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Of all garden plants, ground cover species are especially popular. It is to these that perennial aubrieta or, as it is also called, aubretia, belongs. It belongs to the Cruciferous family. The picturesque aubriet was named after the French botanist and artist Claude Aubriet, who became famous for his accurate and beautiful botanical illustrations. The height of the plant reaches a maximum of 20 cm, flowering occurs in April-May, but can often be repeated in the fall. Perennial aubrieta is used to decorate rockeries, alpine slides, borders, lawns and flower beds. It can be propagated in different ways. The most common practice is to grow perennial aubrieta from seeds.
Aubrieta perennial is one of the most beautiful and unpretentious garden plants
Description of aubrieta seeds + photo
The perennial aubrieta bushes are quite compact and low.In May, they are decorated with small flowers (only 1 cm in diameter), which can be either single or collected in brushes. After pollination, fruits appear on the plants, which in appearance resemble dense pods. They contain small light brown seeds, which are hardly larger than poppy seeds.
Aubrieta perennial seeds are slightly larger than poppy seeds
The nuances of growing aubrieta seedlings
The uniqueness of this plant is that even in winter it does not lose its attractiveness, since the leaves do not turn yellow, but retain their green tint. Aubrieta is a perennial plant that is highly decorative, has strong immunity and is frost-resistant. However, experienced gardeners do not recommend planting seeds directly in open soil. It is best to use the traditional method of growing aubretia from seeds at home.
This has its undeniable advantages:
- Young seedlings receive enough time for complete hardening. If you immediately put them in harsh conditions, they will die.
- It is important to timely add the necessary nutrients to the soil to stimulate growth and strengthen the immune system. It is more convenient to do this with the seedling method of growing.
- If you plant the seeds of perennial aubrieta directly into the garden, then in 9 cases out of 10 you will be able to observe flowering only after a year. When seedlings are planted, they will bloom the same year.
To grow aubretia from seeds, it must be planted in accordance with the lunar calendar, choosing the most favorable days for this.Particular attention will have to be paid to ventilation of the greenhouse, since perennial shaving is afraid of high humidity.
Planting aubrieta seeds for seedlings
This method has proven itself well and gives simply amazing results. The plants retain all their varietal characteristics and delight with beautiful and abundant flowering. For planting, use a specially prepared soil mixture or peat tablets.
The secret of success lies in the correct timing of sowing aubrieta for seedlings, using suitable soil, providing favorable conditions for seedlings and replanting them correctly (only by transshipment method). If everything is done correctly, already in June a strange carpet of the most incredible shades will bloom on the site.
When to plant aubrieta for seedlings
This is usually done in the last days of February (from about the 20th). As a last resort, you can plant aubrieta seeds for seedlings at the very beginning of March. You cannot delay sowing seeds, as they take a long time to germinate - within 3-4 weeks.
It is especially important to comply with deadlines in regions with harsh climates so that the plant has time to fully form and strengthen before planting in the garden.
Aubrieta seedlings should be planted at the end of February
Selection of container and soil preparation
The first thing to think about is suitable packaging. It's all about the individual characteristics of the perennial plant: the plant does not tolerate transplants, even normal diving when growing seedlings can cause serious harm. That is why it is so important to immediately select a container of the optimal size, so as not to disturb the delicate sprouts again. These can be disposable plastic cups, cassettes, small pots or peat tablets.It is quite acceptable to use large containers, such as seedling boxes; they should be wide and deep enough.
The soil for growing aubretia from seeds at home must meet several important requirements: be sufficiently loose and light, with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. If the garden soil is acidic, wood ash or dolomite flour will help correct the situation. In order not to doubt the quality of the soil mixture, gardeners usually prepare it themselves.
To do this, use garden soil or special purchased soil for seedlings (3 parts) + the same amount of river sand, as well as one part each of crushed eggshells and wood ash. If desired, you can add a little chalk crumbs. All components are thoroughly mixed together and must be passed through a sieve so that the mixture becomes homogeneous.
Planting aubrieta seeds
Planting aubrieta seeds in the ground is quite simple and does not take much time.
All you need to do is follow a certain scheme consisting of several stages:
- The selected container is completely filled with earth, and a small amount of sand is poured on top.
- Next, the soil is thoroughly moistened with a spray bottle. Usually use warm water or an Epin solution prepared according to the instructions.
