Content
Beautiful, variegated and diverse aquilegia adorns many flower beds and flower beds. The flower is so ancient that you can see it in artistic paintings from the Middle Ages. Also, mentions of him are found in the famous works of Shakespeare. The flower is popularly known as a catchment and for good reason, because its name comes from such Latin words as “water” and “to collect.” This spectacular flower can adequately decorate any garden and growing it yourself is not at all difficult. You can sow aquilegia seeds both in early spring and in autumn, before winter.
Aquilegia is the embodiment of beauty and variety of colors, flowers that many gardeners admire and grow with pleasure
Description of aquilegia seeds + photo
Aquilegia belongs to the genus of herbaceous perennial plants of the Ranunculaceae family.It has numerous flowers of an original shape, with characteristic spurs and a rather unusual color. After they fade, fruits (multi-leaflets) are set on the bush. They look like small boxes with a large number of compartments in which the seeds ripen.
Aquilegia seeds are glossy, shiny, black in color.
The nuances of growing seedlings
Planting aquilegia with seeds is the easiest and most effective method of propagation. It can be carried out in spring or autumn. At the same time, the timing of sowing aquilegia seedlings will vary. In the spring, it is preferable to grow by seedlings, and in the fall you can sow the seeds directly into the ground.
How to sow aquilegia seedlings
You can sow aquilegia for seedlings outdoors (directly on the beds). The option of sowing in closed ground, in seedling boxes is possible.
When to plant aquilegia seedlings
In spring, the optimal time for sowing aquilegia seeds for seedlings is March-April, immediately after the snow melts. Autumn planting is recommended to be done in late August or early September.
Translated from Latin, “Aquigelia” means “plant that collects water,” other names for the flower are eagle, boots, elf slippers, doves, bell
Selection of container and soil preparation
The soil should be prepared in advance before planting aquilegia seedlings.To do this, you need to mix sand, turf soil and leaf humus in equal proportions (1:1:1). Then the prepared substrate is filled into the planting containers and lightly compacted. This is done approximately 24 hours before sowing.
It is best to sow aquilegia seeds for seedlings in deep boxes, because the plant has a taproot system and a correspondingly long root.
Is stratification of aquilegia seeds necessary?
High-quality seeds do not require pre-sowing preparation. Purchased planting material often has poor germination and therefore needs stratification. When sowing in autumn, this will happen naturally, under the influence of low winter temperatures.
Stratification of aquilegia at home
1-1.5 months before sowing, the seed storage temperature must be reduced to 0 °C. This procedure is called hardening or stratification. Aquilegia seeds can be stratified in the refrigerator. At the same time, they are cooled for a month in a container with wet peat or sand. They can also be wrapped in a damp, but not too wet, cloth.
Elevated temperatures also affect seed material in a similar way. 30 days before planting, the seeds can be placed in a thermostat with a temperature of 35 ° C.
How to plant aquilegia seeds for seedlings
Sowing aquilegia seeds for seedlings in the autumn has its own tricks:
- planting work must begin immediately after collecting planting material;
- sowing is done by scattering seeds above the soil surface;
- fence off the planting area with planks or place any container without a bottom above it;
- cover the crops with covering material for the winter;
- in the spring, after 3-4 leaves appear on the seedlings, they are transplanted to a permanent place.
In spring, aquilegia can be sown as seedlings. At the same time, seed material is scattered onto the previously prepared soil mixture. It is recommended to sow the seeds quite densely. Then the crops are pressed down a little by hand (rolled) and sprinkled with soil, previously sifted through a sieve, to a height of 3 mm. The surface soil layer is moistened from above from a sprayer and covered with plastic film or glass, creating a greenhouse effect. Boxes with crops are placed in a lighted place.
How to grow aquilegia from seeds at home
It is quite simple to sow aquilegia seedlings at home; the main thing is to remember that this flower does not like any special excesses. Lighting should be moderate, the soil should not be too dry or waterlogged. Following these recommendations will allow you to grow healthy seedlings that will quickly grow and will delight you with their flowering next year.
Microclimate
Aquilegia crops need to create comfortable conditions:
- the temperature must be maintained at + 15-17 °C;
- seedlings should be shaded from direct sunlight;
- Watering should be fine droplets (from a spray bottle).
Watering and fertilizing schedule
The first shoots appear after 7-14 days, after which it is necessary to remove the glass or film. Further care of the seedlings consists of timely watering and fertilizing. It is necessary to water the crops carefully and moderately, avoiding waterlogging. Otherwise, root rot may develop and the seedlings will die.
Picking
After the first pair of true leaves appear on the seedlings, they must be planted in loamy soil rich in nutrients. Approximately, the transplant can be carried out at the end of April.You should not delay the picking process, as the root system will be subject to unnecessary trauma. Aquilegia transplanted in a timely manner will not hurt and will take root much faster. It is recommended to pick seedlings in the morning or evening.
It is best to use peat pots or disposable (paper) cups for picking, so that when transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, the root system is less damaged
Transplantation into the ground
Seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent location after the threat of return frosts has passed and the soil has warmed up sufficiently (up to + 15 °C). You should aim for mid to late May. You can not transplant the seedlings immediately to a permanent place, but send them for growing (until the end of summer or until the spring of next year), and then plant them in flower beds.
Collection and storage of seeds
It is recommended to start collecting aquilegia seeds in August, before they spill onto the ground. If necessary, you can dry them indoors. It is not recommended to store seeds for more than 1 year. It is best to sow immediately after harvest. If this is not possible, then the seed should be stored in a cool place.
Conclusion
As practice shows, sowing aquilegia with seeds is quite simple, and many amateur gardeners successfully practice this.The only difficulty is in obtaining plants from seeds that are identical to the mother ones, so different varieties of watersheds in a flowerbed can be cross-pollinated. But, by listening to all the advice and recommendations, every gardener will be able to act as a breeder, growing beautiful and original flowers in his garden, unlike any others.
