culture prefers shade and partial shade.
Growing from seeds
Growing periwinkle from seeds is quite simple. To do this, they are planted immediately in open ground in early May or early September. If these deadlines are missed, they can be sown until mid-June, then the flowers will appear once - in the second half of summer. Growing seedlings is also allowed. To do this, the seeds are planted in early March.
Seed preparation
The germination of Blue and Gold periwinkle seeds is quite good, but they can first be soaked in a growth stimulator (Epin, Kornevin). If purchased from a reputable supplier, it is not necessary to etch them.
Sowing
For cultivation, a loose mixture is prepared from the following components: peat, sand, vermiculite (ratio 2:2:1).
Growing instructions:
- Bury the seeds 1.5 cm, plant them at a distance of 4 cm.
- Moisten thoroughly.
- Cover with black film and put in a dark, warm place (25 ° C).
- After a week, open the film and the first shoots should appear.
- Gradually reduce the temperature to room temperature.
- Dive after 4-5 leaves appear.
Periwinkle seedlings Blue and Goal can be grown in individual containers
How and when to plant in open ground
Blue and Gold periwinkle is planted in open ground at different times. The planting time depends on the climate in the region:
- in the south - at the end of April;
- in the Moscow region and in the middle zone - in early May;
- in the Urals and Siberia - in mid-May.
Site selection and preparation
Choose a site with weak shading - it is better to plant periwinkle next to large trees and shrubs, next to a fence or house that protects the place from the wind. The soil should be fairly fertile and light, with neutral acidity (pH = 7).
It is also important to remember that periwinkle, like many other plants, does not like severe waterlogging. Therefore, it is better to plant the bush on a small hill, but definitely not in a lowland.
1-2 weeks before planting, the area is cleaned and dug up. If the soil is not very fertile, it is recommended to apply humus and complex mineral fertilizer in the amount of 50-60 g per 1 m2.
Planting stages
Planting Blue and Gold periwinkle is carried out as follows:
- Several shallow holes are formed at a distance of 15-20 cm.
- Lay a drainage layer (stone chips, pebbles) on the bottom.
- The seedlings are installed and covered with soil. If the area has not been fertilized beforehand, you should add a pinch of wood ash or a mixture of superphosphate and potassium salt.
- Water well and lay out mulch (peat, sawdust, hay, spruce branches).
Care
Caring for the Blue and Gold periwinkle is very simple. It needs to be watered moderately, not very often. For example, even if there is little rain, additional moisture is not needed. If there is a drought, it is enough to water once a week with warm, settled water.
Many summer residents do not feed periwinkle at all. But to support long-term flowering, you need to add nitrogen fertilizer in the spring and organic matter or complex mineral fertilizer in the summer (late June and mid-July).
Periodically you need to weed the soil and loosen it, especially after watering.If you lay a layer of mulch immediately after planting, the soil will not have time to dry out, so additional watering will be rarely needed.
Diseases and pests
Periwinkle Blue and Gold has good immunity, but can suffer from powdery mildew or pests (aphids, spider mites and others). Therefore, in May it is recommended to carry out preventive treatment with any fungicide:
- Maksim;
- Tattu;
- Profit;
- Topaz.
Insects are fought with folk remedies (solution of laundry soap shavings, infusion of onion peels, dry mustard powder) or insecticides:
- Decis;
- Fufanon;
- Spark;
- Konfidor and others.
Trimming
Pruning can be done in early October or early spring, before sap flow begins. All damaged and dry shoots are removed, and healthy branches are shortened by half. The cut areas can be sprinkled with coal powder or treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Preparing for winter
Periwinkle Blue and Gold can winter outside in all regions except Siberia and the Urals (where it is sent to an insulated balcony or loggia). The plant does not require special preparation for winter - just trim, water well and lay a large layer of mulch from spruce branches, leaf litter, and peat.
Reproduction
There are several ways to propagate Blue and Gold periwinkle:
- By seeds - sowing in open ground or in seedling containers.
- Cuttings (length 20 cm): in spring they are planted in open ground.
- By layering: in the summer the shoot is sprinkled with earth, after 3-4 weeks it gives roots, after which it can be transplanted to a permanent place.
- Periwinkle is also propagated by dividing an adult bush (from 3-4 years).In the summer it is dug up and cut into several parts so that each has 2-3 shoots.
Photos in landscape design
The main role of Blue and Gold periwinkle is as a ground cover. Creeping shoots create a pleasant green carpet and decorate the garden with both flowers and foliage.
Periwinkle can be planted along paths in the garden or park
The bush is used both in single plantings and in mixborders and multi-tiered flower beds.
Periwinkle is not picky about the soil, so it can be grown on rocky slopes
Blue and Gold can be planted in hanging pots or in portable containers to decorate the terrace.
Most often, periwinkle is used in single plantings, because it tries to capture a large area
Periwinkle Blue and Gold will help decorate inconspicuous corners in the garden
Conclusion
Blue and Gold periwinkle is an interesting ground cover plant that features attractive flowers and dense greenery. The culture does not require watering or fertilizing, it reproduces very easily and quickly takes up space. Can be used to decorate nondescript, shady places in the garden.
