Platikodon: planting and care in the open field, description of varieties, breeding methods

Bell bells are always associated with the forest meadow and summer. But in order to admire them, it is not necessary to go looking for them in the forest. You can plant platycodon in your area. Plus, planting and caring for Platycodon is easy.

Description and features

Plactikodon is a large-flowered bluebell. The height of the bushes can be from 20 to 80 cm. The shade of the inflorescences is different. Basically it is blue, white, pink and lilac. The flowers are large in diameter. The plant belongs to perennials. But unlike most perennials, platycodon is undesirable to transplant.The plant does not tolerate transplanting well and prefers to grow in one place.

Popular varieties

Breeders have bred a large number of varieties of platycodon. The main difference between varieties is the shade of inflorescences.

Album

The stems are erect, the height of the bush is 60-80 cm. The inflorescences are large, about 8 cm in diameter. Blue veins often appear on the flower petals. The flowering period falls on June-August.

Shell Pink

The bush grows up to 85 cm. The inflorescences are large, about 8 cm in diameter. The shade of the petals is rich pink. Looks great in single landings when making borders.

Marysil Blue

One of the most popular varieties of Platycodon. Inflorescences are large, deep blue. The bushes are medium.

Fairy Snow

Flowers are white or pale lilac. Blue veins appear on the petals. The height of the bush is about 80 cm. The flowering period falls on June-August.

Snowflake

Low-growing variety up to 50 cm high. White inflorescences, semi-double.

Maser of Pearl

This variety is characterized by a pink tint of inflorescences.

Apoyama

Outwardly, the flower resembles field bells. Low-growing variety up to 20 cm high. The foliage is large, the inflorescences are purple-blue.

Fiji

Fiji Platycodon variety is a mixture of colors. Inflorescences of three shades - pink, white and blue. Bushes about 60 cm high. Large flowers, 6-7 cm in diameter.

Pink florist

The bush is tall, the height of the stems is 70-85 cm. The flowers are pale pink, 8 cm in diameter.

Outdoor cultivation

Growing Platycodon is easy. The plant is quite unpretentious. The main thing is to provide favorable conditions for growth.

Sowing dates

Sowing plant seeds depends on the region of residence. In the central regions and the Volga region, planting material is sown in mid-March. In the south, seeds can be sown a few weeks earlier. And in the north, on the contrary, 1-2 weeks later.

Choosing a seat

Plant prefers full sun but can tolerate light shade.

Soil Requirements

Platicodon likes to grow in dry and well-drained soils. The flower does not tolerate the close occurrence of groundwater.

Plant pattern

Platycodon seeds can be sown directly into the ground when it is warm enough outside. Planting process:

The soil is being weeded.
Remove weeds.
Make shallow furrows and sow seeds.
Sprinkle planting material with soil.

At the end of sowing, pour plenty of warm water over the seeds.

Care

Caring for a crop is not much different from caring for most flowers.

Irrigation

Water the bushes as needed. It is not worth pouring flowers strongly, but it is also undesirable to allow the soil to dry out. Water the flower garden after sunset with heated water.

Loosening and weeding

Weeding a flower bed is often optional. It is enough to loosen the soil once every two weeks. Weeds are pulled out as they appear on the site.

Feeding

The first top dressing can be carried out after the seedlings begin to sprout. For this, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used. In the second half of the season, plants can be watered with phosphorus and potassium. They also use organic fertilizers. The beds are sprinkled with wood ash, and then watered. Or watered with infusions of weeds.

Spraying

Spraying bushes is optional when growing outdoors. During watering from a watering can and rains, this happens naturally.

Preparing for winter after flowering

Platycodon tolerates wintering well. The plant is frost-resistant, so it survives even a severe cold snap. But it is best to cover the flower bed with spruce branches for the winter. Bushes are cut before the onset of winter.

Diseases and pests

It is not uncommon to grow a crop with pests and diseases.

Grey Rot

During the period of high humidity, the plant can become ill with gray rot. To combat the disease, you need to loosen the soil well and abandon irrigation for a while. Subsequently, do not re-moisten the beds. If there are severely affected bushes, then they are dug up and thrown out. The soil is then treated with fungicides. For example, Bordeaux liquid or Topsin-M is suitable. After 10 days, it is recommended to repeat the treatment.

Moles and mice

Most problems are caused by mice and moles that gnaw on the root system of flowers. Finding an effective way is quite difficult to get rid of them. For example, you can blow smoke through holes. Or lay out poisoned traps around the site. But this method is more suitable for mice.

Slugs

Another problem to deal with is slugs. If there are few of them, the plants are sprayed with an infusion of garlic. Dusting bushes with wood ash also helps. If there are a lot of slugs, spraying with chemicals will help.

Features of growing at home

The culture is also grown at home. To do this, the seeds are immediately planted in pots in which the bushes will grow. Planting is no different from sowing outdoors. When the seedlings grow up, they can be planted out (if the bushes grow too close to each other). It is recommended to put pots on sunny windows.

Features of care also do not differ from street ones. Unless the soil can be weeded. Culture feels great at home in pots. Blooms profusely under favorable conditions.

Reproduction

There are three ways to breed Platycodon. But the most effective is seed.

Seeds

Platycodon is best grown from seeds. Other methods are less efficient. Seeds can be purchased at the store or collected by yourself.Seed germination is very high. Planting material is collected from completely faded inflorescences. Seeds are harvested in autumn. The inflorescences should completely fade, and the box with planting material will dry out and begin to crack.

Cutting

Another way is cuttings. But most flower growers are doubtful about this method. Very often the cuttings do not take root. The cuttings are cut from stem processes, at least 10 cm long. They should have at least two internodes.

In early spring, the cuttings are buried in a special soil for flower crops and covered with a cut bottle to create a greenhouse effect. When they take root, they are planted in the ground.

Dividing the bush

Propagation by dividing the bush is the worst and most unreliable way. Platycodon belongs to those cultures that do not like transplantation. Due to the fragile root system, it is difficult to tolerate a change of place. Therefore, it is better not to risk and not propagate the bush in this way.

Use

Platikodon is used not only to decorate flower beds on the site. It is also used in folk medicine and even cooking.

Traditional medicine

Platicodon can not only decorate the garden, but also cure some diseases. Flowers are used in folk medicine. Before using a folk remedy for treatment, a consultation with a doctor is required.

Culture is popular in Chinese traditional medicine. The rhizome is used for treatment. It contains B vitamins, phosphorus, iron, inulin, saponins and protein. It is used as an anti-inflammatory, expectorant.

Cooking

Platikodon has found application in cooking. For example, bells can be used as decoration for desserts. Pre-inflorescences candied so that they do not dry out, and then used as a decoration.

Roots are also used in cooking. They have a peculiar smell and taste slightly bitter. The rhizome is used to marinate kebabs, stews, soups and vegetables.

Design

The plant looks equally good in group and single plantings. A border near garden paths made of platycodon will look especially impressive.