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Growing bells from seeds at home helps gardeners create the most daring compositions from them. They are considered very delicate and decorative flowers, which you want to see in large quantities on the site. Over 300 species – not every culture can boast of such diversity. The Latin name for the bell is Campanula. Among the popular names we should mention bells, chebotki and chenille.
To create a beautiful composition, you can get by with just a few varieties of crops
Features of growing bells from seeds
The majority of varieties are perennials. However, one- and two-year-old bells are also found. Sexual reproduction is considered not only the most effective method, but also universal. Growing perennial bellflowers from seeds is used as often as biennial ones. For annuals, this is generally the only reliable method of reproduction.This option is not recommended for some terry varieties, in which the seedlings lose the characteristics of the parent plants or the seeds have very poor germination.
If there are already bells on the site, then the seeds are easy to collect yourself. To grow new species, planting material must be purchased.
When collecting seeds, you should not wait until the capsules are opened. It is better to cut off the selected inflorescences when they turn brown. Then put them to ripening.
If you miss the collection date, the seeds simply spill out of the boxes onto the ground.
When and how to plant bellflower seeds in the ground
It is recommended to sow directly into the beds in spring (May) or autumn (October). Pre-winter sowing is not at all dangerous for bells. During the cold period of the year, the seeds will undergo natural stratification, and in the spring they will sprout together. If you decide to sow a bell in the spring, you need to put the seeds in the refrigerator for 8 weeks. Thus, preliminary preparation of planting material is carried out. This technique is required for perennial and biennial varieties; annuals reproduce well by self-sowing. Their seeds have good germination without stratification. The sowing algorithm is very simple. You need to choose a place with loose, light and moisture-permeable soil. Clear of debris and weeds, loosen and be sure to moisten.
Bell seeds are very small, so they should not be buried. It is enough to scatter on the surface of the soil and press a little. Then moisten again. When the seedlings grow up, you can transplant them into flower beds. The bluebell will begin to bloom next season.
You can plant low-growing plants at a short distance to get a colorful mat
Planting bellflower seeds for seedlings
This option will allow you to get flowering plants already in the year of sowing. In order for the seedlings to grow healthy, you must follow the recommendations for growing bellflower seedlings.
You will need:
- observe the sowing time;
- prepare the soil mixture correctly;
- choose containers for seedlings;
- carry out sowing;
- provide the seedlings with good care.
The list of points is performed in a certain order. Only the seeds of perennial bells need preparation. They should not be soaked, because then small wet seeds are very difficult to use. It is enough to carry out stratification and then plant the bells on seedlings.
When to plant bellflower seeds for seedlings
The seedlings of the crop grow rather slowly. The optimal sowing time is March or early April. If the bell is grown in the southern region, then you can shift the date to the beginning of March. For the central zone and the Moscow region, you should stick to mid-March; in the northern regions, postpone sowing until early April. The recommendations of the lunar calendar will help you choose the exact date. It is necessary to compare his wishes with the weather forecast for the current year. Then determine the time when to sow perennial bells for seedlings in a particular region.
Selection of containers and soil preparation
Here the gardener does not need to perform complex techniques or special skills. Almost all bellflower varieties prefer well-drained, slightly alkaline or neutral soil. Universal soil, which can be purchased at garden stores, suits these requirements well. It contains all the necessary nutritional components for seedlings and has the desired structure.
The proportions of soil and baking powder are 3:1. If you have to prepare the soil mixture yourself, then you need to mix turf soil, humus and coarse sand (6:3:1).
The container must be of a certain volume. It is best to sow bell seeds in containers no more than 7 cm high. The main thing is that they are wide. Tall containers are not suitable, and it is also inconvenient to use separate cups or pots. This is due to the fact that bluebell seeds are very small. Any container must have drainage holes. If they are missing, they should be made using scissors, a soldering iron or a nail.
Only strict adherence to sowing rules guarantees the opportunity to create a beautiful flower bed in the garden.
