Digitalis: planting and care in the open field, types and medicinal properties

On household plots, gardeners often plant not only vegetables and fruits, trees and shrubs, but also ornamental plants. Planting and caring for a crop such as foxglove in the open field does not cause much trouble, so the flower is popular. An unpretentious ornamental plant belongs to the Plantain family and is used both to decorate the site and in the treatment of various diseases.

Description and features

Scientifically digitalis is called digitalis, the word is translated from Latin as a thimble. The area of distribution of culture - from the Mediterranean to North Africa.Forest clearings and any open areas are the places where this unpretentious but attractive plant is most often found.Digitalis is grown as a biennial or perennial plant. The height of unbranched hard shoots of digitalis varies from 30 to 150 cm. Leaf plates have a greenish tint, they are entire, characterized by an oblong lanceolate shape.

Foxglove inflorescences are racemose, large buds are formed on them, characterized by a yellow, light red or purple hue. The timing of the flowering of digitalis depends on the climatic conditions of the growing area - on average, it lasts from mid-July to early September. In place of flowers, boxes appear containing brown seeds.

It is important to remember that all types of foxglove are extremely poisonous, so they are not suitable for planting in the flower beds of kindergartens and schools and in summer cottages where kids often play.

Growing seedlings

First of all, experienced gardeners recommend growing seedlings at home. The process is not complicated, but it helps to get beautifully flowering and he althy crops faster.

Timing

Sowing material from the plant is harvested in the fall, and the seeds in the lower boxes have the highest germination. They are carefully taken out and laid out on a sheet of paper so that they dry out. After that, store in paper bags or linen bags in a dry and cool place. In the spring, in the first decade of March, they start sowing material for seedlings.

Seed preparation

In order for the seeds to sprout together and form strong and he althy seedlings, it is recommended to properly prepare them. To do this, take water at room temperature and pour it into a glass container. The seeds are dipped into it and kept for a week, every 6 hours changing the water to fresh.For the last time, you can add one of the growth stimulants, diluted according to the instructions for use.

How to plant

Sowing the material is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. To plant foxglove seeds, purchase soil from a gardening store or make it yourself.
2. The seeds are dried a little on paper and laid out on the surface of the soil without deepening.
3. The material is sprinkled on top with a layer of river sand, previously steamed in the oven.
4. Cover the container with the seeds with plastic wrap and clean in a warm place with diffused lighting.
5. Approximately 2 weeks later, the first shoots appear.

Temperature and light conditions

After the first sprouts appear above the surface, they provide the plant with competent care.The seedlings of this culture develop rather slowly, but this is a natural process. Keep seedlings under the scattered rays of the sun, periodically removing the film for ventilation. The temperature should not fall below 18 degrees and rise above 28, otherwise the young sprouts will die.

Picking

In order for young plants to have enough nutrients and space for the development of roots, picks are carried out. Perform the procedure when a pair of true leaves form on the foxglove. Action algorithm:

1. Prepare disposable cups with the same soil composition.
2. The total container is slightly moistened to make it easier to get the seedlings.
3. Seedlings are carefully separated with a teaspoon and transferred to individual pots.
4. At first they protect from drafts and direct sunlight.

Irrigation

Irrigation is carried out, focusing on the condition of the soil - it should not be dry, but you can’t pour foxglove, this will destroy young seedlings.

Loosening

Loosening the soil is carried out when necessary, act carefully so as not to harm fragile plants.

Hardening

Before transferring foxglove seedlings to the street, a hardening procedure is carried out. First, containers with seedlings are taken out to the balcony or garden for several minutes, each time increasing the duration of exposure to fresh air by 20-30 minutes. Two weeks later, they begin planting in open ground.

Landing in open ground

When transferring plants to flower beds, certain rules are followed so that the foxglove quickly takes root and pleases with abundant flowering.

When to plant

The timing of planting crops depends on the weather conditions of the growing region. Most often, these are the last days of May or the first ten days of June, when the earth warms up enough, and return frosts are already unlikely.

Select site

The area where foxglove will be grown should be open to the sun's rays for most of the day. However, partial shade is also suitable for placing plants.

They do not choose a place under the trees for foxglove - high humidity, lingering in the near-trunk circle, harms the flower, and autumn leaf fall spoils the decorative effect of the culture.

Soil preparation

Before planting, the soil in the chosen place is dug up, the roots of weeds are removed. If the soil is poor, additional nutrients are added - rotted manure or complete mineral fertilizer.

Plant pattern

When planting digitalis, follow the following instructions:

1. Dig holes with dimensions slightly larger than the volume of the root system of the plant, at a distance of 30 cm from each other.
2. Carefully transfer the seedlings together with the root ball into the pits using the transshipment method.
3. They compact the soil and water the seedlings.

It must be remembered that in the first growing season digitalis forms only a leaf rosette, flowering occurs in the second year after planting.

Care

After moving the seedlings to a permanent place in the garden, they provide them with competent agrotechnical care and carry out preventive measures to prevent the appearance of diseases and pests.

Irrigation

Foxglove does not need high humidity and normally tolerates a short drought. If it rains regularly during the summer season, then you can do without watering at all. Irrigate only if there is not enough natural rainfall.