- After this, the soil is compacted and slightly leveled. Since the seeds are quite small, they are transferred to a layer of soil using a toothpick or a small wooden stick. Its end is moistened in water, the grain is picked up and carefully transferred to a layer of soil.Instead, you can simply scatter them on the earthen surface. The fit should be fairly tight.
- The seeds are lightly pressed into the moist soil no more than 2 mm and again sprayed with a stimulant solution on top.
- The top of the container is covered with regular cling film or plexiglass.
It is better to transfer aubrieta seeds into the ground using a stick.
How to plant aubrieta seeds in peat tablets
Peat tablets are placed in the cells of plastic cassettes or any other containers. They are very convenient, since you do not need to prepare the ground for planting, and over time, the strengthened shoots of perennial aubrieta can be transferred to the garden directly in the peat. It is believed that the plant does not like nutritious soils much, but the seeds germinate well in peat, which has been proven by many gardeners.
The landing algorithm is very simple:
- The tablets are laid out so that the non-woven shell is at the bottom.
- Pour warm water into the container in a thin stream (it should not get on the peat). After about 30 minutes, the tablets will double in size.
- If there is any water left in the pan, it must be carefully drained.
- The seeds are transferred to the tablet in the same way as to regular soil in pots (using a wooden stick) and buried 1 mm. There are about 2-3 grains per tablet to ensure maximum germination.
- The top of the planting is also sprayed with “Epin” or clean water and a small greenhouse is built.
Perennial aubrieta seeds germinate well in peat tablets
How to sow aubrieta for seedlings in the snow
An original method of growing aubrieta seedlings from seeds, which gives good results. The containers are filled with a perennial soil mixture suitable for shaving, as already described above.
The highlight is that snow is laid on top and grains are poured onto it. As soon as it melts, the seeds of perennial aubrieta will fall into the soil at the required depth. After this, the container is sealed and placed in a warm place.
Perennial aubrieta seeds germinate well when using snow
How to grow aubrieta from seeds
First of all, you need to stock up on high-quality planting material. It is best to buy seeds in specialized gardening stores. There you can purchase high-quality products that undergo rigorous quality control. You can collect the seeds yourself. However, in this case, there is a high risk that the seedlings will not inherit the varietal characteristics of the parent individuals.
Another important factor is proper care. It is necessary to create optimal conditions for perennial aubriet seedlings, which include a comfortable temperature regime, as well as timely watering and fertilization.
Microclimate
The most optimal temperature will be in the range from + 19 to + 21 °C. High humidity is harmful to perennial shavings, so seed containers must be ventilated daily to prevent mold from appearing on the surface of the soil.
It is also very important to wipe droplets of condensation from the film or glass so that they do not fall into the ground. For normal growth, crops need a large amount of light. On cloudy days, additional lighting with special phytolamps is required.
Watering schedule and fertilizing
Planting perennial aubrieta seeds and subsequent care of the seedlings is not difficult. Irrigation is a mandatory factor. Water the seedlings only after the top layer of soil is completely dry.It is best to do this moderately, irrigating the top layer of the earthen clod with scattered streams from a spray bottle. When the first sprouts of perennial shrub appear, it is best to use a regular medical syringe or syringe. The stream should be clearly directed so as not to flood the soil.
Perennial shavings should be watered moderately
Only strong and well-grown seedlings can be fertilized. It is best to do this 14 days before transplanting into open ground, using a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizers.
Transplantation into the ground
The procedure begins no earlier than mid-May. Sunny areas with poor soil are ideal. It is prohibited to apply fertilizers to them, since perennial aubriet will not grow or bloom in a nutrient medium. The soil must be cleared of weeds and stones, thoroughly dug up and loosened. The top layer is completely leveled and holes are made at a distance of about 15 cm.
Each hole is moistened and the sprouts are placed in it along with a lump of earth (using the usual transfer). Next, the plant is provided with normal care in the form of moderate watering, mulching, loosening and periodic pruning.
Conclusion
Growing perennial aubrieta from seeds is the best option for areas with poor and sandy soils. The plant spreads in a picturesque carpet, forming bright meadows. With its help, you can disguise some defects in the yard and create a beautiful corner using various figures. The beautiful perennial aubrieta will thank you for its simple care with lush flowering and rapid growth.