How to sow bellflower seedlings
This procedure consists of several stages that do not present any difficulties for an experienced gardener. However, beginners should carefully study the intricacies of planting bellflower seedlings. If you place small seeds of a crop in the soil incorrectly, you may not get germination. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly perform a number of sequential actions:
- Place a drainage layer in the container.
- Fill the container with soil mixture.
- Moisten the surface with a spray bottle.
- Scatter the seeds over the surface of the soil. To make sowing easier, you can mix them with sand.
- Press lightly with your palm without covering it with soil.
- Moisten the top a little again, very carefully. Otherwise, the seeds may be washed off with water.
- Cover the container with film or glass.
- Place in a warm place with a temperature of + 20 C.
- Wait for the sprouts.
Seedling care
To grow a bell with seeds, you need to provide the seedlings with not only high-quality planting, but also care. He must be regular and competent.
Microclimate
Immediately after sowing, maintain the temperature within + 20-22 ºC. After 15-20 days, shoots will appear on the surface. Now you need to remove the film and reduce the air temperature to + 18-20 ºC. This is the optimal indicator for the entire period of seedling growth.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Until the seeds germinate, they can only be watered with a spray bottle. After emergence of seedlings, watering is required at the root. It is important to ensure that the soil surface is slightly damp. Drying out or waterlogging is unacceptable. In the first case, the small roots of the seedling suffer. In the second, seedlings may be subject to fungal infections and become infected with blackleg.
The first feeding is allowed 2 weeks after picking. To do this, it is recommended to use complex mineral compositions for flowering plants. The solution must be made 2 times weaker than the usual concentration. Repeat feeding after 10 days.
Leaves of healthy seedlings have good turgor and uniform color
Picking
The picking time will come when the seedlings have formed 2 true leaves. The seedlings should already be transplanted into individual containers. The container volume must be at least 250 ml. It is permissible to use the same soil that was prepared for sowing the seeds. Algorithm for correct picking of bell seedlings from seeds:
- Pre-water the seedlings. Optimally 1-2 hours before the dive. This will make the process of removing plants from the soil easier.
- During this time, fill a new container with soil and make holes.
- Carefully remove the seedling from the container. The roots of the bell are long. Care must be taken not to damage them. Experienced gardeners recommend using the back of a spoon to divide the soil into segments.Then the plants are much easier to get.
- Transplant no more than 4-5 seedlings into one cup or cassette.
- Deepen the plants a little and compact the soil around them.
- Water the bells in the new place.
Shade the seedlings for the first 2-3 days.
In addition, the seedlings need to be provided with good lighting so that they fully develop and do not stretch out.
Seedlings at this age must be transplanted into separate containers.
Transplantation into the ground
Planting on the garden bed takes place at the end of May (southern regions) or in June (northern regions). Most varieties of bells love good light. Shade-loving plants have dark green leaves. Therefore, a place for bells should be allocated that is sunny and without drafts. They like soil that is drained, loose, neutral or slightly alkaline. They grow best on loam. The ground will first have to be dug up. Fill the heavy one with humus and sand, the poor one with turf soil and organic matter. It is advisable not to place a bed of bluebells next to trees or tall bushes.
These substances increase the risk of developing fungal diseases.
Plants should be planted according to a certain pattern. Place low-growing varieties of bells at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other, leave medium-growing varieties at a distance of 20-30 cm, and plant tall varieties at 40-50 cm.
Compact the soil and water the plants. It is useful to mulch the plantings to reduce the growth rate of weeds and conserve moisture.
If you plant bluebells grown from seeds, they will bloom the same year they are planted.
Even single plants create a unique decor for the site
Conclusion
Growing bells from seeds at home greatly simplifies the process of decorating a site. A huge number of varieties with various shapes and colors can be bred independently. It is only important to adhere to agrotechnical recommendations and listen to the advice of experienced gardeners.