Weeding and loosening

After each watering or rain, they loosen the soil, combining this procedure with weeding. Since the digitalis root system has a horizontal arrangement, they loosen the soil to a shallow depth, and do it very carefully.

Feeding

Like all ornamental crops, digitalis needs nutrition. During the growing season, do this no more than 2 times. Fertilizer is applied in liquid form, dissolving the mineral composition in water.

Protection from diseases and pests

The most common diseases that affect digitalis in the absence of prevention and non-compliance with the rules of care are viral mosaic and powdery mildew. In order not to put other plants at risk of infection, the affected crops are dug up and destroyed outside the garden plot.

From insects, aphids most often settle on digitalis. This insect carries viral diseases, therefore, when it is found on plants, they immediately begin spraying with chemicals. Iskra or Biotlin will do.

Cutting

The sanitary procedure is carried out throughout the season, removing broken or diseased branches of digitalis. Faded buds are also removed in time.

Transfer

This process is not particularly difficult, since the root system of the digitalis is not deep. A hole is prepared with dimensions slightly larger than the previous ones and the plant is carefully transferred into it. After transplantation, watering is carried out.

After flowering

When the digitalis has finished flowering, prepare it for winter. Pour more earth to the roots of the plant so that frost does not damage them.Despite the fact that the perennial variety of foxglove is characterized by increased frost resistance, in the absence of snow cover, the plant can freeze out. Withered digitalis flower stalks are cut off, and the rosette is covered with spruce branches or sawdust.

Reproduction

Digitalis propagates simply, each gardener chooses the best option for himself.

Seeds

Foxglove can be propagated not only by growing seedlings, but also by direct planting of the material in open ground. Do this in early May. Digitalis seeds are soaked in the same way for a week in water, and then sown in the soil without deepening. A thin layer of soil is sprinkled on top, and if it is still cool outside, the plantings are covered with lutrasil. When sowing seeds, keep a distance of 20 cm.

If the gardener wants to get larger digitalis rosettes, further thin out plantings.

Sprouts

Another quick and affordable way to grow foxglove in your backyard is to use plant shoots. Withered brushes are cut off, and after 20 days small shoots appear at the base of the peduncles. After about 8 leaves are formed on them, they are carefully separated from the main plant and planted in a permanent place.

Views

About 50 species of foxglove are known, the following are popular with gardeners.

Purple

Brief characteristics of the variety:

1. Mostly grown as a biennial, not a perennial plant.
2. Height reaches 150 cm.
3. Flower color pink, cream or purple.
4. Some varieties have small spots on the surface of the petals, for which they are called Dalmatians.
5. The inflorescence does not exceed 80 cm in length.

Large-flowered

Description of the large-flowered species:

1. The foxglove of this species does not exceed 120 cm in height.
2. The flowers are yellow.
3. There are brown veins inside the corolla.

Rusty

Features:

1. The height of the plant is between 70 and 120 cm.
2. It is considered one of the most beautiful and popular species among gardeners.
3. Foxglove flowers vary in color from pale yellow to golden brown.

Woolly

Short description:

1. The shade of small digitalis flowers is brownish-yellow.
2. This variety is medicinal, not ornamental.

Yellow

You can recognize the culture by the following features:

1. The height of this foxglove does not exceed 100 cm.
2. Bright yellow flowers.
3. Their length is about 2.5 cm.

Dark (Unclear)

Detailed description is as follows:

1. A rare perennial plant that only collectors can boast of.
2. Tubular flowers with slight pubescence, painted in creamy yellow or yellow-orange.
3. In nature, digitalis is found in the mountains of Spain and does not exceed 50 cm in height.

Tapsy

Characteristic of the variety:

1. Also a type of digitalis that came from Spain.
2. Pink crimson digitalis buds are about 5 cm long.
3. Do not exceed 2.5 cm in diameter.
4. The foxglove blooms in the first month of summer.

Merton

Brief description of Merton's digitalis:

1. It is a hybrid of the purple and large-flowered variety.
2. The height of the digitalis does not exceed 80 cm.
3. The color of flower petals resembles pureed strawberries.

Nevada

Characterized by:

1. Yellow-reddish large buds.
2. Height about 130 cm.

Ciliary

Description:

1. Belongs to the category of undersized plants, not exceeding 60 centimeters in height.
2. Ciliated foxglove flowers are yellowish white.

Healing properties and contraindications

In addition to decorative types of digitalis, there are also medicinal varieties of foxglove, which are successfully used in medical practice. They help with the following diseases:

• atrial fibrillation;
• poor blood supply to muscles and tissues;
• cardiosclerosis;
• myocardial dystrophy, hypertension and tachycardia attacks;

It must be remembered that the digitalis culture is extremely poisonous, and without prior consultation with a treating specialist, the plant can harm human he alth.

Foxglove has been used since the 18th century, the leaves of the plant are used to make medicines. Plant contraindications include diagnoses such as myocardial infarction and pericarditis, and do not use digitalis for angina and chronic lung diseases.

Landscape use

Tall varieties of foxglove are considered an excellent backdrop for linear flower beds and mixborders, while low ones are used to decorate and create paths and borders. In the company of digitalis, crops such as rose hips and rhododendron, geraniums and primroses, aquilegia and peonies are selected.

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