Globular Mordovnik: description of the honey plant, agricultural technology and when to sow

The ball-headed muzzle is also called the barnyard. It is a thorny plant that is drought tolerant. The plant is doing well. In one place, a culture can grow for 20 years. The main advantage of the Mordovnik is that it is an excellent honey plant. This plant is excellent at attracting bees and can be used to make delicious and he althy honey.

External features of the plant

Herbaceous plant belongs to the Aster family. It begins to bloom in the first half of July. Perennial belongs to medicinal plants and is grown as a honey plant. It is often included in folk recipes.

This plant is characterized by the following features:

• Mordovnik reaches a height of 2 meters.
• The plant is characterized by long and thin stems that branch upwards. Brown hair-like trichomes form along the entire length.
• Mordovnik has pinnately dissected foliage, on the edges of which there are thorns. The plates are elongated. Their length is 20 centimeters and their width is 8. The surface is rough and the edges are carved. The leaves are deep green above and light gray below. The leaves grow along the stem in a spiral. At the same time, near the base they are larger in diameter, and towards the top they decrease. At the ends, the leaves are small.
• Flowers are located on the main axis and form a spherical inflorescence with spines. Up to 35 inflorescences with a diameter of 6 centimeters are formed on the stems. Depending on the variety, the buds are white, light blue or blue.
• The fruits of the mordovnik are presented in the form of cylindrical seeds with a cup-shaped crest.
• The root system is pivotal and deep.

Fruiting of mordovnik begins on the 2nd year of vegetation. In the first season, a basket of long leaves appears on the bushes. Its diameter reaches 65 centimeters. The culture begins to bloom in July, and this process lasts until mid-August. The plant is a honey plant of the second wave. It blooms after honey bushes that bloom in May and June. Bees can collect nectar from flowers throughout the daylight hours. They close only when there is no light.

How is it grown?

Cultivation has certain characteristics. For this process to be successful, it is important to carry out the planting work correctly.

Soil

Mordovnik is considered an undemanding crop. However, the plant loves moist and loose soil. Most often it is found in fertile areas of waste gardens. Bushes can be seen in floodplains and in waste places.

On dry sandy soils, the degeneration of mordovnik occurs for 4-5 years. This is due to the depletion of the soil and the lack of moisture.

The right place

This plant needs proper lighting. Therefore, it tries to occupy a leading position in the upper tier of herbaceous crops. However, with sufficient moisture and high soil fertility, the plant can be combined with rapeseed, motherwort, chicory, and burdock. All these crops are also considered excellent honey plants.

Preparation of planting material

Since mordovnik seeds have bristles that cling to each other, beekeepers advise combining them with sawdust. For 1 hectare, the consumption of seeds is 10-12 kilograms.

Planting work can be carried out before winter or in May. Seeds do not need to be stratified. They are easy to store dry. At the same time, the germination rate decreases by about 10-15% every year. Therefore, seeds that have lain for 4 years have a germination rate of about 20-30%.

Step by step order of work

It is recommended to sow mordovnik seeds with your hands. In soft soil, they should be deepened by about 5 centimeters, and in podzolic - by 2-3. Then the ground needs to be leveled. This can be done with a rake. A transplant is required only after 15-20 years. Before that, the mordovnik can be propagated in one place.

The landing is recommended taking into account the air temperature. It should be + 12-14 degrees. At the same time, it is definitely recommended to control the germination of the flower.

With an adequate approach, seedlings will appear in 2-3 weeks. Then you need to correct the bed. In this case, you need to add seeds to empty places in the soil. If there are a lot of flowers, it is recommended to remove the weakest sprouts.

Globular Mordovnik almost does not need to comply with agrotechnical standards. In the first spring after planting, it is recommended to feed the plant with s altpeter. Nitrogen fertilizers are also suitable for this purpose.

One feeding is enough for normal development. Fertilization is not required in subsequent years.

After full root formation, the plant is highly resistant to drought. In the first year, the honey plant should be moderately watered. This is especially true in hot weather. However, it is important to avoid waterlogging the soil.

Nectar productivity

Nectar is produced in the flower by nectaries. Through the conical passage, the liquid flows to the surface and covers the entire inflorescence.With high humidity and temperatures of at least +25 degrees, one mordovnik flower gives up to 7 milligrams of a transparent substance that has a tart smell.

Useful properties

Honey obtained from the ball head has a liquid consistency and a pleasant aroma. It does not form crystals for a long time. After solidification, the substance acquires a beige color with a white tint. The composition is characterized by medicinal properties. Tinctures are prepared from it or consumed in its pure form.

A bee product made from mordovnik helps treat the following pathologies:

• infections;
• headaches;
• digestive pathologies;
• articular diseases;
• age-related multiple sclerosis;
• damage to the heart and blood vessels.

It is important to take into account that honey from the ball head has pronounced allergenic properties. Therefore, it should not be used by people with intolerance to bee products.

Terms of flowering and honey production

Flowering plant starts from July to September and lasts 25-45 days. Specific dates depend on the climatic features of the region.

The main factor for cultivation of culture is high honey productivity. In Russia, this plant is considered one of the most productive. In terms of the return of nectar, only linden competes with it. Mordovnik inflorescences are 70% composed of polysaccharides and disaccharides.

Sufficiently large rounded inflorescences are typical for bushes. Thanks to this, several bees can be placed on them at once. In 1 hour, up to 170 insects can visit the bushes. Nectar production is ongoing.

In a favorable climate, the productivity of the mordovnik is 500-900 kilograms per 1 hectare. Low varieties bring up to 350 kilograms of honey. In a dry summer, productivity is reduced by 35%.

Where the ballhead grows

The plant is found in the Caucasus, Central Asia and Ukraine. It is also common in the European part of the Russian Federation and in Western Siberia.

Globular Mordovnik is a common culture, which is distinguished by pronounced honey-bearing properties. The plant is considered very unpretentious to growing conditions.

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